Winemaker Notes
With more and more Garnacha coming online from the grafting over of his Cabernet and with the planting of young vines, a new expression of Jumilla began to form at Casa Castillo – one that uses older vine Monastrell as its base but enlivened with about 25% Garnacha. Called Vino de Finca, or Estate Wine, this new cuvée was first made in 2015 and shows what a remarkable difference that small amount of Garnacha can make. Of course, it is not just the blend that makes Finca so expressive, but its indigenous fermentation, the inclusion of whole clusters, and a gentle maceration – in 5000L French oak vats and neutral 500L French oak demi-muids.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 was not produced, and this label was discontinued and replaced by a new wine with a different concept (La Tendida), so I only tasted the 2019 Vino de Finca, a blend of 75% Monastrell and 25% Garnacha from this unusual vintage. It fermented with 25% to 30% whole clusters, which resulted in a wine with 14.5% alcohol. As is usually the case here, the wine matured in a combination of used 500-liter barriques and 5,000-liter oak vats for one year. There is a faint sensation of ripeness, and it feels richer than other wines, a little balsamic and medicinal, and it has some dusty tannins. This is a wine that still follows a more powerful profile, like previous vintages. 26,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2020. Best after 2022.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Famous for the robust and earthy, black-fruit dominated, Monastrell (known as Mourvedre in France), Jumilla is an arid and hot region in southeastern Spain. Its vine yields tend to be torturously low but this can create wines of exceptional intensity and flavor. Quality combined with accessible price points give the region great recognition on international markets far and wide.
The reds from Jumilla are heady and spicy, packed with fruit and show aromas of dried licorice and herbs. If you like Syrah, Grenache or Pinot noir, a red wine from Jumilla would be a perfect next choice!