Pepe Mendoza Giro de Abargues 2020

Pepe Mendoza Casa Agrícola is the personal project of Pepe Mendoza, established in 2016 in the Marina Alta zone of Alicante after more than two decades working at his family estate. The focus is on recovering indigenous varieties and expressing the Mediterranean landscape through low intervention viticulture. Vineyards around Llíber and Abargues lie at around 300m, are close to the sea and are dry farmed organically with some biodynamic influence. Old bush vines grow on poor, free draining soils of sand, clay and limestone with iron rich elements, formed in the Triassic period, giving wines freshness, structure and a distinctive mineral and ferrous character.

Giró de Abargues 2020 is made from 100% Giró, an old Mediterranean variety, sourced from low yielding vines planted in 1943. Grapes are harvested relatively early to preserve freshness, then undergo gentle maceration with around 30% whole bunches and fermentation with indigenous yeasts in small vats for 8-10 days. The wine is pressed with the proportion of whole clusters and undergoes malolactic fermentation in oak, followed by approximately 12 months ageing in 500 litre French oak, with a mixture new and 1 year old barrels. This wine shows notes of red berries, cherry, lavender, rosemary and balsamic herbs, with earthy, iron-tinged minerality and fine tannins, pairing well with grilled lamb, Iberian meats and mature cheeses.