Bodegas Casa Castillo is an unexpected discovery and a wonderful one. It is located on the plateau of the underrated wine region, Jumilla, with a 174-hectare vineyard which enjoys a high altitude and the cooling influence of the Mediterranean. Any lovers of Bandol wines should take note of Casa Castillo; the grape varieties they use are led by Monastrell (Mourvèdre). These are old bush vines that yield very small amounts of highly concentrated juice. A modern approach to winemaking is taken, with cold macerations to retain freshness and new French oak for high quality tannins and structure. The wines are generally bottled unfiltered to allow them to be as expressive as possible and they are a bargain for the quality produced.