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Quinta da Muradella
Jose Luis Mateo (photo by Vinimenta)
Jose Luis Mateo (photo by Vinimenta)
Country of Origin: Spain
Location: Monterrei
People: Jose Luis Mateo & Raul Perez, Owners & Winemakers
Supplier: http://www.oleimports.com


Quinta da Muradella, located in the town of Verín in the Monterrei DO, is a garage winery where proprietor Jose Luis Mateo and Raul Perez make small production wines from 34 unique parcels (all of them certified Organic by CRAEGA (Cjo. Regulador de Agricultura Ecológica de Galicia)). The mission of QDM is to showcase the typicity of each of the 3 different districts of this appellation (Tamaguelos, Oimbra and Pazos de Monterrei) but also to make wines that relate to the different historic periods this region has undergone since the 1800's. Since then, Monterrei has seen three faces of history in terms of varieties used for vinification. The wines made today by the local wineries no longer speak the language of the past. Due to this lost of identity, Jose Luis Mateo and Raul Perez felt the mission to recover and capture lost varieties and genetic materials facing extinction to fashion wines that once existed. In a certain way, this winery is like a liquid book of history.

Monterrei is a valley split from north to south by the Tamega river which joins the Douro river on the south over the Portuguese border. There are 3 subzones in Monterrei: Tamaguelos, located on the south near Portugal over the east side of the Tamega river. The soil profile here is quite diverse; mostly young plantings, all in double cordon trellis system at 390 m to 460 m elevation (1280 ft to 1,509 ft). 60% is red varieties and 40% white. The Oimbra subzone is located at 420 m elevation (1,378 ft) in the center of the appellation on the west side of the river. The Soil is composed of granite and decomposed granite sand. The vineyards are all tended in head pruned trellis systems and are 60 to 70 year old vines. These vines were planted during the second historic period of Monterrei. All varieties here are red. The Pazos de Monterrei subzone is located at 460 meter elevation (1,500 feet) on the north part of the region on the western side of the river. The soil is composed of clay, gravel and quartz. Young vines are tended in double cordon systems and old vines are head pruned.

"Quinta da Muradella was created in 1993 by Jose Luis Mateo with 15 hectares of owned vineyards in different zones of the Monterrei appellation, some on the valley floor, some on the slopes and some others in the mountain zones where some vineyards reach 100 years of age. He works 20 different plots. All his vineyards are organically certified. He makes a total of 40,000 bottles per year, and experiments with different grapes, different zones, fermenting and aging vessels (wood, stainless steel, concrete) trying to understand the region and the grapes and what works best. Sometimes it’s difficult to understand the process he uses to make some of the wines, and you’ll see that he moves the wines from inox to barrel, from cement to whatever, in what seems to be quite a complicated operation. Some things work and some don’t. He makes varietal wines to examine the different grapes and their potential, he tries different blends, and his ultimate idea is to identify the ideal blend of ancient varieties, the ones that were planted in the region before phylloxera, not only to make the wine, but to plant those varieties already mixed in the vineyard. His collection of wines is completely different from the rest of the wines produced in the appellation. If you ever visit Verin, which has a beautiful old town center and an impressive castle, you should make sure you visit the Mateo family’s bar, A Canteira (the name comes from their father who was a canteiro, a stone mason), where they serve their own house wine, both white and red, made by Jose Luis. It is the best house wine I’ve ever tried in a restaurant. The locals just don’t know how lucky they are. About the person himself, Jose Luis Mateo is extremely humble, a quality I find in the best people across different professions – very generous with his time and everything else. He’s passionate about what he’s doing, and he considers his work a long-term project to bring value and quality to the wines of his region, “hoping that someone will take over and continue the things that I’m doing,” he said. When I asked him what he’d change if he could start again he was very clear. “I’d focus on the mountain vineyards,” he told me. I asked what if it had to be somewhere else in Galicia? “To me the place would be Ribeiro.” And now for something completely different! Jose Luis has been making a range of varietal red wines that he was reluctant to show, since quantities are sometimes tiny, but I found some of them too good not to talk about them; some are also non-DO wines declassified to the Vino de Mesa category." - Wine Advocate 10/2013

Social Media
Twitter: @muradella
Items
Quinta da Muradella 2009 'Alanda' Blanco, Monterrei DO Net Price Reviews —
Quinta da Muradella 2010 'Alanda' Blanco, Monterrei DO Net Price — —
Quinta da Muradella 2012 'Alanda' Blanco, Monterrei DO Net Price — —
Quinta da Muradella 2008 Albarello, Monterrei DO Net Price Reviews —
Quinta da Muradella 2008 Blanco (Dona Blanca), Gorvia, Monterrei DO Net Price Reviews —
Quinta da Muradella 2009 Blanco (Dona Blanca), Monterrei DO Net Price — —
Quinta da Muradella 2009 'Alanda' Tinto, Monterrei DO Net Price Reviews —
Quinta da Muradella 2008 'Berrande' (Mencia), Monterrei DO Net Price Reviews —
Quinta da Muradella 2009 'Berrande' (Mencia), Monterrei DO Net Price — —
Quinta da Muradella 2008 Tinto, Monterrei DO Net Price Reviews —
Reviews
Quinta da Muradella 2008 'Berrande' (Mencia), Monterrei DO
Rating: 91

The 2008 QDM Berrande was sourced from a single Mencia vineyard, fermented with native yeasts, and aged for 14 months in seasoned French oak. Hints of licorice, anise, and balsamic add complexity to the primary aromas of black cherry and black raspberry. Savory, ripe, sweetly-fruited, and nicely proportioned, this lengthy effort can be approached now and over the next 8-10 years.

- The Wine Advocate (6/1/2011)

Quinta da Muradella 2008 Albarello, Monterrei DO
Rating: 91+

The 2008 QDM Albarello (100%) is another resurrected variety that began its disappearance around 1850 due to the disease, oidium, followed by phylloxera. It is the earthiest of these resurrected varieties along with lots of spice and floral notes. Tight, savory, and impeccably balanced, it requires another 3-4 years of cellaring and will offer a drinking window extending from 2015 to 2028.

Quinta da Muradella, located in the town of Verin in the Monterrei DO, is a garage winery where proprietor Jose Luis Mateo and Raul Perez make wine from 34 unique, certified organic, parcels. A principal purpose of the project is to relate the history of the region through the wines. That fascinating story goes beyond the bounds of this report but the importer can provide more detailed information to those interested.

- The Wine Advocate (6/1/2011)

Quinta da Muradella 2008 Blanco (Dona Blanca), Gorvia, Monterrei DO
Rating: 93

Pale yellow. A complex bouquet displays pear skin, beeswax, lemon pith and herbs, with a strong accent of zesty minerals. Dry, finely etched citrus and orchard fruit flavors show impressive depth and pick up dusty mineral and floral notes on the back end. Balanced and vivacious, with excellent finishing clarity and spicy thrust.

- International Wine Cellar (9/1/2012)

Quinta da Muradella 2008 Tinto, Monterrei DO
Rating: 92

The 2008 Muradella is made up of 30% Mencia, 30% Mouraton, 30% Bastardo, and 10% Garnacha Tintorera. The wine was vinified with whole clusters, whole berries with no stems, and crushed berries with maceration and fermentation in a 1000-liter foudre. The wine was then aged for 14 months in seasoned French oak. The wine’s perfume offers up loads of spice, incense, lavender, and black raspberry aromas. On the palate it is quite mouth-filling, savory, and complex. This unique effort is likely to evolve for 1-2 years and drink well through 2020.

- The Wine Advocate (6/1/2011)

Quinta da Muradella 2009 'Alanda' Blanco, Monterrei DO
Rating: 90

The white wines begin with the 2009 Alanda Blanco, composed of equal proportions of Godello, Dona Blanca, and Treixadura, fermented and aged in stainless steel with no malolactic fermentation. Fragrant aromas of minerals, jasmine, nutmeg, and assorted white fruits inform the nose of a concentrated, smooth-textured, nicely proportioned white with excellent grip and length. It will offer enjoyment over the next 4 years. Quinta da Muradella, located in the town of Verin in the Monterrei DO, is a garage winery where proprietor Jose Luis Mateo and Raul Perez make wine from 34 unique, certified organic, parcels. A principal purpose of the project is to relate the history of the region through the wines. That fascinating story goes beyond the bounds of this report but the importer can provide more detailed information to those interested

- The Wine Advocate (6/30/2011)

Quinta da Muradella 2009 'Alanda' Blanco, Monterrei DO
Rating: 91

Light, bright yellow. Intensely perfumed bouquet of nectarine, lemon curd and honeysuckle, with a bright mineral overlay. Juicy, incisive orchard and pit fruit flavors stain the palate, with tangy acidity providing lift and life. Finishes with good spicy cut and an echo of bitter lemon pith

- International Wine Cellar (10/1/2010)

Quinta da Muradella 2009 'Alanda' Tinto, Monterrei DO
Rating: 92

Bright ruby-red. Expressive aromas of red berries, sandalwood and mocha, with a suave floral topnote. Silky and impressively concentrated, with sweet raspberry and cherry flavors and suggestions of candied rose and allspice. A very long, spicy finish leaves notes of rose and anise behind.

- International Wine Cellar (9/1/2012)