Wine Advocate 98
"As with other wines, I also tasted the 2018 Espectacle del Montsant next to the 2017 to catch up, as I last tasted the region some 16 months ago. 2018 was a cooler year of slow ripeness, and the grapes achieved an amazing 16% alcohol. The wine is truly spectacular, true to its name. It has tons of violet notes and aromatic herbs, the palate is gentler, and the tannins are rounder, polished and elegant. It has full body but isn't heavy. There is a lot of complexity, and the wine developed slowly in the glass, showing nuances of cereals, kirsch, orange peel and lots of spices and herbs. It's opulent and full, deep and complex. Amazing in its style. Some 6,500 bottles produced."

The Wine
ITS RED COLOUR, SOMEWHAT MORE INTENSE THAN IN PREVIOUS VINTAGES, STILL PRESENTS THE BLUISH HUES OF ITS CURRENT YOUTH

INITIALLY IT SURROUNDS US WITH NOTES OF BLACKBERRIES AND VERY RIPE PLUMS ALL SURROUNDED BY A BACKGROUND OF FIG BREAD. A SPICY ENVIRONMENT APPEARS LATER TO SHOW THE FLORAL REMINISCENCES OF ROSES AND ORANGE BLOSSOM SO CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS UNIQUE WINE.

THE PALATE IS MORE INTENSE THAN IN PREVIOUS VINTAGES. ITS TANNIN CARESSES THE PALATE AND COVERS IT WITH FRUITINESS. ITS AROMATIC RICHNESS APPEARS IMMEDIATELY AND INCREASES AFTER ITS PASSAGE THROUGH THE MOUTH LEAVING US A VERY LONG MEMORY


The Estate
The project is jointly owned by Rn and Isabelle Barbier, Fernando and Marta Zamora (Oenologists and teachers at University of Taragona), and Charlotte and Christopher Cannan. Espectacle is a tiny production of old vines Garnacha made by Rene Barbier, Sr. The 100 year old Garnacha vines come from a dramatic and steep vineyard. Rene refers to this vineyard as the
LErmita of Monsant.

In its short history, from the presentation of its first vintage in 2004, Espectacle has achieved great acceptance among sommeliers , journalists, and professionals in the world of wine, and is currently present in the major restaurants and specialist shops around the world.

Moreover, Espectacle has received some of the most important acknowledgements in the world of wine, such as the 99 points in The Wine Advocate magazine from the prestigious critic Robert Parker for the 2004 vintage or the Sibaritas award of 2008 when Jos Pein described the 2005 vintage as A wine to go down in history.