Enrique Mendoza Estrecho

Estrecho bottle image

Wine Description

This flavorful red is named after "El Estrecho de Pipa", which translates as “the Strait of Pipe," the area where the vineyards are situated, which has a reputation for creating red wines with a streak of slatey minerality. Made entirely from mature, hand-harvested Monastrell, fermented and aged for 12 months in French oak.

accordion plus icons
Acclaim
“The 2015 Estrecho, their flagship single vineyard Monastrell from a place called Estrecho de Pipa in the village of Villena at 700 meters above sea level where the soils are rich in sand. The vines are dry-farmed, organic and head pruned. The wine matured in French barriques for 15 months. It was harvested when the grapes still keep the freshness. The year can be a little austere, not as ripe as 2014, perhaps similar to 2010. It’s not an immediate wine, it’s a little closed, but has incredible inner power and depth. It has the Mediterranean herbs, hints of tree bark and fine-grained tannins with a long, mineral finish. I believe this is going to age magnificently and for a very long time.”
— Wine Advocate, Dec 2017
“Deep magenta color. A highly complex bouquet evokes red/blue fruit preserves, lavender pastille, licorice and exotic spices that show outstanding delineation and lift. Juicy and expansive in the mouth, offering energetic raspberry, bitter cherry, spicecake and dark chocolate flavors that are sharpened by a zesty mineral accent. Ample but elegant as well, delivering strong finishing thrust, mounting tannins and repeating florality.”
— Vinous, Apr 2019
View more acclaim Arrow Right
accordion plus icons
Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
The Estrecho de Pipa vineyard
Vineyard size
70 acres
Soil composition
Sandy-Loam
Training method
Gobelet
Elevation:
2,310 feet
Vines/acre:
440
Yield/acre:
0.2 tons
Exposure:
Northern / Southern
Year vineyard planted:
1947
Harvest time:
November
First vintage of this wine:
2003
Bottles produced of this wine:
12,000
accordion plus icons
Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
25
Varietal composition:
100% Monastrell
Fermentation container:
Barriques and Wooden vats
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
7 days
Fermentation temperature:
82-86 °F
Maceration technique:
Punchdown
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Type of aging container:
Barrels
Size of aging container:
500 L
Type of oak:
French: Allier
Length of aging before bottling:
12 months
Age of Aging Container:
One-Three years
Length of bottle aging:
12 months
accordion plus icons
Analytical Data
No relevant data were found.