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Mendall

Abeurador Cuvee 2 2018

Price: $29.95
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Tasting notes

The amphora fermentation on this Cuvee 2 adds a slippery, almost waxy texture that the steel-tank Abeurador does not have, while preserved lemon and chalky minerality keep it focused. At 450 meters on limestone soils, this is Macabeo with real grip and length.

BodyFruitTanninAcidity
Preserved LemonChalkEarthSpice
  • Style: Dry, medium-bodied white; clay-gold color; preserved lemon, chalk, earthy spice; amphora-fermented; 14% ABV
  • Grapes & Terroir: 100% Macabeo; organic; clay, limestone, and sandy soils; ~450m elevation; El Pinell de Brai, Terra Alta DO
  • Winemaking: Native yeast fermentation in amphora; aged on lees; no added sulfites; unfiltered; unfined
  • Serving: Serve at 50-54F; benefits from 20-30 minutes of air after opening
  • Pairing: Grilled oysters, tinned sardines, aged Manchego, preserved lemon dishes, herb-dressed white beans
  • Similar To: For fans of skin-contact whites and textured, mineral-driven Macabeo from high-altitude Mediterranean sites

Abeurador Cuvee 2 is 100% Macabeo from Laureano Serres's vineyards in the Terra Alta DO, southwest of Tarragona. The vines grow on clay, limestone, and sandy soils at roughly 450 meters above sea level in El Pinell de Brai. This specific bottling was fermented in amphora, a departure from the stainless steel used for the base Abeurador, and aged on lees before bottling without filtration or fining.

No sulfites are added at any stage. Native yeasts drive fermentation from start to finish. The 2018 vintage was tasted and scored 93 points, and the amphora vessel lends the wine a rounder, more textured character than the steel-tank version while preserving its mineral core.

Macabeo from Terra Alta at this elevation retains more acidity than the same grape grown lower in the appellation. The combination of chalky limestone soils, the dry Cierzo wind off the Ebro valley, and amphora aging produces a wine with preserved lemon, earthy spice, and a lightly savoury finish. Expect some volatile character and complexity typical of Mendall's zero-addition approach.

Laureano farms approximately five to six hectares across Terra Alta, with yields around 20 hl/ha. His daughter Alicia Serres now works alongside him in the cellar.

Works well with grilled oysters, tinned sardines or anchovies, and dishes with preserved lemon. The wine's savoury, chalky character holds up against aged Manchego and herb-dressed white beans. Avoid heavy cream sauces, which will clash with its lean, mineral frame.

Wine details

Dry/Sweet:, Dry
Wine Type:, White Wine
Wine Style:, Medium Body
Grapes:, Macabeo
Farming:, Organic
Vintage:, 2018
Alcohol:, 14%
Country:, Spain
Region:, Catalunya
Appellation:, Terra Alta DO
Bottle Size:, 750ml
Sugar Level:, Zero Added Sugar

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

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If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us at (424) 414-2040 or via e-mail at hello@primalwine.com between 9 am and 5 pm Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Sunday, we would like to understand and try to solve your concerns. We can offer refunds only as store credit.

Producer profile

Mendall

Laureano Serres grew up in El Pinell de Brai, a small town in Terra Alta, before spending years working as a computer programmer in Madrid. He returned in 1996 and became president of the Catedral del Vi, a functioning wine cooperative built by students of Gaudi before the Spanish Civil War. In 1999, he started Mendall directly across the street from the cooperative, vinifying 500 liters of a traditional Catalan field blend from his grandfather's vines at Finca Caibelles.

From the start, Laureano committed to organic farming and spontaneous fermentation. In 2003 he accidentally omitted SO2 from one cuvee and found the results compelling enough to abandon sulfur additions entirely across all wines. He subsequently connected with natural winemakers in France, including the late Marcel Lapierre and Thierry Puzelat, which informed his direction. Since 2017, his viticulture has centered on Vilalba dels Arcs at the lieu-dit Terme de Guiu, a limestone amphitheater planted with massale selections of Garnatxa (white, red, and grey), old Carignan, Macabeo, and Malvasia de Sitges. Yields run around 20 hl/ha. Laureano's daughter Alicia Serres, a trained winemaker, now works alongside him.

Mendall produces up to 16 cuvees per vintage from roughly five hectares. Vessels include stainless steel, barrel, and amphora depending on the wine. Whites undergo direct pressing or skin maceration, long fermentations with native yeasts, and slow racking before bottling without filtration or fining. No sulfites are added. The cellar is housed beneath Laureano's home in the center of El Pinell de Brai. Laureano is also a co-founder of the Brutal Wine Corporation and organizer of H2O Vegetal, a natural wine fair that draws producers from across Europe.

Wine region

Catalunya, Spain

Terra Alta is a Denominacion de Origen in the southernmost part of Catalunya, province of Tarragona, bordered to the south by the Els Ports mountain chain and to the west by the province of Teruel in Aragon. The name translates as 'high land': vineyards sit at 350 to 550 meters above sea level on a plateau shielded from the Mediterranean by a coastal mountain range. The climate is Mediterranean with a pronounced continental influence, bringing long, hot summers, very cold winters, and an average annual rainfall of 400 to 450 mm. The dry Cierzo and Garbinada winds keep humidity low and reduce disease pressure, which supports organic farming. Soils are predominantly calcareous clay, poor in organic matter and well-drained, with at least 17 distinct soil profiles across the appellation.

Terra Alta DO covers 12 municipalities and approximately 6,000 hectares of vineyards. Garnacha Blanca is the flagship white grape and has its own protected varietal designation within the DO. Macabeo, Parellada, and Garnacha Blanca dominate white production, while Garnacha Tinta, Garnacha Peluda, and Carignan (Samsó) are the leading red varieties. White varieties are typically planted at higher elevations to preserve acidity. The region was historically isolated and produced wine primarily for local consumption until the rise of Priorat to its east raised the area's international profile. Today Terra Alta is recognized for mineral-driven whites and structured reds that express the altitude and calcareous soils of the plateau.

Frequently asked question

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.

Signature on delivery is mandatory for wine deliveries. Please make sure someone is at the shipping address to sign for the package.

If applicable, please consider delivering the package to a business address to ensure someone is available to sign for the package.

We also have the option of delivering the package to a Carrier's store for pickup. Please reach out to us to coordinate.

Carrier will try to delivery a package up to three times before returning the package to us.

See here our shipping policy.

If you miss a delivery and a package gets returned to us we have two options:

1) Reship the package right away: due to the very high cost of shipping and returns, we must charge a re-shipping fee to be determined based on package size and shipping destination.

2) Consolidate the returned package with your next order: this option is free of charge and it's the most popular option.

See here our shipping policy.

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