After Castano Hecula, here is another monastrell, one with a completely different style. This is a very contemporary interpretation of the variety
spanish
Great value, as usual – Castano Hecula Monastrell Organic 2020
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.
Jorge Navascues Cutio 2018, Carinena, Spain
A grenache, finally. I drank less of them in the last few months than it’s usual for me, but here you go. A spanish one that also contains a bit of carignan.
Cepa Lebrel Rioja Crianza 2016
Can you handle oak? Lots and lots of oak? It’s overdone, yet not without appeal… Continue reading
Diacono Navarra 2018
Kind of OK cheap Spanish from Auchan. When it fails for is the finish… Continue reading
Great value red: Clos Mont Blanc Xipella 2015, D.O. Catalunya, Spain
A generous, warm climate red that overdelivers when it comes to value. And it’s not a boring, predictable one – a real winner.
Entry level Priorat Grenache – Scala Dei Garnatxa 2018
Pure Grenache from Priorat. Cheap for the region arguably, but the Rhone offers much better value.
The Monastrell that received 99 points – Casa Castillo Pie Franco 2017, Jumilla
Jumilla’s top name, Casa Castillo already got some attention in recent years, but receiving 99 points from Wine Advocate speeds up things a little more. As the high rating was published for their top wine, stocks at most online merchants quickly disappeared – but interestingly this new superstar of a wine is still available at Lobenberg’s in Germany. This was the case when I payed 77 Euros for a single bottle (not something I can afford on a regular basis) and felt lucky.
Rustic Beauty – Rafael Cambra Casabosca 2017, Valencia
What’s your main criterion when browsing through a wine webshop? Mine is variety for sure. I was looking for Mourvedre/Monastrell wines when bumped into this Valencia red. It’s a blend actually (the other players are Arco, Forcayat del arco and Bonicaire), but turned out to be a good choice.
Outstanding full-bodied red: Juan Gil Silver Label 2017
A little step up in price compared to previous Monastrells, but quality is higher, too. In other words a more serious wine and still the best value one can get for the money.