The classical 2019 Cartoixa has a light color and a delicate nose, despite being powerful and energetic at 14% alcohol but with very good balance and freshness. 2019 was a warm and dry year, and the challenge was to keep the poise, which this wine does nicely. It has red fruit and floral notes and comes through as elegant and balanced, with very fine tannins.

The freshness of the vintage comes through quite clearly in the 2018 Cartoixa, especially when tasted next to the 2017, which was a warmer and more concentrated year. The nose has more red fruit and some floral aromas and feels fresher and more elegant. The palate is vibrant with acidity and integrated oak. The tannins are fine, and the finish is long, clean and tasty, with a chalky sensation. They didn't use 225-liter barrels to age this vintage, and instead, it matured in 1,400-liter oak foudres and 500-liter oak bocois for close to two years. 12,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2020.

There is more black fruit in the 2017 Cartoixa than in the 2018 I tasted next to it. This is a blend that wants to showcase the landscape of Scala Dei, a classical blend of 80% Garnacha and 20% Cari?ena with good ripeness and freshness. They select some of the best parts of their vineyards for this blend, often some of the oldest vines they have, most of the Garnacha on limestone and clay soils and the Cari?ena all from llicorella. There is a touch of rusticity that provides character. The vinification combines what was done before the 1980s (fermentation in concrete with some stems and aging in large oak containers) with the more modern techniques. The wine matured in a combination of 225- and 500-liter oak barrels and 1,400-liter oak foudres for almost two years. The wine is polished by the long élevage, and the spiciness of the oak is also more noticeable here than in the 2018. 14,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2019.

The 2016 Cartoixa has a spectacular nose full of flowers, blood orange and red berries that is elegant, perfumed and nuanced. It's mostly Garnacha with some 20% Cari?ena from different vineyards and is produced in the traditional way, with an élevage in used oak that was very respectful of the character of the wine. It's fresh, nuanced, complex and very elegant, with a medium-bodied palate with refined tannins and lively, effervescent acidity that makes you salivate. This could very well be the finest vintage for the Cartoixa bottling. 15,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2018.

The red blend 2015 Cartoixa is mostly Garnacha with 25% Cari?ena from 12 different vineyards (with an aim to select the best from each vineyard) and combines the traditional use of full clusters in concrete along with more modern vinification—destemmed grapes in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts. It matured in a mixture of 1,400-liter foudres, 500-liter bocoyes and 225-liter barriques for 24 months. It's serious, balanced, harmonious and ripe without excess. The oak is neatly integrated, and the palate reveals ripe flavors and great balance. A great improvement over the previous year. 8,400 bottles were filled in June 2017.