In “Reds Made for Winter Drinking,” Lettie Teague writes that winter, despite feeling endless with the holidays far in the past, is “an opportune time for some diversionary drinking, and there is nothing more appealing right now than a delicious, substantial red.” Teague recommends wine regions to look out for, including Alicante where notable wines are being produced. She writes: “One winery that does good work with the Monastrell (aka Mourvedre) grape is BODEGAS ENRIQUE MENDOZA, whose entry-level 2016 Enrique Mendoza La Tremenda Monastrell ($11) was a pleasant surprise. This old-vine Monastrell was a bit rustic but savory, with bright red fruit -- a great match to a simple roast chicken.”
— The Wall Street Journal, Mar 2019

“Their entry-level Monastrell is already the 2016 La Tremenda is sourced from the vineyard that names the wine, from their estate El Chaconero in the village of Villena, a plot at 600 meters altitude planted some 25 years ago. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in French barriques for six months. 2016 is a cooler year than 2014 or 2015, and the wines reflect it. It was not an easy year; they had to do a strict selection of grapes, and it paid off. It has the character of the variety, with its elegant rusticity with a fresh, herbal twist and a palate with fine-grained tannins, nicely textured and with a supple, very tasty finish. This is a superb introduction to Monastrell from Alicante at an incredible price.”
— Wine Advocate, Dec 2017