Lunch at Bodegas Castaño: (Quickly) Easing into the Spanish Lifestyle

A sunny day in Yecla, a soft breeze rustling through the trees, and a welcoming table beautifully prepared for al fresco dining were elements which set the stage for the first lunch of our group in Yecla at the vineyards of Bodegas Castaño.  Greeted by Daniel Castaño, family member and Export Director, and chilled bottles of their Rose of Monstrell and Chardonnay/Macabeo blend, we gazed at the sweeping landscape surrounded by mountain ranges in Yecla’s southeast area which is close to the Mediterranean Sea and marveled at its beauty.

The cultivation of Monastrell has been ongoing for five generations at Bodegas Castaño.  Daniel remarked that the endeavor has been “consistently rewarding” and feels that “Monastrell is a great tool for making a good glass of wine which is accessible.  It has tremendous potential.”  The family owns nearly 450 hectares of vineyards in four different estates throughout Yecla although we were swirling and sipping at their El Espinal location where 116 hectares of Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Macabeo, and Garnacha Tintorera are grown in predominantly clay soil.  Although a new winery was constructed in 1950 under the watchful eye of Ramon Castaño Santa, their first wines were bottled in 1980.  The focus of those at Bodegas Castaño is to continually strive for quality wines and a continued experimentation with Monastrell with a variety of blends is one strategy to achieve that goal. Beginning in the 1980s, the three sons of Ramon Castaño Santa were slowly incorporated into the wine business with hopes that their wines would maintain a national presence as well as achieve international recognition and distribution.  And yes, their hopes are being realized.

Then lunch was served.  As delectable on the palate as the wine were Spanish almonds (seriously, I could not get enough of these…), Manchego cheese (my other downfall…), Iberico ham, fresh salad of tomatoes, romaine lettuce, cucumbers, and olives in true Mediterranean style, grilled asparagus, onions, mushrooms, eggplant, and zucchini, chunky potatoes, grilled lamb, fresh watermelon, cherries, peaches, and more.  A sweet conclusion was an array of thin chocolate waffle cookies and honey cakes.  As the wine flowed so did our conversation, laughter, and increasing knowledge about Monastrell and the region.  Naturally I can’t resist letting you know my favorite wines ~

**Casa Cisca 2011 – This 100% Monastrell is available in the United States.  From 100 year old vines,  the intense cherry color with fruit (plums and figs) and earth aromas and tastes  with that touch of vanilla were delicious and paired beautifully with the grilled lamb dish.  Aged for fourteen months in French but mostly American oak, only 10,000 bottles were produced.  I absolutely loved this wine and the cost is approximately $80.

**Castaño Colección 2011 – Consisting of 80% Monastrell and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon this wine was concentrated with an incredible amount of structure.  Barrel aged for fourteen months, I loved the spices of cloves and black pepper as well as dark fruits on the nose.  Beautifully blended with a long finish, this wine is not yet available in the United States, but the cost is projected at $20. – a terrific value.

**Castaño Dulce 2011 – Paired with fresh fruit and honey cake the wine was a dessert selection which was not too sweet – perfect for my taste.   This late harvest wine was a light salmon color and showed aromas of chocolate and black fruit jam.  I craved the tastes of more dark jam and dried fruit and the acidity balanced the sweetness.  Although not available in the United States, you can purchase this for around 15 euros in Europe.

 

When our two hour (and more) lunch concluded, our posse of incredibly satiated wine/food bloggers thanked our gracious hosts and traveled to yet another winery… all the while remarking that the Spanish lifestyle of good food, good wine, and newly found friends  on our first day together was just what we savor!

Salut! ~ Cindy

On August 26, I will be posting my next article about the wines of  Juan Gil Family Estates and Bodegas Bleda located in D.O. Jumilla.  Please continue the journey of the Murcia8 bloggers to Spain’s Region of Murcia with me!

You may enjoy reading my previous articles which include…

You’re Invited – A Virtual Wine Journey to Spain’s Region of Murcia, Home of Monastrell

Tasted for the Very First Time – Monastrell in D.O. Yecla

Wine for Your Weekend with Murcian Salad Canape