The 2021 Bodegas Ponce, La Casilla Bobal Manchuela was a Merchant's Pick
Spanish treasure BEYOND measure!
April 03, 2024
OUTSTANDING! Just North of Jumilla, Spain is a small wine making region, Manchuela.
There, the Bodegas Ponce vineyards are perched 800 meters above sea level.
Cru Beaujolais sophistication meets Northern Rhone approachability in La Casilla's exotic grape, Bobal.
A key element to this outstanding wine is the limestone-bearing clay soil. It gives the wine its texture and grip.
Even Robert Parker can't get enough:
Moderate ripeness, nice balance and a polished palate but with grip, after the wine spent some 15 months in bottle. It has an explosive nose, clean and expressive, with a Northern Rhone profile with a herbal twist, as well as depth and balance and very fine chalky tannins." Robert Parker
Never heard of Bobal?
Bobal is a red grape varietal grown in very small quantities in just a handful of areas of Spain. Its medium-sized berries have a good ratio of skin-to-fruit, which boasts black currant, stewed dark fruits, dark cherry, intense freshness, and fabulous acidity.
For those who want a medium to full-bodied red, the elegance of a Cru Beaujolais, and the approachability of a great Northern Rhone, Bobal is the answer.
Drink this wine with sophisticated foods such a grilled ribeye, grilled lobster tail, or grilled octopus. Or, keep it simple! We like chorizo, Spanish peppers, or even with a wedge of cheese and a plate of marinated green olives.
Burger time? Tapas time? Bobal time!
This is one to buy by the case and drink all year long. It will be a crowd-pleaser for sure!