Abel Mendoza, Blanco 5 Varietals, DOCa Rioja, Spain, 2021

Producer Profile

Modest, passionate and in no small part obsessive, Abel Mendoza and Maite Fernández have been making understated wines from their old vine vineyards, high up in the Cantabrian mountains near San Vicente de la Sonsierra since the late 80s.

His intimate knowledge of the diverse terroirs in this spectacular part of Rioja is enthralling, and every barrel tasted reveals startling provenance and true character of the vintage. Abel doesn’t make wines that flatter, they don’t speak of oak regimes, but rather of the quality of his fruit, expressed in its most honest form.

Viticulture

Harvest is carried out by hand, each plot and each variety individually at optimum ripeness. One of Abel's specialties is the vinification of these traditional white Rioja varietals separately in new oak barrels.

Winemaking

Fermentation in new French barrels and 5 months battonage until bottlling.

Oak Ageing

Time: 5 Months
Type: French
% wine oaked: 100
% new oak: 100

Tasting Note

The nose is quite complex, with notes of smoke, yellow and white fruits, white flowers and balsamic aromas. The compact palate shows power as well as plenty of well-integrated oak.

Food Matching

Complex salads, legumes, braised seafood, braised white fish, cod fish, soft cheese.

Awards

Tim Atkin Rioja Report 2023 95 Points
Blended, rather than co-fermented, this is a brilliant five- way cuvée of equal parts Viura and Garnacha Blanca, with 20% Tempranillo Blanco, 10% Malvasía Blanca and 10% Torrontés. Cinnamon and wild flower top notes segue into a palate of quince, tangerine, waxed lemons and wet stones. Delicious. 2024-30. 95 Points, TA, 2023.