Country: Spain  Region: Murcia  Vintage: 2018 Category: Red Wine  Color:  Red Producer: Familia Castaño "Based in Yecla, Familia Castaño is known for its huge efforts to promote one of Spain's native varieties, Monastrell. Castaño symbolises the best of what southern Spain has to offer: rich, warm climate wines, with almost Syrah-like complexity, which over deliver in terms of value year after year. Monastrell was once used exclusively for bulk wines and blending, but Castaño began bottling characterful, single varietal Monastrell in the 1980s. Today, in the expert hands of Daniel Castaño and his family, the variety maintains high quality even at moderate to generous yields. 80% of the family's 600 hectares of vineyards are dedicated to Monastrell, with smaller plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Macabeo and Chardonnay. The Monastrell is sourced from non-irrigated bush and trellis vines up to 40 years old in the 'Las Gruesas' and 'Pozuelo' vineyards respectively. Totalling 90 hectares, the two vineyards are located at an altitude of 750 metres, with a north-south aspect, on sandy limestone soils.The 100% Monastrell 'Hécula' represents exceptional value for money. Displaying succulent ripe black fruit, notes of sweet spice and liquorice and supple ripe tannins, it will accompany any number of different foods. The 2013 'Colección', which includes 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, shows more red cherry and dried fruit character, with hints of smokiness and chocolate. The 'Dulce' is delicious, full of dried fig, raisin and plum jam flavours, with a rounded mouthfeel and balancing acidity that keeps the finish perfectly fresh." Product Features:  Sustainable;Vegetarian Winemaker:  Mariano López Vineyards: The grapes were harvested from 45 year old Monastrell vines and 32 year old Cabernet Sauvignon vines, planted at 750m above sea level. The soil here is stony and sandy with a lime subsoil. The short bush vines have a planting density of 1,600 plants per hectare and yield 1,500 to 2,000 kilograms per hectare. The vineyard for Coleccion has a very different microclimate from the rest of the region which is clearly continental. It has minimum temperatures of -10ºC in winter and up to 42ºC in summer. Vinification: Small bunches of the thick-skinned Monastrell grapes were harvested and taken straight to the winery. The fermentation took place over 16 days at a controlled temperature of between 26-28ºC, followed by malolactic fermentation. The wine was then aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, of which a third were new. Fruit was hand harvested. Tasting Notes:  Dark and intense shiny red in the glass. It is complex on the nose, with ripe black fruit aromas, notes of clove and black pepper and elegant hints of oak. Soft on the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet soft and delicate, with marked but elegant tannins. There is a pleasant, lingering aftertaste. Food Suggestion: Best enjoyed with richly flavoured sausage or meatball stews, or with a selection of hard cheeses. Closure: Natural Cork  ABV:14%  Classification: DO  Acidity [g/l]: 5.25