Casa Castillo Cuvée N Viñas Viejas 2021

Casa Castillo Cuvée N Viñas Viejas is a varietal Monastrell from Finca Casa Castillo in D.O. Jumilla, named for Nemesio Vicente, who founded the winery. The fruit comes from the upper part of the Las Gravas vineyard, planted in 1981, a north-facing, bush-trained, dry-farmed block at around 720 metres on the slopes of the Sierra del El Molar. Monastrell needs heat and a long season to ripen its thick skins, and at this altitude the cool nights preserve acidity and aromatic detail while the sandy loam soils drain freely and limit vigour, concentrating the small berries. The result is a powerful wine at 15.5% with firm but ripe tannin. Nineteen months in 500-litre French oak barrels give the wine measured oxygen exposure that softens its structure and adds spice and smoke without dominating the dark fruit. It is deep garnet, with intense aromas of blackberry and dark plum, black pepper, dried thyme and a savoury, smoky edge. The palate is full and concentrated, the tannins gripping into a long finish. Serve at 17 degrees, decanting an hour ahead. It is built for roast and braised red meat.