San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Rioja Alta.
Abel Mendoza is widely regarded as one of the single finest producers in Rioja, crafting sophisticated, limited, first-rate Rioja from his small, family run estate.
Abel has 18 hectares of prime old vineyard land in the district of San Vicente de la Sonsierra in Rioja Alta, where harvest is carried out by hand, each plot and each variety harvested separately at optimum ripeness.
“I cultivate vines following my own rules, which has nothing to do with current trends; rhythms are marked by the variables one observes in the vine, where a correct intervention at the right time on the land or on the vine, determines the quality of the wine” - Abel Mendoza – ‘Wines From Spain’ Interview, Dec 2009.
One of Abel's specialities is the vinification of the traditional white Rioja varietals separately in new oak barrels. These wines are astonishing in their freshness and complexity. Sadly only a hand full of cases are made each year.
Abel’s flagship red wine; the Seleccion Personal is also fermented in new oak and is equally impressive as his whites. The Crianza is fermented and aged in a mixture of new and one and two year old barrels. The Jarrate is a young wine from fabulous fruit, subjected to carbonic maceration. Flavours are dense and pure.
These unique and remarkable wines are available in tiny quantities.
