José Maria Vicente is the third-generation owner and operator of Casa Castillo. This farm started as a rosemary plantation but under José Maria, it has evolved into the preeminent estate in Jumilla and greater Mediterranean Spain.
José Maria's grandfather purchased Casa Castillo in 1941 when there was already a winery, cellar, and some scattered vineyards. These vineyards were planted by French refugees fleeing phylloxera in their native land in the 1870s. In 1985, José Maria and his father began replanting and expanding the vineyards. They released their first commercial vintage in 1991 and have never looked back!
Aptly named "Las Gravas" (gravel) because of the profoundly rocky single vineyard of the same name. It's tough to call it soil in this vineyard because there is more than a foot of stone until you get to anything resembling dirt!
This is a rare opportunity to grab a Spanish icon that just received a massive 98 score from the Wine Advocate. Check out the detailed review from Luis Gutierrez and stock up while you can!
"The 2021 Las Gravas contains grapes from a vineyard planted in 2006 (that already contributed to the 2020), and it has given the wine a fine-boned profile, with more freshness and varietal Monastrell notes, a rustic-elegant feeling. It keeps the incredible quality level of the 2020, with Jumilla typicity; it's Mediterranean, powerful and energetic, with balanced 15% alcohol and a chalky, rocky, stony sensation in the finish. This always contains some 8% to 12% Garnacha. Production has grown to 37,905 (numbered) bottles. It was bottled in June 2023, as they did a longer élevage. This matured 100% in oak foudre; they abandoned the 500-liter barrels for this wine and for Pie Franco." - 98 Points Luis Gutierrez, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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