Abel Mendoza Viura 2020
Rioja, Spain
Regular price $49.99
2020 Viura
Abel Mendoza
San Vicente, Rioja
Around 1993, Abel and Maite owned a few old plots of Viura and wanted to plant some new vines. Abel approached the Consejo for permission to plant and was refused. The Consejo argued that enough white varieties had already been planted. Abel decided to graft cuttings of Viura onto red rootstocks to circumvent their decision. When the Consejo discovered this, rather than cause a scene, they just told him he was crazy because red wine was more valuable. They allowed him to leave the new vines in. Abel and Maite wanted to focus on quality and strive for the best expression of the variety that they could. They now farm around twelve plots of Viura in Rioja with the oldest roughly 100 years of age. - Importer
A wine with great aromatic intensity in which floral and fruit notes stand out in the foreground. These are combined with well-integrated secondary notes of wood, balsamic and wild herbs. On the palate, its lush acidity stands out on a silky mid palate with a pleasant and lingering finish.
RP WA Scores from Gutierrez:
2019 93+ Points
2018 94 Points
2017 93 Points
2019 95 Points (Atkin): Maite Fernandez describes Viura as an undervalued grape in Rioja. When it's made by talented people I think she's right. Sourced from 13 parcels in San Vicente, Abalos and Labastida, this is creamy, spicy and floral with subtle vanilla top notes, impressive structure and a backbone of tangy, lemon fresh acidity.
Abel Mendoza
San Vicente, Rioja
Around 1993, Abel and Maite owned a few old plots of Viura and wanted to plant some new vines. Abel approached the Consejo for permission to plant and was refused. The Consejo argued that enough white varieties had already been planted. Abel decided to graft cuttings of Viura onto red rootstocks to circumvent their decision. When the Consejo discovered this, rather than cause a scene, they just told him he was crazy because red wine was more valuable. They allowed him to leave the new vines in. Abel and Maite wanted to focus on quality and strive for the best expression of the variety that they could. They now farm around twelve plots of Viura in Rioja with the oldest roughly 100 years of age. - Importer
- 100% Viura
- The fruit is sorted and pressed in a pneumatic press. The juice goes into tank for a brief settling period and after one day is racked off into new French oak barrels for fermentation.
- After fermentation, the wines stay in barrel for 5 - 6 months. Batonnage is done every 2 - 3 days.
- After barrel maturation, the wines are blended into tank, stabilized and bottled.
A wine with great aromatic intensity in which floral and fruit notes stand out in the foreground. These are combined with well-integrated secondary notes of wood, balsamic and wild herbs. On the palate, its lush acidity stands out on a silky mid palate with a pleasant and lingering finish.
RP WA Scores from Gutierrez:
2019 93+ Points
2018 94 Points
2017 93 Points
2019 95 Points (Atkin): Maite Fernandez describes Viura as an undervalued grape in Rioja. When it's made by talented people I think she's right. Sourced from 13 parcels in San Vicente, Abalos and Labastida, this is creamy, spicy and floral with subtle vanilla top notes, impressive structure and a backbone of tangy, lemon fresh acidity.