A tribute to the province of Alicante, where you can enjoy its sun, its land and its people.
The region of Alicante is located in Southeastern Spain, some 100 miles south of Valencia. Although many of the vineyards in the zone are within a few kilometres of the sea around the large city of Alicante, most of the parcels are futher inland. As with many other Spanish wine regions were cultivated here by the Romans after being planted originally by the Phoenicians. Now, the zone is cimprised of just over 15.000 hectares, about one fifth the size as it was pre-phyloxera.
Created in 1989, Bodegas Enrique Mendoza was established by the man of the same name in zone of Alicante some 70 kilometres from the city os Alicante. Now, Pepe Mrndoza, Enrique's son, has taken over the vinemaking responsabilities from his father and has become quite known for his use of newer varietals in the zone instead of the traditional Monastrell.
Bodega Enrique Mendoza
Alicante benefits from a Mediterranean climate, with warm days and nights during the summen months. However, parcels in the extreme western zones of the region are affected by a more continental climate, with hot dry winds. Rainfall is ver slow (200-300 liters/meter squared per year). The soil contains a high limestone content, with only small amounts of clay. As a result, it is not very fertile and yields are low. With careful, attention, this has led to some extraordinary result in the bottle.
Pepe Mendoza's credo is simply to put the vines under as much hydric stress as possible (he monitors moisture levels constantly) to ensure a very small grape. His goal is to keep the skin to flesh ratio quite small in order to produce higher quality for his bottlings. Most of the wines are aged in French oak (he prefers Allier barrels), although most are fermented first in tank. Macerations are long (up to 28 days) and varietals are vinified separately.
As with many of the parcels of Alicante, the vineyards of Enrique Mendoza lie at an average of 400 meters altitude, with some parcels over 600 meters. "New" varietals to the zone have been planted in recent years and the bodega is taking full advantage of theis potential. Cabernet Sauvignon grows quite well here and Merlot has been used quite effective with it to produce wines with great complexity of fruit and ageing potential.
Enrique Mendoza Estrecho
Launched in December 2005, this is Enrique Mendoza's latest venture into excellent quality wines.
Estecho is a red wine produced in a single estate located in the "Estrecho de Pipa" area, in Villena, 700 m above sea level.
The vineyard lives on fine sand that is poor in organic matter but allows the plant to reach its polyphenolic maturity perfectly without exhaustion or stress. It is a traditional vineyard with 1500 plants per hectare formed in a glass and without irrigation support, the fertilizer is compost from organic sheep fermented by the winery.
It is a viticulture that works with the concept zero residue, this means that it has never received herbicides or systemic and of course no insecticide, only work with sulfur powder, copper, biological control as the "bacillus turugensis" for the moth and a lot of awareness.
Exclusively made with the Monastrell variety, it has been aged for 15 months in new 500 litre French oak barrels. The production in this first vintage, 2003, has been around 20,000 bottles, bottled in Burgundy.
The presentation of this first vintage shows ways of great wine, with character, depth and excellent freshness. A reinterpretation of the variety in all its splendour. Elegance and subtlety, kindness and power have been sought with excellent results.
Variety: 100% Monastrell
Estrecho is a wine with a soul, ready to be drunk now or kept. As a concept, the winery has sought the finesse and elegance of this variety, starting with the selection of the land and committing itself to the vinification process so as not to extract, squeeze or compress.
A tribute to the province of Alicante, where you can enjoy its sun, its land and its people.
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