Pepe Mendoza Casa Agricola Tinto 2018

Pepe Mendoza is the star winemaker of DO Alicante, on the southern part of Spain’s Mediterranean coast. He is responsible for his family’s label, named for his father, Enrique. Of late, he has also developed a smaller, personal project, in conjunction with his wife, Pepa.

Pepe Mendoza Casa Agricola represents a transition for Pepe, beyond what is possible in the larger family project. Specifically, the aim is to utilise the opportunity afforded by low-cropped old vines to make wines with minimal intervention.

Monastrell (70%), 20% Giró and touches of with Syrah and Garnacha Tintoreira (Alicante Henri Bouchet).

The Giró is coastal from Abargues, the rest from dry grown bush vines in Alto Vinalopó from ‘Parcela el Veneno’ and ‘Parcela Los Burros’. Organic viticulture, wholefruit with 20% stems, fermented naturally in 1,000 litre tank at 21 degrees. 20% is aged in 500L French oak, most rests in tank. Magnificently fresh, fiercely Mediterranean in its scrubland balsamic aromas. Ultra-pure, light and flowing wine of rosemary, pine, laurel, thyme, resin, scrub. Mulberry leaves, stones and red dates in a mix of orchard and maritime smells. A saline thread lines the gently spiced cherry lipstick fruit, which is less than mid-weight, with gentle tannin and subdued glycerol. Delicate acidity is soft, freshly on point. Ease of passage, balsamic lift, balance and light are the thing. The palate’s more flutter than chew, beautifully laid out and running. PWS