2019 Colección Monastrell/Cabernet Sauvignon, Familia Castaño

• Style: Monastrell-led Spanish red, silky and layered
• Taste: Blackberry, blueberry, clove, pepper, vanilla oak
• Food: Roasted meats, cured charcuterie, aged cheeses
• Occasion: Weeknight; Sunday Lunch
• Serve: Room temperature, 16–18°C, now or age 5–7 years
• Vegan: Yes, natural cork

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Blackberry and blueberry lead the palate, followed by clove and pepper spice, then a soft vanilla undertone from ten months in French oak. The tannins are silky rather than gripping, and bright acidity lifts the whole expression. At 14.5% alcohol, this is warm and layered without heaviness—southern Spain made with finesse, not just heat.

The Winery — Familia Castaño

The Castaño family has stewarded over 410 hectares of vineyards in Yecla's limestone slopes for generations, with 80% planted to the native Monastrell variety. For this Colección blend, they've coaxed serious character from seventy-year-old Monastrell vines combined with mature Cabernet Sauvignon grown at altitude. The 2019 vintage benefited from spring rains that offset drought pressure, then a September cold snap that slowed ripening—exactly what you want for complexity. Hand-harvesting and native yeast fermentation preserved the fruit's purity, while ten months in French oak added depth without drowning primary flavours. The result embodies what the region does best: rich, characterful wines built on terroir and time.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Serve at room temperature, 16–18°C. This wine rewards you in the glass alongside roasted lamb, beef stew, or aged cured meats. Its bright acidity and silky tannins make it equally at home at a weeknight dinner or a Sunday lunch table. The 2019 drinks beautifully now, though it will age gracefully for another five to seven years. Vegan-friendly and sealed with natural cork, it's one of the finest expressions of Monastrell we've selected. Worth exploring alongside the rest of our Mourvèdre wines and Spanish reds to discover the depth and distinction that native varieties at altitude can deliver.