Abel Mendoza Garnacha Blanca 2024

The 2024 Garnacha Blanca, one of the varietal whites that I like better and better every year, has textbook characteristics of the grape, notes of waxy apples and dry herbs, with a Mediterranean accent. It's a variety they have been recovering for years, and they use it not only for whites but also in different blends for reds and the rosé. It has lower alcohol than the others, this year only 13%, keeping a very low pH of 3.12 and 7.41 grams of acidity, unusual parameters of freshness and acidity for the variety. The grapes come from different vineyards planted with a mix of varieties, ranging between four and 30 years of age. Like the other wines, it fermented and matured with fine lees in French oak barrels for five months. 1,200 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2025.

Abel Mendoza is a magician in the vineyard, sourcing his Garnacha Blanca from a series of parcels in San Vicente de la Sonsierra. Stylishly fermented in new French oak, it’s a racy, elegant, vivid white with Riesling-like levels of acidity, flavours of fennel, citrus zest and lime and some mid-palate texture from lees stirring. 2027-35

As with Abel Mendoza’s viura, second-flowering grapes are added to increase acidity and freshness, giving this garnacha blanca a very tangy, limey feel. Almost steely, showing some white nectarines and melons. Sharp with high acidity but very gastronomic. 13% alcohol. Drink now or hold. - Zekun Shuai, Senior Editor.