2008 Castillo del Barón, Monastrell D.O. Yecla

Yecla is 50km inland from Alicante, the vines located at over 500 metres, the soils limestone and clay….a far cry in every respect apart from physical distance from the famous, sometimes infamous beaches of the Costa Brava. It transpires that Yecla is the centre of the Spanish furniture industry, if industry is the correct word; this probably explains the robust and well-upholstered nature of this wine. It is fleshy and soft but with characteristic Monastrell tannins to lend architectural integrity and firm acidity , the result of both the elevated location of the vines but also the fact that Monastrell is indigenous here and not only ripens late but also preserves good levels of acidity.
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)