Casa Castillo, Las Gravas 2019

The sun-baked landscape of Jumilla doesn't immediately strike you as a place to produce graceful wines, with 300 days of sunshine per year and low rainfall. The secret which Jose María Vicente has discovered is Monastrell (known as Mourvedre in France) which loves the chalky terroirs and cooler slopes of the Sierra del Molar. With the vineyards dating back to 1870, Casa Castillo now represents, and rightfully so, one of Jumilla's most storied wineries. Las Gravas, meaning "The Gravels", 2019 is taken from plantings found on a single vineyard of the same name, which has a profoundly rocky (in places 30cm-thick) stony topsoil. A classic Mediterranean blend of Monastrell (Mourvedre) and Garnacha (Grenache), the ripe fruit is balanced with a percentage of whole cluster fermentation, giving fresh floral characters. Expect aromas of red cherries, bramble, blackberry, oak, mint, chalk and thyme; along with a palate of polished tannins and a fine-grained texture. A superb wine which is a true representation of exceptional hot climate winemaking.