One of the most respected winemakers in southeast Spain, Pepe Mendoza is the well known force behind Enrique Mendoza, the family winery. They were among the first to plant Syrah and other international varieties in the region to make high quality red wines, but in recent years they have gradually returned to work with local grapes, specially Monastrell.

Casa Agricola is a very personal project launched alongside his wife Pepa Agullo. The project has a strong focus on local and Mediterranean grape varieties sourced from their own vineyards (with only 5% of the grapes bought in). Mostly within the inner Alto Viñalopo region near Villena, they grow 10 hectares of Monastrell, Syrah and Macabeo. In the sea influenced Marina Alta they grow the dominant varieties of Moscatel and Giro.

The wines have no yeasts added, but instead are fermented using the whole bunch with around 30% of the stems included. Oak is almost absent, meaning that the style manages to express Mediterranean notes of ripe fruit without extraction and avoids any traces of heaviness or warmth.

This wine is one of great balance with aromas of lavender, rosemary in bloom, eucalytus and balsamic predominate. On the palate it is a very pleasant wine with a lot of fine and delicate tannin. It is aged 12 months in a barrel of French oak accomplishing great complexity and elegance.

The grapes that make this wine are sourced from the highest plot in a vineyard with eight hectares in Alto Viñalopo. With a Pequeñas Producciones (highly limited production), this range is meant as part of what Pepe Mendoza describes as a place “to allow myself to make mistakes and explore with total freedom.”