Rating:
90
Jay Miller - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"The 2007 La Casilla is 100% Bobal, a grape indigenous to the region, sourced from biodynamically farmed vineyards ranging in age from 32 to 55 years. Alcoholic fermentation is by carbonic maceration after which the wine goes to barrel for malolactic fermentation. The wine remains in barrel (of various sizes) for ten months before bottling without filtration. Dark ruby-colored, it offers up an alluring bouquet of smoke, lavender, mineral, black raspberry, and black cherry. This leads to a smooth-textured wine with baking spices and fruit compote notes emerging on the palate. Nicely balanced, it has enough silky tannin to evolve for several years and should be at its best from 2011 to 2020." (02/09)
Product Description:
WINERY:
"Young, up and coming winemaker Juan Antonio Ponce is a passionate advocate of the native grape variety, Bobal and learnt many of his skills from his father, who still works in the vines. Juan Antonio has studied and travelled extensively in France and, like his friend Daniel Jimenez Landi he has been seduced by the theories of biodynamics. Clos Lojen is a fresh example of Bobal grown in this way and is a great introduction to his wines. PF standing for Pie Franco is made solely from ungrafted vines from 65 to 85 years old, on limestone and sand. Pino is from a cool sited vineyard of 30 years which produces very elegant fruit. Finally the stronger more masculine Estrecha comes from a single limestone vineyard of 75 years. All stunning wines that should not be missed."
"Juan Antonio has done it again, this time with his first white, El Reto ('the Challenge'), a barrel-fermented number featuring local rare variety Albilla de Manchuela, just named as Wine of the Week with Jancis Robinson. There is also a 'sister' wine, a new fresh, light but complex red called Buena Pinta (which literally translates to 'Looking good' as everyone that tasted it said 'Tiene buena pinta!') made from Garnacha and local variety Moravia Agria. Both small production and organic. These have already received very favourable responses from on and off trade." -Importer