The 2005 Brunus is a blend of 60% Carinena, 35% Garnacha, and 5% Syrah aged 8 months in one-year-old French oak and bottled unfiltered. Purple-colored, it exhibits a very fragrant bouquet of smoke, vanilla, forest floor, and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by a full-bodied, mouth-filling wine with layered blueberry fruit and well integrated tannin and acidity leading to a pure, fruity finish. Drink this tasty effort over the next 6 years. Importer: Thomas George, Frontier Wine Imports, Dover, NJ; tel. (973) 328-4500

Not all of the new wines that we see from up and coming regions like Montsant are good. This one is a lean, burnt and minty offering with an odd baked, nutty character. Not up to standards.——M.S.(8/1/2008)—— 81