2020 Malvasia
Abel Mendoza
San Vicente, Rioja

In 1992, Abel and Maite decided to produce their first white wine and wanted to work with Malvasia. Locals in the industry told them that they were crazy and would not be able to make a good wine. They were in the early days of their winemaking journey and everything was done by hand. They didn’t even own a press! They invited a group of close friends and their children to come over, and they pressed the grapes using hands and feet until they had filled a single 225 liter barrel. Although Malvasia was a recognized variety by Rioja’s Consejo Regulador, when Abel and Maite submitted their wine for approval, the Consejo expressed their doubts about it, remarking that it is not what white wine from Rioja should taste like. Abel made the wine anyway. At the time, Malvasia had nearly been lost in Rioja. After the introduction of Macabeo Catallan (Viura) to the region, Malvasia fell out of favor due to Viura's higher yields and hardiness against oxidation during winemaking. With very few plots in Rioja remaining, Abel set to recuperating the vines they farmed as well as planting new ones. They currently own around nine plots throughout Rioja, with the oldest around 100 years old and self-rooted. - Importer

• 100% Malvasia

2019 92+ Points (Guttierez): Malvasía Riojana is not an aromatic white grape, as it's only the local name for a rather neutral grape from Extremadura called Alarije that is also planted in Cataluña under the name Subirat Parent. So, that's the 2019 Malvasía for you, which in 2019 has notes of white fruit and flowers and also an herbal/balsamic hint. The palate is mellow, with integrated acidity, the sapidity of the limestone soils, clean and focused flavors and a pleasant bitter twist. These whites ferment in barrel, where they mature for five months with bâtonnage, but none of the wines show aromas or flavors of oak. 2,680 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2020.