Castillo de Maluenda 2021

If you’re a fan of rich, juicy Spanish red wines, then you’re in a for a real treat with Castillo de Maluenda. It pays tribute to the town’s history, taking its name from the ancient castle (built in 933 AD!) that overlooks the winery.

That winery, by the way, is Bodegas Raíces Ibérica, which was set up by Mark Schiettekat in 2020. Starting as a local wine merchant (from his garage) in Aragón in the 1990s, Mark has come a long way and has been impressing the critics as he goes. Master of Wine Jancis Robinson called the bodega one of Spain’s “exciting newcomers.”

Mark enlisted talented winemaker Rubén Magallanes to make the wines, and as you’ll taste, quality has soared. Rubén has 30 years of experience, and he’s particularly fond of Garnacha. In fact, his colleagues call him La Voz de la Garnacha’ (‘the voice of Garnacha’) for his deft touch with this traditional red grape.

For Castillo de Maluenda, Rubén selected Garnacha grapes grown in high-altitude vineyards (key to preserving fresh flavors) and on old vines (which amps up the flavor concentration). He also added a small portion of Monastrell grapes, another Spanish specialty, for a little extra depth. Three months in oak barrels completed the recipe, imparting delicate spice notes to the wine’s ripe red fruit, subtle graphite and balsamic notes.

All that care paid off with 90-point scores from International Wine Report and critic Andreas Larsson. Order your share today, then tell us what you thought of the wine with an online review.