Giro de Abargues 2020 (Pepe Mendoza)

Cellar for up to 10 years. Decant for up to an hour before serving. Giró de Abargues is a beautiful terracotta red, bursting with notes of strawberries, balsamic and freshly dug earth. It is undeniably Mediterranean in character, with herby scents of fresh basil, bay leaf and pine needles lurking in the background. While most of the focus in Spain is on its prestigious wine regions in the north, Pepe Mendoza unleashes the potential of the country’s underrated southeast. Casa Agrícola is Pepe’s latest project, with its headquarters at an old estate manor near the village of Lliber. Their vineyards are planted with a combination of the ancient Muscat of Alexandria grape, and the native grapes Giró, Macabeo and Monastrell. This wine was crafted from 100% Giró. It is incredibly juicy on the palate, with a sanguine, ironclad edge underpinning the rich flavours of red cherry and herbs. Pepe Mendoza is one of the very few wine-makers in the world making quality Giró, so this is an unmissable introduction to this rare grape. The wine spent 12 months ageing in French oak barrels before bottling. It has a smooth mouthfeel overall, but grippy tannins allow for further ageing in the cellar. Consider pairing it with Spanish food, such as chorizo, Manchego cheese, or a variety of tapas.