2019 Ponce La Casilla Bobal
WINEMAKER: Juan Antonio Ponce
REGION: Manchuela, SP
VARIETY: Bobal
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic
La Casilla Bobal is from a single vineyard with a unique amount of limestone in the soil. The wine is fermented using whole bunches in an old oak vat ferment, with indigenous yeasts, and is followed by 12 months in 600 litre barrels.
It has dark savoury fruit with notes of bay, thyme and leather. Firmer structured and chalky on the palate. In typical Bodegas Ponce fashion, La Casilla manages to express the inherent power and structure of Bobal and it's native Manchuela, but goes so with the sort of grace and style that re-calls Cru Beaujolais.
Manchuela & viticulture are in Juan Antonio's blood, he was only 14 when he started his winemaking degree. He has worked across Spain with Telmo Rodriguez and even a stint with Marcel Lapierre in Beaujolais! He came home at the humble age of 23 to start his own project, the idea to showcase Manchuela through a different lens; Low crop levels, Biodynamic farming and fresher wine styles. Working with his father they planted the family property to a mix of Bobal, Monastrell, Morvia Agria, Garnacha and the local white, Albilla. Alongside there own original holdings they have purchased older vineyards throughout the region amasing a total of 35ha under vine, again this is all managed organically or biodynamically and by hand, a HUGE feat indeed.