Bodegas Castaño ‘Hecula’ Yecla, 2017

Many of you won’t be acquainted with what is regarded by Robert Parker as “... possibly the world’s greatest single wine bargain ”. Of all the Spanish reds at this price point, the ‘Hecula’ takes the crown for the most consistent in quality. Quite impressive considering this is not from a more well-known region like Rioja, Ribera del Duero or Priorat. The 2017 Bodegas Castaño’s Hecula is again delicious. Hécula from Bodegas Castaño is one of those extraordinary wine treats which rarely come around but are utterly captivating when they do.

“This is a stunner that is remarkable value for the price. In fact, it is probably too good!”

Robert Parker

There is a real labour of love running throughout the vineyard and winery. They have a plot of precious 60-80 year old Monastrell (Mourvedre) vines that come from a single vineyard planted at relativity high altitude. Harvest is carried out entirely by hand and the wine is aged soft French oak for 6 months and a further year in bottle. The old vines bring complex dense fruit, yet the high altitude helps retain the all-important freshness in the finished wine. A bit of time in barrel and then bottle allows for those lovely spicy, earthy notes to develop with added smoothness to the finish – most importantly, the result in a seriously delicious red.

Today, Castano have begun to market a premium cuvee ‘Casa Cisca’ which retails for around £40 per bottle. To the best of my knowledge, the fruit in the Cisca is sourced from the very same vineyard as the Hecula; albeit only the oldest vines are used in the flagship wine .

Fashioned from 100% Monastrell (Mourvedre) non-irrigated, 60+ year old vines. It was bottled with neither fining nor filtration after spending 6 months in 50% new French and American barrels. This amazing red possesses sweetness, suppleness, and superb purity, no small accomplishment for the normally astringent, tough textured Mourvedre. Notes of graphite, blackberries, cassis, leather, barbecue spice and smoke are followed by an earthy, rich, full bodied, silky-textured wine that caresses the palate. This is a cutting-edge wine from one of Spain’s backwaters, but soon to be far more well known, appellations.