Sold Out
Mendall

Macbeu d'Avall 2019

Price: $34.95
Enter your email address below to be notified when this product is back in stock.
Tasting notes

Macabeo rarely gets this kind of texture: 4 to 5 days on skins pull out a honeyed, nutty complexity that the grape almost never shows when pressed immediately, while the limestone soils at 450 meters keep acidity cutting through. It is the kind of wine that makes Terra Alta's case better than any press release could.

BodyFruitTanninAcidity
AlmondOrange BlossomQuinceDried Apricot
  • Style: Amber-hued skin-contact white; 100% Macabeo; dry and textured with lifted acidity; Terra Alta DO
  • Grapes & Terroir: 100% Macabeo; 45-year-old vines; Vilalba dels Arcs, Terra Alta; 450m elevation; calcareous, sandy, clay soils
  • Winemaking: Hand-harvested; 4-5 days skin maceration; spontaneous fermentation; no added sulfites; unfiltered
  • Serving: Serve at 55-58F; no decanting needed; works at the table like a light orange wine
  • Pairing: Grilled sardines, salt cod, aged Manchego, roasted cauliflower with romesco, almond-based sauces
  • Similar To: For fans of light orange wines and skin-contact whites who want Old World restraint over extraction

Macbeu d'Avall is 100% Macabeo grown organically in Vilalba dels Arcs, Terra Alta, at roughly 450 meters above sea level on calcareous, sandy, clay soils. The vines are approximately 45 years old. Terra Alta sits at the southern tip of Catalonia, where a dry westerly wind off the Ebro Valley moderates the long, hot summers and helps prevent mold in the vineyard without chemical intervention.

The grapes were hand-harvested and spent 4 to 5 days macerating on their skins before gentle pressing and spontaneous fermentation with no added sulfites. That brief skin contact is what turns this wine amber and gives it a texture and grip you would not normally expect from Macabeo. No sulfur is added at any point, consistent with Laureano Serres's practice since 2002.

In the glass it reads amber-gold with aromas of marzipan, orange blossom, dried stone fruit, and a faint almond nuttiness. On the palate the skin contact adds a light tannic structure and some grip, while the high-altitude limestone soils keep acidity alive. It drinks more like a traditional brisat, the local style of skin-contact white, than a modern orange wine constructed for shock value.

This is a wine that sits at the border of white and orange, produced without a plan to make it that way. That spontaneity is very much in keeping with how Mendall operates: decisions made vintage to vintage, based on what the harvest gives.

Works well with dishes that have some fat or salt to meet its tannic edge: think grilled sardines, salt cod, aged Manchego, or roasted cauliflower with romesco. The oxidative, nutty character also makes it a natural match for dishes with almonds or miso. Serve slightly cool, around 55 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wine details

Dry/Sweet:, Dry
Wine Type:, Orange Wine
Wine Style:, Medium Body
Grapes:, Macabeo
Farming:, Organic
Vintage:, 2019
Alcohol:, 13%
Country:, Spain
Region:, Catalonia
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.

See here our shipping policy.


Important Compliance Requirements

FedEx and other carriers we might occasionally use can only deliver wine to customers who are 21 years or older. Someone must be at the address to receive the package, carriers don't just drop a package and leave. They must ensure the person receiving the wine is 21 or older.


Re-shipping a Package

If a package is returned to us after three failed delivery attempts, we can only re-ship the wine upon payment of a re-shipping fee, to be determined based on the shipping address and number of bottles. Shipping wine is extremely expensive. We are sorry about this, but we have no other choice. Please make sure there's always someone at the address you enter as your shipping address.

If you'd like to receive a refund for a package that was returned to us after FedEx made three delivery attempts, we can do that but we must keep a $20 refund fee; FedEx charges us a lot of money for returns, unfortunately, I can't stress this enough.


Re-routing a Package

If you'd like to reroute a package after it's been shipped, we can do so for a $20 re-routing fee. We cannot re-route a package across state borders. For any change of address, please contact us as soon as possible, ideally within 1-2 days from placing the order or we cannot guarantee we'll be able to reroute or change your order's shipping address.


Canceling an Order

If you'd like to cancel an order after it's been shipped, we can do so upon payment of a small cancellation fee – the amount depends on the size of the order. Carriers charge us a lot of money to recall a package en-route.


Heat/Frost damage

We are not responsible for heat- or frost-related issues. We offer ice-packs upon request. Please let us know if you think that there could be heat-related issues. If we don't hear anything from you regarding weather issues before an order is shipped, or if you don't request a hold due to the weather, we are not responsible for heat/frost damage.


Placed an order. What next?

1. You will receive an order confirmation email with your order summary.*

2. As soon as your order ships from the warehouse, usually within 2-3 business days, this applies to all shipping rates, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with your tracking information. 2DAY shipping refers to shipping time; we still need 2-3 business days to prepare an order. We need to pick and pack, QA, add printed collateral, and palletize the orders.

3. Please track your package using the tracking service.

4. The carrier will attempt delivery a maximum of 3 times. After 3 delivery attempts, your package will be sent back to our warehouse.**

*Please ensure your email address is correct; otherwise, you will not receive the order and shipping confirmation emails.

**If delivery is attempted 3 times without success, or if you fail to retrieve your package from the carrier depot by the stated deadline, the shipping fee will not be refunded to the customer.

Returns Policy

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 Montagut grew up in El Pinell de Brai, a small town in Terra Alta, and left to work as a computer programmer in Madrid. He returned in 1996, became president of the local Catedral del Vi cooperative, and in 1999 left to start Mendall, initially vinifying 500 liters of a field blend from his grandfather's vines at Finca Caibelles. His daughter Alicia, who studied oenology in Tarragona, now works alongside him.

Mendall farms roughly five to five-and-a-half hectares spread across parcels in El Pinell de Brai at around 170 meters and higher plots in Terra Alta reaching up to 500 meters above sea level. The higher parcels, centered since 2017 on the lieu-dit of Terme de Guiu in Vilalba dels Arcs, are planted on a limestone amphitheater with massale selections of Garnatxa in its white, red, and grey forms, old Carignan, Macabeo, and a small amount of Malvasia de Sitges. All farming is organic. Yields are low, typically around 20 hectoliters per hectare.

From the start Laureano worked with organic fruit and spontaneous fermentation. In 2002 he forgot to add sulfur to one cuvee, liked what happened, and has made all his wines without sulfite additions since. Whites are fermented in vats, barrels, or amphorae with long fermentation and no filtration. Reds typically see around eight days of maceration. Beyond those baseline practices, Laureano makes decisions vintage to vintage based on the harvest: across five hectares he can produce up to 16 different cuvees in a single year, ranging from pressed whites to co-ferments to oxidative Garnatxa. Macbeu d'Avall is classified as white on RAW WINE, with the skin contact described as unplanned.

Wine region

Catalonia, Spain

Terra Alta is the southernmost wine DO in Catalonia, located in the western province of Tarragona, south of the Ebro River. Vineyards grow between 350 and 550 meters above sea level, with mountain peaks in the region reaching 950 meters. The climate is a blend of Mediterranean and continental: long, hot, dry summers, very cold winters, and an average annual rainfall of just 400 to 450 mm. El Cierzo, a dry westerly wind from the Ebro Valley, plays a key role in moderating temperatures during the growing season and in preventing fungal disease on the vines.

Soils in Terra Alta are predominantly limestone and clay, poor in organic matter, with good drainage. A locally distinct sandy soil called panal, formed from ancient clay sediment deposited by the Ebro River, is found across parts of the region and is prized for its ability to reflect sunlight and promote even ripening. The dominant white varieties are Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo, and Parellada; for reds, Garnacha Negra, Garnacha Peluda, and Carignan. Terra Alta received DO status in 1982. The brisat, a traditional local style of skin-contact white wine, has long been part of the region's winemaking culture and predates the global orange wine trend by generations.

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.

This collection features our best selling natural wine from all around the world. It's the best place to start you natural wine journey! Browse one of the largest selections of natural wine available online in the United States.

Primal Wine Natural Wine Club is the best way to discover natural wine. Let us do the heavy-lifting, sit back, and relax. We will send you an ever-changing selection of natural wine made by top producers from around the world.

Our customers love Primal

I'm just copying and pasting from the hundreds messages we received, no pseudo reviews!
Erin C.

We love our membership so far and can't wait until our next shipment.

Jennifer B.

A note to say that we are loving the tasting notes sheet you’re sending!

James S.

I'm really happy to find Primal – your selections are terrific. 

Samuel M.

Love your company, always a great wine selection. 

Chelsea V.

I love what you guys do!

What Is | Primal Wine

What is natural wine?

Natural wine is a type of wine made in small batches from organic or biodynamic grapes with minimal intervention.
What Is Biodynamic Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is Biodynamics?

Biodynamic wine is wine made from grapes farmed biodynamically. Biodynamic farming is a holistic approach.
What Is Organic Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is organic wine?

Organic wine is made with grapes farmed organically. Organic farming is an alternative to conventional farming.
What Is Vegan Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is vegan wine?

Vegan wine is wine made without using animal products during the fining phase of the clarification process.