Pastor Díaz is a small family winery with a classical approach and centuries of family tradition behind it. Gonzalo Pastor and Blanca Díaz have got winemaking in their blood. Today they manage a marvellous vineyard of old vines located around Mount Yerga. At the winery, the ingredients are modelled by the masterful hand of José Hidalgo, one of the most renowned Spanish winemakers. Castroviejo Reserva Especial 2019 also comes with the guarantees of an Excellent-rated vintage in the D.O.Ca. Rioja.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
Consumption time
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
10% Graciano, 85% Tempranillo, 5% Mazuelo
Type of barrel
American and French oak barrels
Barrel aging time
20 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Alcohol content (% vol.)
14
General Information
Castroviejo Reserva Especial 2019 (an Excellent year) is a classic Rioja blend of Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (10%) and Mazuelo (5%). The vineyard is located on the slopes of Mount Yerga, with deep, infertile calcareous-clay soil with abundant pebbles. The grapes were harvested at night to keep the grapes fresh and preserve their aromas.
At the winery they were destemmed and carefully pressed before undergoing fermentation in small tanks, controlling their maceration by means of pumping-over to achieve good colour extraction and smooth, ripe tannins. Malolactic fermentation. This red was finally aged for 20 months in American and French barrels and for a further 12 in the bottle.
Bodegas Pastor Díaz was founded in 1994 in Aldeanueva del Ebro by the family of Gonzalo Pastor and Blanca Díaz, who have a century-long track record of grape growing. Generation after generation, this family have selected the best terroirs and now control more than 100 hectares of vineyards over 30 years old, mostly in the foothills of Mount Yerga, one of the most coveted areas of the D.O.Ca. Rioja. The grapes are harvested at their optimum moment, taking into account the location and altitude of the vineyards. The winery has recently hired one of the most renowned winemakers on the Spanish scene: José Hidalgo.
Castroviejo Reserva Especial 2019 (D.O.Ca. Rioja) is ideal with grilled entrecote with mushrooms..
Creators' opinion
A wine with an attractive, deep cherry-red colour with brick-red hues. Intense aromas of fresh and jammy black fruit (blackberry and vanilla) and spicy background notes from its fantastic evolution in the bottle (clove, cinnamon and tobacco). Very smooth and round, long and balanced on the palate with the characteristic liquorice notes of Tempranillo, silky tannins and a pleasant finish brimming with aromatic sensations.
The winery
Pastor Díaz is a family-owned winery located in the Rioja town of Aldeanueva del Ebro. The family has been dedicated to viticulture for several centuries, and interestingly, the last four generations have been led by men with the same name: Gonzalo Pastor. Over time, the family has acquired the best types of soils, altitudes, and the most optimal orientations for their vineyards. In the winery, there is maximum respect for traditional winemaking. Their range of wines includes young reds, crianzas, reservas, gran reservas, and an organic wine, and it is composed of three brands: Castroviejo, Valdejimena, and Castro Real.
Currently, Bodegas Pastor Díaz manages around 130 hectares of vineyards located mainly on the slopes of Mount Yerga, one of the most exclusive areas for vine cultivation in the D.O.Ca. Rioja. Seventy percent of the vines are grown on trellises, while the remaining 30% are cultivated in the traditional bush vine method. The vineyard's altitude ranges between 350 and 600 meters. The winery primarily cultivates tempranillo, along with a small amount of garnacha and graciano.