GIRÓ DE ABARGUES
PEPE MENDOZA • MARINA ALTA
"The forgotten elegance of Marina Alta: a whisper of the most authentic Mediterranean, where finesse prevails over extraction in a masterpiece by Pepe Mendoza."
The Renaissance of the Levant
Giró de Abargues is the standard-bearer of Pepe Mendoza's conscious viticulture. Far from the traditional robustness of the Spanish Levant, this single vineyard wine seeks verticality and marine freshness. Made with old Giró vines —the untamed Garnacha of the Mediterranean— on red clay and iron soils, it represents a "Burgundian" style in Alicante lands: subtle, perfumed, and deeply moving.
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 Content: 14% Alc. Vol.
Presentation: 750 ml
2. Sommelier's Notes
Appearance: Medium cherry red color, with crystalline luminosity and lively reflections that invite tasting.
Nose: An intoxicating perfume of dry rose petals, pomegranate, and wild red fruits. It intertwines with a balsamic background of thyme, rockrose, and the salty breeze of the nearby Mediterranean.
Palate: Smooth entry with overwhelming elegance. Its passage is silky, with chalk-like tannins and a vibrant acidity that stretches the wine towards a long, vertical, and mineral finish.
3. Style Analysis
4. Pairing and Recommendation
Levantine Cuisine: The natural companion for mountain rice dishes (with snails and rabbit) or well-structured wood-fired paellas.
Marine Delicacy: Surprisingly good with fatty blue fish like red tuna or grilled salmon, thanks to its vertical freshness.
Meats and Cured Meats: Beef carpaccio, artisanal cured meats from Marina, or subtly spiced steak tartare.
Serving: Ideally served at 15°C in a Burgundy-type glass. This wine appreciates not being served too warm to highlight its floral profile.
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 distinct ripening. The result is a wine with more tannic structure but greater aromatic lightness.
Why is it called "Single Vineyard Wine"?
Because the grapes come exclusively from Abargues, a specific plot with unique clay-iron soils. This guarantees a precise geographical identity not found in regional blends.
