Bodegas ponce La Casilla Bobal 2024

One of the most defining grape varieties in Spain

Since time immemorial, three grape varieties have defined viticulture in southeastern Spain: Garnacha, Monastrell, and Bobal. While the former two achieved international fame, Bobal was primarily used locally for bulk wine production and thus fell increasingly into disuse. However, Manchuela pioneer Juan Antonio Ponce proves that this grape can also produce superb, high-quality wines.

He crafts his exceptionally refined wines at his bodega in Iniesta, inland from Valencia. The vineyards there are situated at altitudes of up to 800 meters above sea level and are planted with mostly old, untrained, and sometimes even ungrafted vines. The different terroirs produce equally diverse Bobal expressions.

The grapes for this La Casilla come from thirty- to seventy-year-old vines on very chalky soils. Juan Antonio hand-harvests them and ferments the whole bunches using the grape's own yeasts. After fermentation, he ages the wine for seven months in French oak barrels before bottling it unfiltered and unfined.

It produces a refined, light-bodied, and intensely minerally red wine, with an almost un-Spanish, very modest alcohol content. At the same time, La Casilla has sufficient strength and structure to complement a wide variety of dishes and even age for several years. A truly beautiful wine!