Producer: Mendall

Behind Mendall's striking wines stands Laureano Serres, a free and unclassifiable figure of Spanish natural wine. Based in Pinell de Brai, in southern Catalonia, this self-taught winemaker left a career in IT in Madrid to reconnect with his roots and take over the family vineyard. A radical decision, which was accompanied by an equally radical conversion of viticultural practices. In a few years, he has become one of the most influential voices in natural wine in Spain, co-founder of the "Brutal" movement alongside Remi Poujol, Anthony Tortul and his accomplice Joan Ramon Escoda. His commitment is total: no inputs, no compromise, but a joyful and unfiltered freedom that is found in each of his bottles.

Terroir, plots and grape varieties

Mendall's vines flourish around Pinell de Brai, in an arid landscape where the land is dominated by Mediterranean heat, dry winds and limestone soils. This extreme climate shapes concentrated, sun-kissed grapes, giving the wines a particular texture and intensity. Laureano works with a varied, often local, selection of grape varieties, with a marked affinity for indigenous varieties. Each plot is vinified separately and each cuvée tells a story, with names often as spontaneous as the wines themselves.

Cultivation methods

From his first vintage, Laureano laid the foundations of a radically natural viticulture. Zero chemicals, zero inputs, zero concessions. The work in the vineyard follows the most stripped-down organic principles, with great attention paid to soil vitality and vine resilience. The harvests are manual, often early to preserve freshness, and the grapes are handled with absolute respect until they reach the cellar.

Winemaking

Mendall's cellar is a living laboratory where each wine is an attempt, an experiment, an act of faith. Fermentations are long for whites, very short for reds, always with indigenous yeasts. Laureano vinifies without sulfur, without filtration, without embellishment. Some wines show a marked volatile acidity, assumed as a style trait. The variability from one vintage to another is not a defect, but a signature: that of a free artisan who refuses standardization. Among the emblematic cuvées: Brutal, Terme de Guiu, Abeerador, Barrica de Thierry or Dos Tires.

Tasting & pairings

Mendall wines are as disconcerting as they are captivating. Their texture is ample, warm, with a beautiful tension, often enhanced by a volatile acidity that energizes the whole. They have this vibrant, almost tactile texture, which makes them wines of sensation rather than contemplation. The whites, long on the palate and saline, pair wonderfully with grilled fish, Mediterranean dishes, or even more spicy cuisines. The reds, more tonic, express themselves fully at the table, with grilled meats, dishes in sauce or spicy tapas. These are wines that speak loudly, that live, and that leave an imprint. It's impossible to forget them once you've tasted them.