The only blend of this type that comes to mind is Trévallon, as the 2012 Cabernet Shiraz Reserva has 30% of the Rh?ne grape in it. The wine fermented in inox with indigenous yeasts and matured in new and second-use French oak barrels for 15 months. The oak is still quite evident and gives the wine a spicy and creamy profile with notes of toffee, café au lait and a mixture of ripe black fruits (plums and blackberries). The palate is also quite marked by the wood, with balsamic flavors, fine tannins and a good finish that feels a bit harsh and should be better after a few more months in bottle. 25,000 bottles.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon-Monastrell-Shiraz Reserva is fresher and more integrated, with 70% Cabernet and 30% Shiraz, showing a good combination of Mediterranean herbs and the mintiness of the Cabernet. It is medium-bodied, ending spicy and with fine tannins. Drink 2013-2018. Enrique Mendoza, a salesman in love with wine, started planting some vines in l’Alfas del Pi, very close to Benidorm, where his house and original business was located, in the 1960s. But it’s not until 1989 that his hobby was turned into a proper winery and Bodegas Enrique Mendoza were created. The Marina Baja area, close to the sea, is appropriate for growing Moscatel, but it’s not so good for red grapes, so he purchased a property inland, in the Vinalopo Valley, Finca Chaconero in Villena, where they have 80 hectares of vineyards. The focus was initially on French varieties (Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot and Shiraz), but in 2003 they started producing one of the best examples of Monastrell from the region, called Estrecho. Today Enrique’s sons, Pepe and Julian are at the helm of the company. They are so passionate about their vineyards (especially Pepe) and their wines that talking to them fills you with positive energy. The focus is clearly on viticulture, which to me is the right approach. They produce 350,000 bottles per year spread over a very wide range, which I find a little confusing, but I’m happy to see more and more attention being paid to Monastrell. I was especially impressed by (yet another) new wine called Las Quebradas. A few of their wines were reviewed last October in issue #203. Importer: Winebow Inc, Montvele, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

This polished red offers black cherry, cola, black pepper and light earthy flavors, with light, firm tannins and balsamic acidity. A savory style, showing enough grip for food. Drink now through 2014. 3,500 cases made.??–TM??Region: Spain / Alicante Select to Add

The 2008 Cabernet/Shiraz Reserva is missing complexity on the nose that is reticent at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with cedar-tinged, dark berry fruit laced with sous-bois and spice. The finish is focused and quite refined with just the right amount of dryness to encourage another sip. Drink now-2015. Importer: Winebow; www.winebow.com

The 2003 Cabernet Shiraz Reserva is 70% Cabernet and 30% Shiraz aged for 18 months in French oak. Inky purple-colored, it offers notes of mineral, menthol, tobacco, blueberry, and black currant. Medium to full-bodied, on the palate there is plenty of sweet fruit, a smooth texture, some complexity, good balance, and 2-3 years of cellaring potential. Drink this lengthy wine over the next 6-8 years. Importer: Winebow, Inc., www.winebow.com