Casa Castillo Pie Franco 2013

Parker über: Pie Franco

-- Parker: There is no 2012 Pie Franco so I tasted the 2013 Pie Franco, the leading old-vine, ungrafted Monastrell wine from Casa Castillo. This is an indigenous wine showing the character of the place, grape and vintage quite transparently. 50% full clusters were foot trodden and fermented in cement vats and aged in used 500-liter barrels. I had the chance to taste the wine a mere week before bottling and it was showing truly superb. It reminded me of a hypothetical blend of 2010 and 2006, perhaps more elegant at this stage, with subtle earth and tree bark aromas under notes of violets, red and blue berries, aromatic herbs (thyme, rosemary) and fennel (even aniseed and licorice). It shows no traces of oak only distant spices and even more timid hints of graphite. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a truly Mediterranean character, as it should be, along with density and tannin to keep the balance and freshness. It is quite poised and noble with great depth and a backbone of acidity that will keep it for many years. This is a model of what Mediterranean wines could (should) be; a wine that retains the character while being really drinkable and pleasant. This is approachable already, but should age for a long time. Since 2010 he’s bottling the wine a little bit earlier, after 16-18 months rather than 22 months. This on top of the fresher vintage also seems to contribute to a livelier wine. I revisited the wine in early January once bottled, and surprisingly it didn't show any signs of fatigue from the operation, and all the character I saw in it earlier seems to have made it into the bottle, and the flowers are still there (roses). This is plain great, up there with the 2006, but made in a different style that is perhaps a little atypical from Jumilla. It is a little fresher and not as classical as the 2006, but at the same quality level. Although you can drink this now, I'd keep it for a couple of years and drink earlier vintages while this one develops more complexity and tertiary notes in the bottle. This has to be one of the most affordable world-class wines from Spain. 6,000 bottles were filled in January 2015 and the wine will be released toward the end of 2015. 97/100