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Seeking a better understanding of that illusive enigma—simple and ethereal— which has inspired human beings to ponder and pillage.

To dive into the timeless and delectable dichotomy—that which unites farmers, philosophers and creators. And, that which delivers us back to, while reminding us the importance of our mother earth.

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2006 Castaño Monastrell Yecla

There are outstanding buying opportunities today—more than any other time since the wine-craze took hold a decade or so ago.  And, it seems as if most of these prospects are coming out of Spain—sure, there’s Argentina, unexploited corners of France (thank you, Kermit), even Greece.  But, Spain is where fifty to one hundred-year-old vines meet a burgeoning technology; where innovations in winemaking are changing the way we all look at wine.  As one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world, Spain, as a country, is just getting started.  Among these shining examples of truly unique, evolved wines, inevitably you will continually run across the same name: Eric Solomon.

The 2006 Castaño Monastrell Yecla Eric Solomon Imports 14% is very dark in color—inky, with purple edge.  The bouquet is intoxicating—offering layers of ripe black fruit, with sweet undertones and additional nuances of exotic spice, earth and faint smoke.  With time, the nose evolves further to reveal traces of dates, cured meats, fresh wood and sweet herbaceous notes. The Palate is lush and full, with formidable structure.  Layers of black fruit, dates, tobacco, earth, faint chocolate—with subtle bitter quality.  The finish is long and giving—with tobacco, faint gaminess, earth and lingering sweet richness.  This wine is going to be around for a long time.  I cannot believe that I just paid $7.99 for this bottle at Whole Foods.  Then I turned the bottle around—of course, it’s Eric Solomon and European Cellars.