Abel Mendoza 'Grano a Grano' Graciano

Abel Mendoza “Grano a Grano” Graciano - Rioja DOCa, Spain

Producer's Notes: 

Cherry red with a garnet border. Complex and intense mix of ripe black forest fruits which harmonize well with the toasted oak. Warm and enveloping marked by flavors of ripe red and black berries, well combined.

What we say:

A rare and intensely characterful single-varietal Graciano from Abel Mendoza & Maite Fernández, this wine is one of the most distinctive bottlings in their range. Produced in tiny quantities, Grano a Grano (“grain by grain”) refers to the painstaking process where each grape is destemmed berry-by-berry by hand, preserving whole berries and enhancing purity and precision. 

This is a very limited production wine (most vintages yield ~1,500–2,000 bottles), making it one of the more sought-after cuvées in the Abel Mendoza lineup. 

Fruit is sourced from multiple small plots around San Vicente de la Sonsierra, hand-harvested and meticulously sorted berry by berry. Fermentation takes place in small tanks before malolactic fermentation and ageing (~18 months) in new French oak, building depth and complexity. 

The wine opens with deep, expressive aromas of blackberry, black cherry and plum, layered with spice, tobacco and balsamic notes. On the palate it is medium-to-full-bodied with striking structure - firm tannins, vibrant acidity and concentrated dark fruit give it both power and freshness. There’s a savoury, slightly earthy edge and a long, persistent finish that speaks to both the variety and the meticulous winemaking. 

Graciano is a relatively rare Rioja variety known for its deep colour, high acidity and strong aromatic intensity, often used in blends for structure - but here it shines on its own with impressive ageing potential. 

Grape variety: 100% Graciano 

Style: Dry red, structured and age-worthy

Drink window: Now–2038+

Perfect for: Game, braised meats, Ibérico ham, rich stews

Critically acclaimed in top vintages, with consistently high praise for its precision and ageing potential. The 2021 vintage received a score of 98 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, for example.

Powerful, structured and meticulously crafted - a standout Graciano that shows the grape at its most serious and age-worthy.