BODEGAS CASTAÑO HÉCULA ORGANIC MONASTRELL 2021

Trophy for Champion International Red Wine – New Zealand International Wine Show 2024
Double Gold Medal – New Zealand International Wine Show 2024

The International Red category at the NZ International Wine Show is a hotly contested one, with wines from all around the globe and a spectrum of styles and varieties included. We are always intrigued to see what the judges come up with for the champion wine and where pleasantly surprised to see one of favourite value wines over the past decade or so come up trumps.

Hecula is a fantastic value red wine with serious character from Yecla in Spain's south east. Brooding dark fruits come together with brighter red fruits and smoky, meaty, savoury notes to give a wine of depth and interest. The region of Yecla is dry and sunny and ideal for growing the Monastrell variety. These low yielding, old vines grow on sandy-stony, limestone soils and give intense concentrated fruit.

Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"Of an intense shiny ruby red colour of medium high intensity, clean and bright. Outstanding notes of ripe red fruit, plums and blueberries, on elegant and subtle toasted notes. It is well-balanced, with a delicate, enveloping and rich ending. Aged for 6 months in French (80%) and American (20%) oak barrels."

NZIWS Judges' Comments (2021 Vintage)
"Outstanding notes of ripe red fruit, plums and blueberries and subtle toasted aromas. Immediately appealing, it shows raspberry jam hints along with vanilla and cacao notes."

5 Stars & 93/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, September 2023 (2021 Vintage)
"Beautifully styled and expressed, the wine shows dark plum, sweet cherry, warm spice and assorted nut aromas on the nose, followed by splendidly flavoursome palate that’s silky and robust at the same time, offering terrific drinking. At its best: now to 2033."