Pepe Mendoza Giró de Abargues

Pepe Mendoza Giró de Abargues

Wine Description

Giró is a unique variety that since 1500 has united Alicante with Mallorca and Sardinia, the only other regions claiming to grow it. Sensitive to powdery mildew and very low yielding, it lost out in favour of more productive varieties. Yet today it is regarded as a treasure that must be taken care of.

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Acclaim
“The 2021 Giró de Abargues fermented with 30% full clusters and had a gentle vinification. It matured in used 500-liter French oak barrels for one year. It has a bright ruby color, with notes of blood and iron, red berries and aromatic herbs. This is sharp and bright with very fine tannins and great balance and freshness. It should develop nicely in bottle. I like this very much, even more than the already phenomenal 2020.” — Wine Advocate, Jan 2024
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Viña de Abargues
Vineyard size
10 ha acres
Soil composition
sand argillaceous, calcareous, iron
Elevation:
492 feet
Exposure:
East/West
Harvest time:
mid of September
Bottles produced of this wine:
15,000
Average Vine Age:
80 years
Sustainability Certification:
Practices (not certified)
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
15 days
Varietal composition:
100% Giró
Fermentation container:
stainless steel tank
Maceration technique:
soft maceration five times a day
Malolactic fermentation:
yes
Fining agent:
vegan
Size of aging container:
500 liters French oak
Length of aging before bottling:
12 months
Total SO2
74
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.33
Acidity:
5.08 g/L
Alcohol:
14 %
Total SO2
74
Residual sugar:
0.6 g/L
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Wine Production

Grapes are picked before they become over-ripe in order to reflect a fresher expression. Soft manual maceration with skins and 30% of stems, no pumping. Fermented with indigenous yeast in 1000l vats for 8-10 days. Pressing of the whole clusters. Lees contact and malolactic fermentation in oak barrels, followed by 12 months aging in a mix of new and used French oak.

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About the Vineyard

Vineyards are at Abargues and Pla Lliber at around 300 meters with a total vineyard area of 2.5 ha. Vines are around 75 years old. Goblet trained, dry farmed, organic vineyards on ancient soils formed during the Triasic period, with rivulets of iron running through the calcareous stones.