Abel Mendoza, Modernist Rioja: Wines of Terroir

Abel Mendoza is an exponent of the modernist style of Rioja. His vineyards lie in San Vicente in the Basque part of Rioja where the old traditions of Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva etc are shunned, preferring to release their wines a little younger and with less influence of long barrel ageing.

Abel is an expert winemaker and vine-grower and his wine express the sense of place. Yes, these are concentrated, polished wines, but no less typical of Rioja than the old, long-established producers of Haro (La Rioja Alta, Lopez de Heredia, etc), just merely a different expression.

Richard Ballantyne MW