Enrique Mendoza 'La Tremenda' Monastrell 2014

Wine Advocate 92
"The 2014 feels very tender, it has the esparto grass austerity of the stony vineyards with the chalky soils and a myriad of Mediterranean herbs. They used some stems for the fermentation, which added a fine thread and makes it subtly textured. It has the dusty tannins and the saline tastiness of the limestone soils. It represents a superb value and a great introduction to the Monastrell from Alicante; the price is hard to believe. There are some 50,000 bottles from this vintage."

Although Enrique Mendoza founded the winery in 1989, his son Pepe now runs the business, aided by his younger brother Julián. Pepe is responsible for vineyard management and winemaking, while Julián looks after the commercial side of the company.

So well respected is Enrique Mendoza that it was inducted into the prestigious Grandes Pagos de España. This group's mission is to defend and propagate the culture of "pago" wine, meaning wine produced in a specific terroir that reflects the distinct personality of the soil and climate. To become a member, a vineyard must surpass strict quality standards and also exhibit a degree of uniqueness in terms of soil, climate or grape variety that sets it apart from the surrounding area. The association's membership includes 25 estate wineries throughout Spain.