Bodegas Castano’s Hecula is an old favourite of mine, yet this is the first time for me to taste the organic version. It’s a bit different compared to the previous vintages, I wonder if the winemaking has changed, too, not just the grape cultivation method.

In essence this is still a generous and ripe wine, but less powerful and more pure than its predecessors. Loaded with black, sunbaked fruits and dried dates, and it’s earthy and savage, too, as one can expect from a monastrell. Bold, extracted and firmly tannic, yet unforced and compact. Mediterranean, raw power, I love that. Those amazing monastrell-tannins! Tons of flavor and character, lots to enjoy here. 89 points, amazing value. Stockist: Decantalo and many others in Europe and UK, price is around €7.15 / £10.99. Drink now.