Ramon Castaño Santo began purchasing parcels of old vine Monastrell (a.k.a. Mourvedre or Estrangle Chien) in 1950, going against the popular notion that the vineyards weren’t worth owning. Bodegas Castaño now owns over 400 ha of prime vineyards, which cover ten percent of the plantings in the entire DO of Yecla. In 1980 he constructed a state of the art winery and began bottling wines from his extensive holdings: again against the grain, because everyone thought that Monastrell was so easy to sell on the bulk market that it wasn’t worth making it well, much less bottling it oneself. Now his son Daniel Castaño runs the operation, and the quality and success of the wines is Ramon’s answer to the neighbors who doubted him.

Murcia, and Yecla in particular, are the center of Monastrell production in Spain, and the wines continue to provide amazing depth and value. This wine, made from 100% Monastrell, from the 35-60 year old, unirrigated vines of the Las Greusas Vineyard that surrounds the winery, is aged half in tank to preserve the fruit, and half in French Oak barrels to add complexity.

This full-bodied red has explosive aromas and flavors of blue plum, prune, and cherry, rounded out by spicy hints of oak, and a well-delineated structure. Try it grilled pork, roast lamb or blue cheese. Drink now – 2014.