Hey folks,
Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the holidays. In Mexico City for a few days and seeing a fair bit of Mexican wine on the lists.
Anyone know any must-trys? I’ve read there are a few very old producers here and that the industry on a whole is up and coming.
Cheers and Happy New Year!
Beer and tequila my friend…Mexican brandy is ok, but wine? Not so much.
I’ve liked the Villa Montefiori cab-sangio. It runs around $20 in my market and is better than many wines at that price. Unfortunately that is the entire extent of my knowledge of Mexican wine.
What do you normally drink? I just got back from riviera maya and made may way through the big names of Mexico. All reflected their climate and none had a lot of balance. None were my thing. Carodilla (biodynamic) was my favorite. Icaro is a big name, but it’s like a heavy, fruit bomb Cali cab. Monte xanic is everywhere. The Merlot is better than the cab. Piedra is decent enough. Same with vina cava. In general, it’s a young industry that is trying to mimic high scoring Napa cabs. If those aren’t your thing, don’t spend big money. There is no acid. No tannin. I love the country and hope the wine industry finds its footing, but it is seriously hot in Baja california and the wines reflect that.
A
Spencer, nos gustan esta una:
http://riverogonzalez.com.mx/en/our-wines/
We had this last time we were in Mexico. I’d pursue this wine again when we are done there next and try a few more things.
What I have learned about Mexico from our trips there…try a few things but bring a box with you on the plane and share with the restaurant staff while you are there. I have found the smart wine folks there love to try CA stuff and through that, share the stuff from down south that we don’t see a lot of here. I posted below the menu from our last visit to San Miguel de Allende, with some Big Basin. Enjoy your stay. ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
This is all I know on the subject:
Ahh perfect. Suckling’s interview in Mexico.
I live in Tuscany.
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I tasted through Adobe Guadalupe’s wines back in 2012 when I was down there. The 2011 “Kerubiel” was very promising. In general, 2011 was a cool vintage for Baja so these wines may show more balance in general.
Just got back from Cabo - took 20 wines with us, but supplemented with another 8 or so Mexican wines.
On the whole the quality was better than expected, if not great. You definitely get better if you pay more - some of the higher price wines (call it USD20 and above) were pretty decent. Stay clear of the cabernet and go for tempranillo and barbera which seem to fare reasonably there.
I’m 98 points on this video. Who wears a scarf to Baja California? Reposting this, his 100-pointer:
Thanks for the great responses, everyone. Carlos and Alex, my guess is you’re probably right on the whole–we are focusing on the mezcal… Not interested in the flabby, global-style fruit bombs, but I can’t believe that there are zero good producers. Haven’t had any wine yet but will look for Rivero Gonzalez, Adobe Guadalupe, and tempranillo/barbera.
Salud!
+1 on the Rivero Gonzalez…my wife and I really enjoyed his rosado a number of times while poolside in Ixtapa.
where do you live?
Today you have given me the greatest gift.
I will always remember “I am here”
I purchased a couple of Valle de Guadelupe red blends from Bodegas de Santo Tomas for ~$10/btl a few months ago. I gifted one (along with one of my The Princess and The Peasant “City of 10,000 Buddhas” Mendocino Carignan sigh) to a newly wed friend, and drank the other with a neighbor.
If my memory serves me correctly, the Santo Tomas (Tempranillo/Grenache?) was a killer deal. The body was moderately lighter than I anticipated, but it stomped most bargain wines.
Good luck!!! 
Good for you having an open mind and trying some of the wines from there, and ignoring the cynical “just drink beer” crowd. You don’t always need to have found some 90+ pointer in order to have been enriched by exploring the wines of a place you are visiting.
Great point. I am all for encouraging new wine areas to rise, and that requires we consumers keeping an open mind and being supportive.
I wish these wines were easier to find in LA.
Micheal, there are a few at Hi Times in Costa Mesa. Ask for Veronica and she’ll hook you up.
the restaurant Broken Spanish in dtla had what looked like a pretty decent-sized list of Mexican wines, if you’re looking to taste/try one in LA