Casa Castillo

High on the limestone slopes of Jumilla, in the sun-baked interior of Murcia, Casa Castillo is one of Spain's great champions of Monastrell. This is old-vine country, where gnarled bush vines endure fierce heat and drought to give reds of extraordinary depth and character. It is a landscape as unforgiving as it is beautiful. The estate's treasure is a plot of ungrafted, pre-phylloxera Monastrell planted in deep sand, the source of the legendary Pie Franco. Alongside it sit old-vine Garnacha and a range of characterful, age-worthy reds, each grown on the estate's stony hillsides. Pure, powerful and astonishing value, these are among the finest wines of southern Spain. They combine southern warmth with a savoury, mineral freshness that sets them apart. Decant the top wines and serve at cool room temperature, and taste the heat and stone of Jumilla.