Inky ruby. Dark berries, licorice, espresso and a candied violet topnote on the deeply perfumed nose. Rich yet energetic in style, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors that pick up a spicy quality on the back half. Shows sharp focus and spicy lift on the gently tannic finish, which lingers with strong tenacity.

The 2018 La Atalaya del Camino was produced with a blend of 85% Garnacha Tintorera and 15% Monastrell from dry-farmed, head-pruned vines planted on limestone soils and averaging 45 years of age from a cooler year that resulted in lighter and fresher wines. Still, this is 15% alcohol and with a pH of 3.83 and 5.8 grams of acidity, a full-throttle red matured in French oak barrels for 12 months. This has a strong note of tomato vine and fresh tomato juice (something I always find in the sweet wine from Olivares...), which apparently shows as the Garnacha Tintorera gets riper and more concentrated from old vines. It has a smoky palate with grainy tannins and a dense texture