2005 Hécula Monastrell by Bodegas Castaño 02/08/2010
![]() So I was eeny-meeny-ing through the bottles at home, and decided to open a bottle of Bodegas Castaño Hécula. This is a wine comprised 100% of Monastrell, a.k.a. Mourvèdre grapes. The region that it comes from -Yecla - is in Murcia, in the southeast of Spain, with two stellar winemaking D.O.s as its neighbors: Jumilla and Almansa. These vines dig deep through limestone and gravel, and their efforts produce very concentrated flavors in the grapes at harvest time. The 2005 vintage in this area wasn't exceptional but this wine is excellent. Its color is a deep reddish purple. The raisin, dark cherry, and blackberry aromas on the nose yield to deeper layers of cedar, resin, and stone. The mere act of smelling this wine brought up memories of putting resin on a violin bow as a kid, of walking into a woodshop, of eating fruit rollups. Even though this wine doesn't have much of a finish, it has substance and elegance. The tannins are soft, yet pronounced. There is a hint of spice. The stony soil in which the vines grow even imparts a cool mineral feel to the taste and body of this wine. This is a great bottle of wine...90-91 points and only $12 to $14. The more I try the wines from Murcia, the more I feel compelled to go visit. If you could visit one winemaking region in the world, where would you go...and why? Comments Your comment will be posted after it is approved. Leave a Reply | AuthorWith a little traveling, a bit of time, and an infinite amount of curiosity, I will explore the countless flavors life has to offer. ArchivesJanuary 2012 CategoriesAll |