70% garnacha and 30% carinena; aged for 15 months in large oak casks): Bright ruby-red. Cherry-cola, raspberry, minerals and pungent Indian spices on the nose, with a sexy lavender nuance gaining strength with air. Smooth, sweet red berry preserve flavors are firmed by tangy acidity, which sharpens the intense red fruit flavors. Turns spicier on the long, gently tannic finish, with the floral and vanilla notes echoing. (Josh Raynolds/Vinous-92pts)

Planetes, not unexpectedly, comes from the vineyard site, Finca les Planetes, where Carles Ortiz purchased and renovated an east-facing, nearly 5 hectare plot of vines on schist soils on the outskirts of the village of Porrera. Both Ester and Carles are proponents of biodynamic farming and minimalist winemaking, believing that the duty of a vigneron is to get out of the way of terroir. Planetes is a blend of Garnatxa Negra and Carinyena that is harvested by hand, destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in foudre. The freshness and brightness of Planetes is a testament to the relatively cooler aspect of the site as well as the hands-off approach that Carles and Ester take in the cellar.