Pepe Mendoza Casa Agrícola Paciencia Infinita 2021

Pepe Mendoza's Casa Agricola is his personal project in the Marina Alta of Alicante, with 14 hectares of vineyard in D.O. Alicante farmed by respectful, sustainable methods. Paciencia Infinita is a naturally sweet red from Giro, the local name for Garnacha-family material, and Monastrell, both well suited to the warm coastal climate and the area's poor limestone soils. The wine is naturally sweet, the grapes left to over-ripen and partially raisin on the vine so that fermentation stops with high residual sugar without the addition of spirit, which keeps the alcohol at a moderate 14.5%. It then ages 20 months in French oak barrels, the slow oxygen exchange through the staves softening the tannins and adding spice and a subtle savoury frame to the dark fruit. The colour is deep, dense ruby. The nose shows ripe plum, dried fig, raisin and dark chocolate, with black pepper and liquorice from the oak and the Monastrell. The palate is sweet, warming and full, the residual sugar balanced by gentle grip and acidity through a long, spiced finish. Serve at around 14 to 16 degrees in a red-wine glass.