Pepe Mendoza • Casa Agrícola El Veneno 2021

Eine Monastrell-Ikone Spaniens

Casa Agricola El Veneno 2021

Pepe Mendoza

Alicante, Spanien

Wine Advocate, Januar2024 (Parker/Gutierrez)

95/100

The pure Monastrell 2021 El Veneno was produced with grapes from 45-year-old vines on sandy limestone soils. It fermented with 30% full clusters and matured in used 500-liter French oak barrels for one year. It has good ripeness at 14% alcohol and is juicy and round, peachy and velvety, with Mediterranean freshness. It has varietal typicity, and it's expressive, with notes of rosemary and focused fruit. This is very chalky and long, with depth and complexity, with a very sapid finish. 12,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2023.

Pepe Mendoza was very happy with the textbook 2020 and the cooler 2021, but in 2022, things were tougher and many wines will not be produced (there'll be only two reds), as the extreme heat deprived them of freshness. 2023 was again a cooler year, with low rainfall but good results through 40% lower yields. The vineyards are in the process of being certified organic, and he's buying more vineyards. The project is 140,000 bottles, and his idea is to reach a maximum of 170,000 bottles. The wines are Mediterranean with freshness, without excess ripeness or oak but with full development of aromas and flavors.

Drink 2024 - 2032

Release Price: $60