2007 Bodegas y Viñedos Ponce "La Casilla" Manchuela (Previously $22)

Produced from 100% bobal, a grape variety indigneous to the Manchuela D.O., west of Alicante, this wine is INTENSE. Dark plums and cherries, pits and all, show a distinctive aromatic pungency. On the palate, there is vivid, intense wild dark fruit; rich to be sure, but natural and balanced with good acid as well. To elaborate this wine, seven distinctive parcels of sand, clay and limestone soils were identified and vinified separately. Simply put, this is the most intriguing warmer climate Spanish red I have tasted in a long while - not too hot or oaky, just a wonderful expression of carefully native yeast fermented indigenous grapes. Great stuff. 90 points 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)