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Bodegas Enrique Mendoza tasting - with Pepe Mendoza
Bodegas Enrique Mendoza tasting room
Tasted October 9, 2013 by abbulf with 904 views
Introduction
The always enthusiastic Pepe Mendoza, winemaker at Bodegas Enrique Mendoza, took time in the middle of harvest to taste through his wines with us on Wednesday. This year I was really impressed with the wines, which had a higher clarity of fruit than previous vintages, and both the Estrecho and the Santa Rosa is in my opinion better than ever. Also interesting to taste the new Monastrell project that will be released later this year. Pepes wines are all very good value, and especially the Estrecho and the Santa Rosa stands out year after year as very good wines.
Flight 1 (8 notes)
Red
2010 Enrique Mendoza Alicante Merlot-Monastrell
Not very complex, but fruity, well made and very good for the price. Food-wine.
Red
2010 Enrique Mendoza Shiraz Alicante
Nice nose that is more syrah than shiraz. Clean fruit and not jammy at all. The best young shiraz I have had from Pepe Mendoza
Red
2009 Enrique Mendoza Alicante Reserva
Clean fruit on the nose also here, which was the common denominator on Mendoza's wines today. Needs some time to integrate the tannins. Some heat in the finish, but still very good quality for the price.
Red
2009 Enrique Mendoza Alicante Estrecho
The best Estrecho to date. Prior vintages have been either in an elegant, burgundian style (2005 and 2006), or in a more powerful style (2004, 2007, 2008). The 2009 combines the two, with the power of the last two vintages, but mixed with a more elegant nose that is reminiscent of 2005 and 2006. Serious wine that should be kept 5 years or decanted if drank today. Has to be one of, if not the best Monastrell on the market.
Red
2010 Enrique Mendoza Alicante Santa Rosa Reserva
Full bodied, powerful and in need of time. Clean, sweet fruit, fine balance with tannins and acidity. The best Santa Rosa to date, and in need of 5-10 years of cellaring.
Red
2010 Enrique Mendoza Monastrell Alicante las Quebradas
A new project from Pepe Mendoza. 2 000 bottles have been bottled, and will be released in December 2013. This is also from Villenas, but from a plot with rocky soil, as opposed to Estrecho which is more sandy. According to Pepe, this gives a wine that is more full-bodied and powerful than the Estrecho. The wine has a sweet nose that is plum dominated. Powerful, and deeper than the Estrecho. Also structured and concentrated on the palate. A wine that is very young now, and will be interesting to follow. Much potential here.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2008 Enrique Mendoza Moscatel Alicante Moscatel Mendoza
Fine moscatel that has a complex nose of tropical fruits, honey, ginger and other spices. Sweet and seductive.
Red - Sweet/Dessert
2008 Enrique Mendoza Monastrell Alicante Dolc de Mendoza
Dark and sweet, and with 15 % alcohol. This has the same use as a port. Goes very well with chocolate desserts, but too rich and heavy for more than a glass on its own.