
The Torre Castillo Estate
Torre Castillo is a family owned winery run by Julian Lopez Lizan. It is located in Montealegre del Castillo, in the heart of the D.O. Jumilla. The family built a new cellar in 1996 and got new equipment that allowed them to take advantage of the most modern techniques to produce high quality wine. Also, they own 700 oak barrels. After spending two years experimenting two different vineyards, they had their first harvest in 1997 and released their first vintage in 2000. They started to export their wines in 2003. The export market keeps growing and now represents 60%.
The Torre Castillo Vineyards
They own 100 hectares of vines planted to Monastrell grapes (also known as Mourvedre or Mataro). The wine region of Jumilla is quite large and spreads over the province of Murcia and Albacete, in south-eastern Spain. It is a rugged country, where the vineyards grow on a high plateau surrounded by mountains. Cultivating grapes has been a tradition for more than 2000 years and particularly Monastrell, that benefits from excellent growing conditions in the area. The limestone soils and the harsh climate (with temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, plunging to below freezing in winter, the scarce rainfall) enable Monastrell grapes to develop their color and flavors to the fullest.
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Cazaux Vacqueyras Rouge Grenat Noble 100% Grenache.
This wine is the result of extraordinary weather conditions. The first cuvée was produced in 1992 when violent storms and floods affected the region (especially Vaison la Romaine). The following days were radiant and accompanied by Mistral winds. We could then continue to harvest or more precisely harvest what remained of a rotten crop - but a noble rotten crop!
Following our first involuntary test of 1992, we wanted to reproduce this wine but we had to wait until 1995 to isolate the parcels that were capable of producing this noble rot. Unfortunately, the "noble" phenomenon does not occur every year despite late harvests (October 15).
The resulting wine is offers aromas of small red berries (cherries, raspberries), liquorice, fig, honey, fruit brandy and plum. It is elegant, supple and smooth on the palate with a firm, generous and suave structure. A beautiful length on spices and cherry.
This Grenache nectar marries will with dishes such as pan-fried foie gras in honey and fig preserve, leg of lamb with preserved fruits accompanied by local cereal "epautre" or other sweet and sour dishes.
Pago de Carraovejas Cuesta Liebres is made from 100% Tinto Fino. The plot is located on a terraced hillside located at 900 m above sea level with slopes that range between inclines of 30% and 40%. Red cherry color with purple hues. Ripe fruit aromas, vanilla notes. Suave and unctuous in the mouth. A strong and noble character.
The harvest is carried out by hand using small crates and after passing through a refrigerated container it is transferred into tanks via gravity. The alcoholic and malolatic fermentation is carried out in small French “Haute Futaie” Oak casks with unique and original local yeasts and fermenting bacteria from the vineyard itself, to bring out the very best of the terroir, respecting the uniqueness of each and every vintage. Clarified with egg whites and bottled by gravity with natural cork stoppers.
Review:
"From the vineyard of the same name, the 2021 Cuesta De Las Liebres is a knockout, from a hillside vineyard of terraced vines. Aged 24 months in French oak, the first year in new, the second in second-use, all fine-grained, and bottled in June 2024, the tannins are well-integrated and dusty, nearly chalky. It’s truly a beautiful expression of variety, vintage, and site, reaching perfection in its fine-tuned, full-bodied layers of rich cassis, oak spice, and even a touch of garrigue. There’s lovely acidity throughout that brightens the palate, with beguiling notes of violet that never fade away. It’s a seamless, polished, gorgeous wine that will be hard to resist, though aging will continue to see it melt into one over the next 15-18 years. - Virginie BOONE"
- Jeb DUNNUCK (August 2025), 100 pts