El Castro de Valtuille 2018

The very recently bottled 2018 El Castro de Valtuille is serious, a little closed but nuanced and layered, with the insinuating perfume of the great Mencías, produced with field blends from the old vineyards in the village of Valtuille, Garnacha Tintorera, Trousseau (Merenzao or Bastardo) and even some whites. This fermented with 50% full clusters in 5,000-liter oak vats with indigenous yeasts (they don't spend a cent on yeasts here) and matured in 225- and 500-liter oak barrels for around one year. It has the profile of a grand vin, but it is sold at a very affordable price. It has a vibrant palate, with great freshness and very fine tannins, clean, long, tasty, clean... 7,000 bottles were filled in May 2020.