After all the recent fuss, I yesterday decided to open a bottle to find out how good, or bad, the 100% monastrell version is.

I found this one even better than vintage 1999, which was 'darker'. Fresh nose with plum and raspberry. Elegant, medium to full bodied wine. Young, but accessible. A bit creamy, with plum, blackberry and soft licorice. Lovely finish. This is great...for $7! The second half will follow this evening. NDD 90

And as a finishing touch, God created the Dutch!

$7?! NICE price, NDD!

Try Henri Bloem, Stevie. In Tilburg they had some bottles left, but I'm not sure if they have Castano in Amsterdam.

Moet ik een flesje voor je bewaren?

Greetingz

And as a finishing touch, God created the Dutch!

Thanks, NDD, I'll check them out.

Cheers! If they ran out, let me know. I can arrange a few bottles here. I also have the address of the importer of Castano in The Netherlands. He even makes his own wine over there, a 100% monastrell, aged on new French oak!

And as a finishing touch, God created the Dutch!

Looks like i have to check out Henri Bloem in Utrecht!
Thanks for the notes NDD

Hmmm...

I posted notes on this wine as smelling and tastig of cherry and strawberry, with anise and licorice notes, and initally a vegatative backround, that improved on the second night.

I'm wondering with regards to the posting under "Wine Conversations" whether or not there really are two different bottlings with the same name, or maybe two different versions with different grapes being used, or maybe it's just bottle variation, regarding cherry and strawberry versus plum and raspberry. Very curious.

But yummy, too!

Later,
Mark, N.H.

I think, after reading the various threas, that there are at least two different blends of this wine. The North America blend is certainly different from the European version.