The current vintage of the Merlot is the 2006 Caus Lubis, because the idea of Carlos Esteva is to offer a wine that is polished and developed. This has tertiary aromas of paprika, rusty nail, leather, meat, sweet spices and brick dust and a velvety and polished palate with resolved tannins. It's a warm vintage with power and extraction. The wine has 13.45% alcohol and freshness with a pH of 3.34, velvety and caressing. Perhaps the 2016 Gran Caus is going to go this way... 5,500 bottles were filled in October 2007 after 18 months in barrel and released after 15 years in bottle.

The 2005 Caus Lubis is one of the few successful Merlot varietals in Spain from a warm, powerful vintage, aged for one year in oak barrels and for eight years in bottle, which gives it a complex bouquet with developed aromas of cured meats, cigar ash, graphite, chocolate, leather, brick dust, smoked paprika and ripe plums, quite complex and elegant, more subtle than powerful, with a polished palate and a fine thread of acidity, fine, dusty tannins and clean flavors, with a very tasty finish. Drink now-2018. Can Rafols dels Caus is a spectacular property in the Garraf subzone of Penedes, a huge calcareous rock where owner Carlos Esteva grows an eclectic collection of red and white grapes and crafts highly personal wines. Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565

The medium ruby-colored 2000 Caus Lubis is 100% Merlot aged for 12 months in French oak. It emits an enticing, complex bouquet of cedar, tobacco, spice box, incense, and black currant. Elegant, sweetly-fruited, and concentrated, it has enough structure to drink well through 2020. Can Rafols dels Caus is located in the Garraf Massif which forms part of the Catalan coastal mountain range making this a Mediterranean-influenced terroir. The estate covers 450 hectares and is owned and run by the brilliant Carlos Esteva. These are wines that reflect the unique perspective of Carlos Esteva and are worth a search of the marketplace. Importer: Steve Miles Selections, Denver, CO; tel. (303) 495-3811

The 1998 Caus Lubis is 100% Merlot aged 12 months in French oak followed by 42 months in bottle prior to release. Bearing a resemblance to an elegant mid-level Pomerol, the wine is medium- to dark ruby-colored with a complex nose of toast, tobacco, cedar, earth, red currants and black cherry. On the palate, this intellectually-styled wine remains youthful with its sweet fruit, firm but ripe tannins, and fine balance. It should continue to evolve for 4-6 years and drink for a decade thereafter. Carlos Esteva is the man behind these intriguing white wines. His M.O. bears a certain resemblance to that of Kalin Cellars’ Terry Leighton particularly with regard to releasing wines only when he feels they are ready to be drunk. Importer: Steve Miles Selections, Denver, CO; tel. (303) 495-3811