Dense purple in colour, with aromas of mature black fruit, earthy spice, sweet vanilla oak and chocolate. Full bodied and powerful on the palate, with balanced tannins and acidity, and structured flavours of dark berry fruit, plum, blackcurrant and damson. Serve with red meats and hard cheeses.

Located in the top-most, north eastern corner of Spain, just below the Spanish/French border in the north of Catalonia.  The region generally produces bulk rosés and only a tiny amount of it's annual production is exported.  The volume of production in the area was dramatically reduced after many vines were killed by phylloxera in the nineteen hundreds. 

We reached Capmany, travelling north-east from Figueres en route to Perpignan, on tiny back roads through fairly flat, agricultural land. The Cellers Santamaria are tucked away on the edge of the village square, facing the 16th Century family home of Señor & Señora Xavier Santamaria-Bech.  The huge ancient house was undergoing some serious renovation work, judging by the volume of noise and numerous builders in evidence. 

Cellers Santamaria is a tiny estate of 11ha.  They are extremely proud of their wines and family museum.  However they are also notorious for not allowing any tasting, if the wines are not considered ready!  The cellar door was locked, but the diminutive Señor and Señora Santamaria soon arrived.   We were treated to swift tasting in the family’s equally diminutive museum.  On display was the original 18th Century prize certificate, a copy of which is proudly exhibited on all their bottles and gives this wine such a distinctive label.  The walls were covered with signed notes from famous visitors and the room dotted about with family heirlooms. 

The Gran Recosind Crianza Tinto is a blend of 40% Garnacha, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cariñena, aged for 1 year in french-made, american oak barrels, which are around 5 years old. A recent addition is the Gran Recosind Blanco made from a blend of Garnacha Blanco and Macabeo, which spends a short period in new oak.  This had good clean fruit and a nice bite of acidity.  The Gran Reserva is still 1990, with wonderful soft creamy fruit, very smooth and warm.