The 2010 Seleccio Vinyes Velles is an old vine selection (the wine name in the Catalan language) of Garnacha and Carinena blended with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot aged for one year in French barriques. It has some reductive notes, so I’d decant it in advance to get to the nose of malt, ripe damsons, tobacco and truffles. The palate is full-bodied, with the wood neatly folded into the fruit, ripe acidity and round tannins. I have nothing against the Bordeaux varieties, but I wonder how this wine would show without them. Drink now-2017. Masia Carreras is the property if the Marti Fabra family since 1305. They have a long tradition as grape growers. More recently, in 1991, they started selling their wines in bottle. They have 27 hectares of vineyards with some very old Carinena, over 70 years of age. Serious, well-crafted Mediterranean wines here. A name to follow. Importer: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates from Spain, Dedham, MA; tel. (781) 461-5767

The 2009 Seleccio Vinyes Velles is a blend of 60% Garnacha, 25% Carinena, and the rest Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo aged for 8 months in French oak (25% new.) It has a sensual bouquet of crushed strawberry, raspberry and maraschino with very well-integrated oak. The palate has good volume and weight on the entry with crisp, ripe red currant, raspberry and Morello fruit underpinned by a crisp, citric thread of acidity. This wine is light on its feet but delivers intense flavours that are very satisfying. Drink now-2018. Celler Marti Fabra has been owned by the same family since 1293 and apparently, they are in possession of documents that indicate vines as far back as 1305 (vintage unavailable here.) The unfertile slate soils offer minerality to their wines and yields are kept naturally low. They focus primarily on Garnacha and Carinena, plus a little Moscatel. Importers: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates From Spain, MA; tel. (781) 461-5767 and www.indigowine.com in the UK.

The 2007 Seleccio Vinyes Velles is composed of 60% Garnacha, 25% Carinena, with the balance Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Tempranillo. The Garnacha and Carinena components were sourced from vines ranging from 50-80 years of age with the wine spending 8 months in barrel. Lightly roasted, earthy mineral, black cherry, and black plum aromas lead to a dense, full-bodied, plush wine with enough underlying structure to evolve for 1-2 years. It will continue to drink well through 2019. Importer: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates From Spain, Dedham, MA; tel. (781) 461-5767

The 2005 Marti Fabra Seleccio Vinyes Velles was sourced from vines ranging in age from 50 to 80 years. It is a blend of 70% Garnacha with the balance Carinena, Tempranillo, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon aged for ten months in French oak. Deep crimson-colored, it delivers a fragrant nose of cedar, mineral, forest floor, black cherry, and blackberry. This leads to a ripe, firm, spicy, intensely flavored wine in need of 2-3 years of cellaring. This lengthy effort will offer prime drinking from 2011 to 2018. Importer: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates From Spain, Dedham, MA; tel. (781) 461-5767

Rooty, warm and leathery at first, and then it really rounds into form. This Garnacha-led multigrape blend is a pretty, earthy, stylish wine that’s at peak maturity. It brings baked, rich black cherry, cola and toffee flavors and then a finish of coffee and toast. A bit syrupy but still excellent and ready now. ——M.S.(12/15/2010)—— 90