Quinta da Muradella Monterrei Castrillón 2012

Quinta da Muradella Monterrei Castrillón is a co-fermented field blend from a single old vineyard on slate at 700 metres in the Monterrei highlands.

Monterrei sits in the far south-east of Galicia on the Portuguese border, a warm inland valley ringed by higher, cooler ground. José Luis Mateo works there in a great many small batches, bottling only what convinces him and blending or discarding the rest. El Castrillón is a co-planted parcel on slate soils at 700 metres above sea level, which Mateo believes was planted between sixty and eighty years ago; among the vines he has so far identified Mencía, Bastardo, Tinta da Zorra, Garnacha Tintorera, Gran Negro and the white Verdello, better known as Godello. Because several of these varieties are not recognised in the appellation, the wine cannot carry D.O. Monterrei on the label, and Mateo describes it instead as a Viticultura de Montaña. In the traditional manner the grapes are foot-trodden together in an old wooden vat and co-fermented, then moved to neutral oak for some thirteen months before bottling.

It is drinking well now and has the frame to keep for several more years. Serve at 16-18°C with roast lamb, grilled mushrooms or a plate of Galician cured meats.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.