Tag Archives: Castillo del Baron

Wine of the week: Castillo del Baron Yecla 2020

Castillo del Baron monastrell
Castillo del Barón Yecla 2020/$9-$12

Once again, this Spanish red shows how cheap wine should be done

The Castillo del Baron, from Spain’s Yecla region and made with the monastrell grape, has only been featured three times on the blog. But that has absolutely nothing to do with its quality; this is one of the world’s great cheap wines, and especially for those who prefer their red to have a little more oomph.

Rather, it has everything to do with – all together now – availability.

The current vintage is the 2020, and I have also reviewed the 2019 and the 2017. But the 2018 and the 2016 never made it to Dallas. Go figure.

Which is a shame, because, as I wrote in my notes for the 2020 ($10, purchased, 14.2%), “Another spot-on effort — a little more rustic, as it has been for the past couple of vintages, and a tad hot. But it’s balanced, almost earthy, and the cherry fruit shows just enough. All it needs is a little red meat or sausage for dinner drinking.”

And, frankly, given some of the plonk I’ve had to spit my way through recently (most recently, a $15 Oregon pinot noir that tasted like Welch’s that had gone off), I’ll take this wine every time.

Highly recommended, and – assuming it’s available, of course – a candidate for the 2024 Hall of Fame.

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Wine of the week: Castillo del Baron Monastrell 2017

Castillo del Baron monastrellThe $10 Castillo del Baron Monastrell is so well made and so enjoyable that the WC went back to the store and bought a case

The Wine Curmudgeon goes wine shopping once or twice a week, usually hitting two or three stores in the Dallas area. I’ll look for stuff I haven’t seen before, and buy lots of single bottles. That way, even with the losers (because there are always losers), I usually have something to use as the wine of the week. Which is how I discovered the Castillo del Baron monastrell.

Why did I buy it, having never tasted it? First, it’s a Spanish red, so quality should be good because we can trust Spanish reds. Second, it’s from the Yecla region in Murcia on the country’s southeastern coast, and that you haven’t heard of either means the price should be more than fair. Third, it’s made with monastrell, the Spanish version of mourvedre, and red wines made with grapes that aren’t cabernet sauvignon usually offer value.

And my analysis was spot on. The Castillo del Barnn monastrell ($10, purchased, 14%) was so impressive that I went back a week later and bought a case. It’s an interesting and intriguing wine that shows off the region and the grape – a funky, herbal aroma; big but not heavy; just enough bright black fruit (black cherry?); and a pleasing acidity. Plus, the tannins don’t overwhelm the wine, which can happen with poorly made monastrell.

Highly recommended, and a candidate for the 2020 $10 Hall of Fame and Cheap Wine of the Year. It’s red meat wine (Spanish-style roasted lamb, perhaps?), but also something like chicken with paprika.

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