WTN: Hecula 2005

DO Yecla.
Bodegas Castano.

Monastreall (aka Mourvedre).

Very dark purple, bordering on black, in the glass.

Not much of a nose and the wine didn't really develop any nose over the course of the evening. Rather strange.

Very deep, rich and intense, fleshy blackberry, tarry, black licorice, tobacco, drying, fairly weighty, with some mildly bitter tannin giving the wine a nice bite.

A long, drying finish.

Purchased at $13.85 (Canadian).

We have enjoyed this wine a number of times over the years, but I am always hesitant to purchase as I have heard there can be a wide range in quality among individual bottles from the same vintage.

We have enjoyed this wine a number of times over the years, but I am always hesitant to purchase as I have heard there can be a wide range in quality among individual bottles from the same vintage.

Exactly what I thought when I posted late last year here!! I think the earlier style has changed and will not be buying again. So much more out there to try,eh Bruce.

We have enjoyed this wine a number of times over the years, but I am always hesitant to purchase as I have heard there can be a wide range in quality among individual bottles from the same vintage.

Exactly what I thought when I posted late last year here!! I think the earlier style has changed and will not be buying again. So much more out there to try,eh Bruce.

I really like the Castano Hecula and haven't had one issue with 6 bottles of '04. And 6 of the regular Castano Monastrell '05. I can't imagine there is "so much out there to try" when I think of the incredible QPR these wines offer, but if you'd like to give a couple of examples of good QPR Spanish, that would be honorable of you, Bob.

Bryan

I have heard there can be a wide range in quality among individual bottles from the same vintage.

Good summaries here:

http://www.vintageassessments.com/np-feb11-2006.html
http://www.vintageassessments.com/np-jan25-2003.html

And there's an old thread [or two] about it somewhere on eBob, in the archives.

We got bit bad by this a few years ago - ordered a case of magnums on futures, on the strength of having sampled a "good" 750ml bottle, only to discover that, when the magnums arrived, they were filled with the "bad" juice.

For this reason, I studiously avoid anything with the name "Eric Solomon" on the label.

Which apparently means that I am missing out on some other labels in his line card which are pretty nice, but I don't want to subsidize an importer who plays dirty like this [sending good bottles for review and then shipping bad juice afterwards].

Bryan, will get back to you asap.