2008 Las Gravas, Casa Castillo, Jumilla, Spain

2008 Las Gravas, Casa Castillo, Jumilla, Spain

Product: 20088031707
 
2008 Las Gravas, Casa Castillo, Jumilla, Spain

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Description

This shows the obvious power but also the refinement which is achievable in Jumilla. With blackcurrant and cherry fruit, bitter chocolate, liquorice, vanilla and herby notes, it is very generous indeed. The Monastrell adds the seductive, dark smoky element which is so prominent across the palate. The acidity is well integrated, and the tannins are grippy but long and fine.
Martyn Rolph - Private Account Manager

Bodegas Casa Castillo is located on the plateau of the under-rated wine region, Jumilla, with a 174-hectare vineyard which enjoys a high altitude and the cooling influence of the Mediterranean. Any lovers of Châteauneuf-du-Pape should take note of Casa Castillo; the grape varieties they use are led by Monastrell (Mourvèdre) and also include Syrah, Garnacha and Cabernet Sauvignon. A modern approach to winemaking is taken, with cold macerations to retain freshness and new French oak for high quality tannins and structure. The wines are generally bottled unfiltered to allow them to be as expressive as possible.

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About this WINE

Bodegas Casa Castillo

Bodegas Casa Castillo

Bodegas Casa Castillo is an unexpected discovery and a wonderful one. It is located on the plateau of the under-rated wine region, Jumilla, with a 174-hectare vineyard which enjoys a high altitude and the cooling influence of the Mediterranean. Any lovers of Châteauneuf-du-Pape should take note of Casa Castillo; the grape varieties they use are led by Monastrell (Mourvèdre) and also include Syrah, Garnacha and Cabernet Sauvignon. The young, juicy Vendimia version is half Monastrell and half Tempranillo, for early drinking. A modern approach to winemaking is taken, with cold macerations to retain freshness and new French oak for high quality tannins and structure. The wines are generally bottled unfiltered to allow them to be as expressive as possible.

The Monastrell itself (actually containing a touch of syrah as well) gets a few months in French and American oak. Then come the two special cuvées, in very short supply. Las Gravas is a blend of old vine Monastrell with Cabernet and Syrah aged for 12 months in new French oak.

Pie Franco is 100% monastrell from ungrafted vines planted in 1941 which spends 14 months in a mix of new French and American barrels. These are hugely impressive, concentrated wines which will give a great deal of pleasure.

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Jumilla

Jumilla

The Jumilla DO lies in the southeast Spain, between the Mediterranean Levante coast and the Castilla La Mancha DO. Jumilla is part of the Murcia province which also includes the appellations of Bullas and Yecla.

The climate is influenced by its proximity to the Mediterranean on the east side and La Mancha plateau on the west side. It is a region characterised by long sunshine hours and scant rainfall. Its sandy soils and the hot climate acted for many years as a shield to the invasion of Phylloxera, up until 1989 when the vineyards finally succumbed to the arrival of this disastrous bug.

The re-planting of the vineyards was used as an opportunity to revitalise the production of the old, often tired vines and to move away from practices of bulk winemaking that prevailed in past decades.

Jumilla has since reinvented itself as a producer of modern, fruity red, white and rosé wines made from native grape varieties such as Cencibel (Tempranillo), Garnacha (Tinta and Tintorera) and particularly Monastrell, as well as from the recently-introduced Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Late-harvested Monastell and Pedro Ximénez grapes are used to craft small quantities of delicious, intensely-concentrated, lushly sweet wines.

Improved vineyard management and outside investment in new equipment from industry heavyweights in other, established Spanish regions has led to a remarkable increase in the wine quality. The result is a new generation of characterful wines, some organic, and the majority red (over 80 percent), in which the rediscovered Monastrell grape is showing promising results in the hands of skilled winemakers.

Recommended Producers:
Casa Castillo, Agapito Rico, Casa de la Ermita

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Other Varieties

Other Varieties

There are over 200 different grape varieties used in modern wine making (from a total of over 1000). Most lesser known blends and varieties are traditional to specific parts of the world.

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