Santa Castaño 2020

Santa is made by the Castaño winery in the D.O. Yecla in Murcia, from a blend of Monastrell and Garnacha Tintorera. The fruit comes from bush vines over 45 years old, grown at 750 metres on a south facing site with stony, sandy soils over a limestone base. The altitude and poor soils suit the late ripening Monastrell, holding acidity through the heat while the warm, dry climate of inland Murcia drives the ripe fruit and 14.5 percent alcohol. Yields are kept very low, around 1,500 to 2,000 kilos per hectare, which concentrates the fruit, and Garnacha Tintorera adds deep colour and dark berry character. The wine is aged ten months in a mix of French and American oak; the French wood lends finer spice and tannin while the American adds a rounder vanilla and coconut tone, and the barrel time softens the structure through slow oxygen exchange. The colour is deep, almost black purple. The nose shows ripe blackberry and plum with black pepper, liquorice and a sweet, vanilla edged spice. The palate is full bodied and warming, with ripe tannin, dark fruit and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 17 degrees and decant ahead. It suits grilled and slow cooked meats.