GIRÓ DE ABARGUES
"The forgotten elegance of the Marina Alta: a whisper of the most authentic Mediterranean, where finesse triumphs over extraction in a masterpiece by Pepe Mendoza."
The Renaissance of the Levant
Giró de Abargues is the standard-bearer for Pepe Mendoza’s conscious viticulture. Far from the traditional robustness of the Spanish Levant, this single-vineyard wine seeks verticality and marine freshness. Crafted from old Giró vines—the indomitable Grenache of the Mediterranean—on red clay and iron soils, it represents a "Burgundian" style in Alicantine lands: subtle, perfumed, and deeply moving. Purchase it at LaCava.shop.
1. Identity Profile
Winery: Pepe Mendoza Casa Agrícola
Origin: Abargues Plot, Llíber (Marina Alta), Alicante, Spain
Varietal: 100% Giró (Selection of old vines)
Aging: 12 months in 500-liter French oak barrels (neutral use)
Alcohol: 14% ABV
Presentation: 750 ml
2. Sommelier Notes
Appearance: Medium-depth cherry red color, with crystalline luminosity and lively reflections that invite you to take a sip.
Nose: An intoxicating perfume of dried rose petals, pomegranate, and wild red berries. Intertwined with a balsamic base of thyme, rockrose, and the salty breeze of the nearby Mediterranean.
Palate: Fluid entry with breathtaking elegance. Its progression is silky, with tannins that feel like chalk dust and a vibrant acidity that stretches the wine toward a long, vertical, and mineral finish.
3. Style Analysis
4. Pairing and Recommendation
Levantine Cuisine: The natural companion to mountain rice dishes (with snails and rabbit) or well-structured wood-fired paellas.
Marine Delicacy: Surprising and delightful with fatty blue fish like bluefin tuna or grilled salmon, thanks to its vertical freshness.
Meats and Charcuterie: Beef carpaccio, artisanal sausages from the Marina, or lightly spiced steak tartare.
Service: Serve ideally at 15°C (59°F) in a Burgundy-style glass. It is a wine that benefits from not being served too warm, which allows its floral profile to shine.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Giró the same as Garnacha?
Genetically it is a clone of Garnacha, but after centuries of adaptation to the Marina Alta, it has mutated to offer a thicker skin and a different ripening cycle. The result is a wine with more tannic structure but greater aromatic lightness.
Why is it called a "Single Vineyard Wine"?
Because the grapes come exclusively from Abargues, a specific plot with unique iron-clay soils. This guarantees a precise geographical identity that is not found in regional blends.