The Time and Date: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
The Event: a tasting of the entry level wines of Bodegas Castano, from
Yecla Spain, represented by John Hanna and Sons.
The Venue: Toritos, Kensington Market
The Target Audience: wine media.
The Availability/Catalogue: most everything is at the LCBO, some will
be along later.
The Quote/Background: Daniel Castano Munroz, exports, was here to talk
to everybody. It was a nice cocktail party feel, with a constant stream
of tapas to accompany the five wines. Overall, this serious winemaker
(who makes some pricier products) makes very clean and adaptable wines
at the "cheap and cheerful" entry level.
The Event: a tasting of the entry level wines of Bodegas Castano, from
Yecla Spain, represented by John Hanna and Sons.
The Venue: Toritos, Kensington Market
The Target Audience: wine media.
The Availability/Catalogue: most everything is at the LCBO, some will
be along later.
The Quote/Background: Daniel Castano Munroz, exports, was here to talk
to everybody. It was a nice cocktail party feel, with a constant stream
of tapas to accompany the five wines. Overall, this serious winemaker
(who makes some pricier products) makes very clean and adaptable wines
at the "cheap and cheerful" entry level.
The Wines: The star grape for the company is the Monastrell, which is
mourvedre in France. The south Spain climate and terroir is similar to
south France, so the wine comes across as comparable, ripening late
with fresh acidity.
mourvedre in France. The south Spain climate and terroir is similar to
south France, so the wine comes across as comparable, ripening late
with fresh acidity.
**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-La Casona de Castano Monastrell Rose 2009, +175760, $8.95 – remarkable
-Bodegas Castano Hecula 2008, +718999 V Essentials, $13.95 – 60-80 year
old vines
-La Casona de Castano Monastrell Rose 2009, +175760, $8.95 – remarkable
-Bodegas Castano Hecula 2008, +718999 V Essentials, $13.95 – 60-80 year
old vines
***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-La Casona G-S-M 2009, $8.85, soon to the LCBO – a solid contender to
the Australian Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre blend, part of the Rhone
complex of flavours. Older vines in the La Casona G-S-M.
-Castano Monastrell 2008 Ecologica, $14.95, 14.5% ABV – an organic wine
coming to Vintages this Fall.
-La Casona G-S-M 2009, $8.85, soon to the LCBO – a solid contender to
the Australian Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre blend, part of the Rhone
complex of flavours. Older vines in the La Casona G-S-M.
-Castano Monastrell 2008 Ecologica, $14.95, 14.5% ABV – an organic wine
coming to Vintages this Fall.
*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
- La Casona de Castano Monastrell 2007, +175760, $8.95 – 40-60 year old
vines
- La Casona de Castano Monastrell 2007, +175760, $8.95 – 40-60 year old
vines
The Food: tapas all the way, plus bread and water. Potato tortilla,
Serrano ham on a house-baked non-stale bread stick, chourico, Manchego
cheese, shrimp, and more. We noshed and tried to compare wines against
the foods.
The Downside: no spit buckets and there were no wineglasses…
The Upside: …but there were tumblers, and that was how we were to drink
the stuff.
The Contact Person: andrewhanna@winetrader.ca
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 89.
Serrano ham on a house-baked non-stale bread stick, chourico, Manchego
cheese, shrimp, and more. We noshed and tried to compare wines against
the foods.
The Downside: no spit buckets and there were no wineglasses…
The Upside: …but there were tumblers, and that was how we were to drink
the stuff.
The Contact Person: andrewhanna@winetrader.ca
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 89.
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