The Castillo Armado Tempranillo Reserva 2011 is a GIWC top 20 winner from Castile-La Mancha, Spain.
The wine hails from the Bodegas Rasgón estate in Valdepeñas, also known as ‘Valley of the rocks,’ Spain. It was established as a modest family winery by Don Juan Sánchez Megía in 1904 and passed through many family generations before lading with its current president Navarro Doroteo Doando in 1988. The wine's name, Castillo Armado, draws inspiration from the armed fortresses built in the area in the late eighth century.
As one of Spain's oldest winemaking regions, it was recognised as an official appellation of origin in 1932. But with relative anonymity for the region outside of Spain, the high-quality wines can be enjoyed at a phenomenal value. Some of the vines at the estate can be traced back to its establishment in 1904 and the 2011 vintage was produced from these grapes, picked in excellent health and near-perfect weather conditions. The crop produced good phenolic ripeness and excellent flavour concentrations.
“Castillo Armado’s ripe berry flavours are coupled with hints of smooth vanilla and rich cocoa, imparted by the French, American and Hungarian oak barrels in which the wine was aged,” said Pamela Geddes, the Castillo Armado Tempranillo Reserva 2011 Winemaker.
Geddes's career in wine began in 1989, leaving scotch whiskey research to become the microbiologist for the award-winning winery Penfold Wines in South Australia. Since then, Geddes has held numerous international roles and consults for some of Spain’s leading wine producers and some of the world's top wine importers. In 2008 she joined Artiga and used her expertise to help produce the Castillo Armado vintage.
Castillo Armado is a great match for roast pork, venison and wild boar. Geddes said she also enjoys the flavours with a spread of cured meats and mature cheeses. The bottle is best served at around 18 degrees celsius and is ready to enjoy from the bottle now, but will soften with age over the next few years.
FAST FACTS:
Winery Name: Bodegas Rasgón
Location: Valdepeñas
Region & Country: Castile-La Mancha, Spain
Grape Variety/Varieties: Tempranillo
'Fun Fact' about the wine/winery/winemaker? Bodegas Rasgón winery was founded in 1904
