Under Diam. The Carchelos just get better and better; we are begging to wonder how we can ship a wine of this quality at such a competitive price.The new 2010 release is 40% old-vine Monastrell with an equal measure of Tempranillo and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a fresh, concentrated, joven-style wine with real Jumillan open and a generous personality. The packaging is seriously funky and eye-grabbing, down to a zebra-striped capsule.
Carchelo is the fruit of 30-years hard labour from Agapito Rico, a legendary wine figure in Jumilla who almost single-handedly launched Spain's most arid wine district in the early 1980s. Rico works with old-vine Monastrell (Mourvedre), a grape brilliantly suited to Jumilla's sun-baked, high altitude soils (up to 700m). More recent plantings of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah give Rico an array of blending partners for his beloved Monastrell. We've again been able to further lower the already sharp price thanks to the buoyant $A. In short, Rico is giving this away! A compelling by-the-case offer.

"Bright purple. Smoky aromas of cherry-vanilla and cassis, with a spicy quality that gains strength with air. Juicy and broad on entry, then firmer in the mid-palate, offering sweet black and blue fruit flavors lifted by tangy acidity. Still quite primary and in need of some bottle age. Finishes sappy, spicy and nicely persistent."
89 Points, Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Sep 1, 2011