Casa Castillo Jumilla Cuvée N Viñas Viejas 2021

97 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "[$135 list] There was no 2020 produced of this wine, so from the 2019 they jump to the 2021 Cuvée N, a wine they only produce in Mediterranean vintages. This was produced with 100% destemmed grapes (a change from previous years), as they were looking for a more classical style and wanting to make it a bit more different from Las Gravas, as this is 100% Monastrell from Las Gravas that is released one year later than the rest of the wines. It also had a longer élevage to polish the wine, which is quite powerful. But it is extremely elegant and balanced, serious, classical, varietal and mineral, with very chalky sensations in the palate and full ripeness with freshness and velvety tannins. This is now certified organic (like all wines from the 2020 vintage). This is the finest Cuvée N to date. 2,700 bottles were produced. It was bottled in July 2023 after it matured in used 500-liter oak barrels. This was only produced in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021 and will not be produced in 2022, a year when they only produced 30% of the normal yields from the property, and 2023 is still a question mark. Drink: 2024-2030. (1/18/24)"

94 points Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine: "Colour: deep cherry, garnet rim. Nose: aged wood nuances, ripe fruit, cocoa bean, cigar, toasty, black fruit. Palate: flavourful, spicy, toasty, powerful tannins (2025)"