Enrique Mendoza Las Quebradas 2022

Las Quebradas is a single-variety Monastrell from D.O. Alicante, made by Enrique Mendoza near the Mediterranean coast at Alfás del Pi. Monastrell is a late-ripening, thick-skinned grape suited to this hot, dry region, where long sunshine hours and limestone-influenced soils build deep colour, ripe tannin and natural alcohol around 14 percent. The wine spends fifteen months in French oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange through the staves softens the firm Monastrell tannins and adds vanilla, cedar and a fine roast character without masking the fruit. The colour is dense ruby with a purple rim. The nose leads with ripe plum and blackberry, black pepper and liquorice, backed by dark chocolate and a savoury, earthy depth. The palate is full bodied and warming, with grippy but polished tannin and a long, spiced finish. This is a red built for the table and for a few years in the cellar. Serve at 17 degrees, ideally decanted an hour ahead. Match it with roast beef, lamb shoulder or a mushroom stew.