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No. 42

A matter of the heart

«How about a trip to the Mediterranean? The Mediterranean wines from Pepe Mendoza offer an ultrashort vacation in a glass of wine. Without the stress of traveling. Cheers to the unique diversity of the wine world - and have a great summer vacation!»

Dominic Blaesi & Renzo Schweri

Founders of Flaschenpost

Bottle of Casa Agrícola Tinto D.O. Alicante from Pepe Mendoza Casa Agricola

Awards

Robert Parker: 92/100, Guía Peñin: 92/100

«Native grape varieties are as important in terms of wine as dialects are for language.» – Pepe Mendoza

Wines with a strong Mediterranean identity

Pepe Mendoza sought the secret of perfect wines in foreign lands, but the old, gnarled vines of his native Alicante whispered the answer to him. The oenologist comes from a winemaking family that runs one of the largest and most successful wineries in the region. Driven by a thirst for knowledge, he travelled to Chile, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina at a young age. He wanted to learn about the latest techniques to make even better wines: "It was only years later that I realised that the solutions I was looking for could have been found right under my nose," he sums up today. He found that kind of progress in the old vineyards, traditional techniques as well as in the indigenous varieties: "Our indigenous varieties have a special secret that is rooted in their DNA: the adaptation to their place of origin that has developed over hundreds of years. This makes them more resistant to drought, less susceptible to disease - but more than anything, there's a certain landscape that comes across through the wine. Only old, local varieties take us to indigenous, aromatic plants such as orange, lemon, fennel or Mediterranean herbs." Pepe therefore likes to compare this unmistakable manifestation of origin with linguistic dialects.

Eight years ago, Pepe fulfilled a lifelong dream with his small domain, which has vineyards dating back to 1921 and 1970. He has carefully renovated the old building, which goes back to the era of Arab colonisation, and restored the old vineyards. He works with great respect for nature, with minimal intervention and low yields. It's a bit like the old days, but with modern quality standards. "In today's world, everyone wants to be an inventor... Nobody likes to see themselves as the mere recipient of an inheritance," says Pepe. Isn't it encouraging that farming methods that strive for the greatest possible harmony with the environment lead to the best flavour experiences? It feels like a declaration of love to nature, which is fully reciprocated. It's a real matter of the heart.

Awards

Robert Parker: 92/100, Guía Peñin: 92/100

Bottle of El Veneno D.O. Alicante Vinalpó from Pepe Mendoza Casa Agricola

Awards

Robert Parker: 95/100, Guía Peñin: 94/100, Tim Atkin: 93/100

Of poisonous winegrowers and good soils

"This soil is old, very old. They have a special energy," Pepe Mendoza explains to us as we set off to visit his vineyards. We wonder for a moment whether the winemaker is a guru. But before we can ask, the perky dachshund Lola attracts our attention. The 11-year-old dog is always at Pepes' side when he walks through the vineyards. "Lola is always the first to discover ripe grapes!" says the winemaker with a laugh. We immediately notice the imposing dry stone walls. They are a valuable habitat for animals and plants. But that's not all! It rarely rains in the region, but when it does, it pours down in torrents. At times like these, the walls act as filters: the water flows away more slowly, retaining the valuable sediment. "The vineyard and the entire ecosystem are perfectly adapted to this particular climate," explains Pepe Mendoza. Artificial irrigation is unnecessary and goes against his principles: "Why should this vineyard need more water than it gets? If you go for more yield per plant or more plants per hectare – both are detrimental to quality."

Pepe's plants grow stress-free, remain healthy and strong – so he doesn't need any pesticide sprays. "When the soils are vital and pure, the wines simply have a different energy. This is when they show the characteristics of their soil or landscape." But now there's something we want to know. Not about the word "energy", but why his wine is called Veneno, or poison, of all things? "I named the wine after the former owner of the vineyard. His nickname was Uncle Veneno. He was notorious for being gloomy and grumpy, but he left us an exceptional vineyard." One thing we can say with certainty: there's no sign of Uncle Veneno's vibes in the wine, but there's plenty of Mediterranean energy!

Awards

Robert Parker: 95/100, Guía Peñin: 94/100, Tim Atkin: 93/100

Bottle of UNPLUGGED @ Flaschenpost from Hannes Reeh

Awards

Falstaff: 91/100

«Hannes Reeh rocks exclusively for Flaschenpost»

The first Rosé Unplugged

These wines have been a hit like a track by Nirvana. But you won't find any airs and graces with Hannes Reeh. The Austrian may lead a carefree lifestyle, but he is far too determined and down-to-earth to want to lead the dissolute life of a rock star. In 2007, he took over the winery from his parents and set about modernising the business with the impartiality of youth. The young man didn't like all the "bells and whistles" surrounding wine. He wanted to make authentic, honest wines and dispense with any cosmetics and artificial enhancements. His wines were meant to express pure emotion, just like the music of Nirvana on the album "Unplugged in New York". It didn't take long to find a name that summarises Hannes Reeh's work: he selects the best grapes from the vintage and transforms them into "unplugged" wines - without pure yeasts, fining agents or filtration.

Today, these wines are Hannes Reeh's trademark. We have been following the talented winemaker for years and already profiled him in this magazine in 2016. His Zweigelt Unplugged remains in the top 3 of our best-selling wines year after year. Now Hannes Reeh is thanking his Swiss fans with an exclusive Rosé Unplugged. Let's hear a round of applause!

Awards

Falstaff: 91/100