Another terrific vintage from PAGO CASA GRAN!

Casa Benasal, Pago Casa Gran's 300 year old winery, was taken over by Manuela Galbis in the 1960's at the age of 18. At the turn of the century, Manuela's son, Carlos Laso, took the reins as she retired. Carlos converted the domaine's farming and winemaking to organics (Delinat certified), and made some bold changes in the vineyards. He planted denser vines for heightened competition and smaller yields. He adopted the use of permanent cover crops to increase biodiversity, growing select flowers for each variety chosen to draw away the pests that particularly liked those vines. He introduced the use of sheep for grazing, aerating, and fertilizing these rows. The results were stunning. The crop cover cooled the sandy soils to 8-12ºC in an otherwise warm region (checked also by their 500m+ elevation), retained more water in an extremely dry region, and brought back a biodiversity that's giving more complex flavours to their fruit.

If you want to know more about the characteristics of this area you can take a look at www.vinerra.com     

Sadly, Pago Casa Gran's matriarch, Manuela passed away just this spring. Carlos now leads the domaine as he continues to advance his vision for quality over quantity wine farming. These wines continue to be so important to us at Vino al Vino, representing such excellent wine at such terrific values. They stand for everything we stand for at prices and in styles that are widely accessible to wine newcomers. ¡Salud!

AB CSPC/SKU #: 804167

2021 'Casa Benasal' White

Muscat d’Alexandria & Gewürztraminer

A fragrant, refreshing, dry food wine par excellence, giving aromas of orange blossom, rose petal, grapefruit, and fresh peach. The texture is buoyed by a gentle lees management, bolstering the floral profile with additional structure. Truly a wine of pleasure.

AB CSPC/SKU #: 820237

2021 'Casa Benasal' Rosé

Syrah & Monastrell

This quintessential rosé of Monastrell and Syrah shares much in common with the Provençal style while upping the fruit punch. Notes of strawberry kiwi sorbet and raspberry panacotta. This wine is wildly refreshing, beyond versatile with food, organically farmed with permanent crop cover, naturally fermented, with nothing added nor taken away, save for <30ppm of sulphites. It’s a true gem, such a crushable drop at a fantastic price.

AB CSPC/SKU #: 804166

2020 'Casa Benasal' Red

Syrah, Garnacha Tintorera, Monastrell



The youngest and most vibrant presentation of Pago Casa Gran’s red blend series, this inky, juicy wine still holds remarkable freshness with a fleet footed structure, an admirable balance to achieve in this region. Black berry, crushed violets, gentle tannins, and a refreshing back palate. Lovely and superbly priced juice from this holistic estate!

AB CSPC/SKU #: 804168

2020 'Casa Benasal' Elegant

Syrah/Monastrell/Garnacha Tintorera

The Crianza bottling of the Benasal sites. Similar blends to the “young” wine and the CRUX Reserva, we still see a shocking amount of concentration and power, finessed with a very well balanced structure. Amazing value to quality ratio here. A wine that can be consumed now or aged. Smoky, chalky, red fruit, weight carried gracefully by lush acid and strong tannins. Strong palate front to back, with vibrancy that keeps the energy flowing. Great juice and again, great value!

AB CSPC/SKU #: 840818

2020 'Cuvée Spéciale' Malvasia

Malvasia is one of our favourite varieties! This is the step up from their stainless steel version. They've implemented concrete eggs and lees stirring to give this wine some oxygen and a rounder acidity and enhanced texture. These have added a wealth of nuances to Malvasia's endless bouquet and stone fruit profile. Something of the aroma makes you nostalgic for peeling those fruit cups you'd get for lunch as a kid, it's invigorating!



AB CSPC/SKU #: 804170

2019 Falcata Casa Gran

Garnacha Tintorera, Syrah, Monastrell

The Falcata line of wines, named for the falcata swords ancient Iberians were buried with among their vines, are where Pago Casa Gran’s older vines from cooler sites are styled in the more traditional and austere mode of classic Valencian reds. Fermented uncrushed and aged for one year in oak, these expressive parcels give us a lifted GSM of archetypal precision. Concentrated without being over extracted, so lively, and easily ready to lay down for a decade. Outstanding. Variety: Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo), Garnacha.

AB CSPC/SKU #: 804169

2019 Casa Benasal Crux

100% Monastrell

Of the Benasal line-up this is the big bold reserva bottling from old vine Monastrell that so over delivers for its price. Granite and graphite over black cherry and plum, chewy, succulent tannins, that run long and even over the palate all the way to the back. Spicy notes and hints of oak show towards the end as well. A very impressive wine for a song. Drink now or over the next 5-7 years.