Casa Castillo, Jumilla Monastrell 2019

91points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"The entry-level red, the old Monastrell, has been reverted to the varietal name, even if in 2019 it has some 15% Garnacha because it was a very good year for the variety (because it was harvested before the rain). As with the other wines, I had the chance to compare the 2019 Monastrell with the 2020. This 2019 fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in 500-liter barrels and 5,000-liter oak foudres for 10 months. It has an expressive nose of Mediterranean herbs and a combination of ripeness and lightness, a little in the style of 2016, a little more fruit-driven. They had to sort and discard and produced less wine. It's medium-bodied and has very good balance and fine tannins. 160,000 bottles produced. I tasted the September 2020 bottling, but all the bottlings are from the same master blend. Best after 2022."

Vinous Reverie Notes
The Jumilla from Casa Castillo is made from younger vines sourced mainly from La Valle vineyard where the soils are silty and the grapes have more of a varietal expression than his rockier vineyards. Once labeled Monastrell José Maria has been incorporating increasing amounts of Garnacha and Syrah into this wine so that now it is about 60% Monastrell with 20% each Garnacha and Syrah. After a natural fermentation in tank the wine is aged for 8-9 months in neutral 500 liter French oak barrels, and foudres.