The irreverent (fun) 2021 Castillo de Belarfonso was produced with Garnacha from El Real de San Vicente in a straightforward, aromatic, balanced and easy-to-drink style. It’s a juicy red from a soft extraction of destemmed grapes and was aged in used barrels for six months. It reflects a cooler and balanced year with some restraint. This is an expressive and great everyday wine, with flowers, earth, balsamic aromas and freshness . . . even minerality! Great value. 19,100 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2022.

Surprisingly enough, the 2019 Castillo de Belarfonso is darker and feels riper and more powerful than the 2019 Ganadero, which looks more like a wine from El Real de San Vicente than this Castillo de Belarfonso. This has a longer élevage in oak (500- and 600-liter barrels), and it's meatier (hints of smoky bacon), riper and more powerful, with even more, if still fine-grained, tannins. This is a powerful vintage of Castillo, but it's not as focused and streamlined as previous years.

The 2018 Castillo de Belarfonso is pure Garnacha from two vineyards in the village of El Real de San Vicente that fermented destemmed and matured in used 600-liter oak barrels for six months. It's pale, elegant and aromatic, subtle and mineral, showcasing the Gredos character, the high altitude and granite soils. It has a very fine palate, very good freshness, elegant tannins, supple flavors and a long finish. This is a fantastic introduction to what Garnacha de Gredos is at a very affordable place. 19,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2019.

The approachable Garnacha 2017 Castillo de Belarfonso was produced with grapes from the village of Real de San Vicente, the one village in the Sierra de Gredos within the Méntrida appellation. It has a bright ruby color and a bright nose with high-pitched aromas of red fruit and spicy aromas. It's a great introduction to the wines from Gredos. I liked it very much, it surpasses the effect of the warm vintage and delivers good freshness. There were 21,500 bottles produced and was bottled in June of 2018.

The approachable, fresh, aromatic and easy to drink 2016 Castillo de Belarfonso is pure Garnacha from two vineyards in the village Real de San Vicente. The destemmed grapes fermented with little extraction, and the wine was kept in used 600-liter oak barrels for six months. 2016 was a lot fresher than 2015, and this is the wine that shows more freshness. It's a fruit-driven, juicy red with a nice texture—clean and focused. Great value. 16,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2017.