Casa Castillo Las Gravas 2022
£49.33 (Inc. VAT bot. 75 cl.) / North Ireland
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
In the atypical 2022 vintage, the 2022 Las Gravas is tighter and needs a little more time in the glass, which tells me it's also going to need a little more time in bottle too. It's mostly Monastrell (60% old vines and 30% from vines planted in 2006), with only around 7% Garnacha, because the variety suffered more. They debated whether to do a shorter or longer élevage, which was finally extended to some 18 months in foudre. In general, the wines from 2022 have higher ripeness, higher pH and lower acidity than in previous years. The wine has a dry and chalky palate with some stony austerity; it is serious and in need of time. They produced 20,000 bottles, half the amount that they produced the previous year. It was bottled in June 2024 at the same time as Pie Franco.
Features
Type of wine
Pairings
Style
Occasions
Winery
Size
Appellation
Alcohol
15.0%
Grapes
Serving
Between 14ºC and 16ºC
Winemaking
Aged for 16 months in French oak barrels of 500 litres.
Description
Las Gravas comes from a spectacular vineyard called 'Las Gravas', which is more than 40 years old. This vineyard has a north-facing orientation and very stony soils. The plants are grown in goblet training and dry-farmed, with low yields of between 12 and 15 hectolitres per hectare. It is a wine that is a marvel in itself, reflecting the essence and tradition of the Casa Castillo winery.
Winemaking
Las Gravas stands out for its composition of 92% Monastrell and 8% Garnacha Fina. Each variety is fermented separately in underground vats, using indigenous yeasts. During this process, temperature control is maintained at between 30º and 32º Celsius, incorporating 25% whole bunches.
Subsequently, malolactic fermentation is carried out in vats. The wine is aged for 16 months in 5,000-litre foudres and 500-litre oak barrels.
Taste
Las Gravas has a medium-high cherry red colour. On the nose, one can appreciate predominant notes of ripe red fruit, mineral notes such as chalky stone, and spicy touches such as clove. Notes of tobacco leaf can also be perceived, which gives it a good complexity.
On the palate, the wine is tasty, fine, fresh and fleshy at the same time. It has an outstanding balance and a robust structure, resulting in an intense and long-lasting flavour. It is a wine that reflects a perfect work with the Monastrell variety, taming its rusticity and offering a fruity and fleshy flavour. The Garnacha, although present in smaller proportion, brings freshness and fluidity in the mouth, gradually revealing nuances of black fruit, blue flowers and a mineral finish that highlights the terroir.
Shipping to North Ireland
50% discount on orders over £340.25Estimated transit time: 4-5 working days.
| Bottles | Price | Over £340.25 |
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | £10.97 | £5.49 (-£5.49) |
| 7-12 | £14.89 | £7.44 (-£7.44) |
| 13-18 | £20.84 | £10.42 (-£10.42) |
| 19-24 | £28.50 | £14.25 (-£14.25) |
| 25-30 | £33.09 | £16.54 (-£16.54) |
| 31-36 | £37.00 | £18.50 (-£18.50) |
| 37-42 | £44.66 | £22.33 (-£22.33) |
| 43-48 | £48.91 | £24.46 (-£24.46) |
| 49-54 | £55.25 | £27.62 (-£27.62) |
| 55-60 | £59.37 | £29.69 (-£29.69) |
| VAT included | ||
