Stopped by Vanderbilt Wine Merchants in Brooklyn on my way home, needed some juice as I was hosting a viewing party of The Traitors. Was on my way to checkout with a Grenache blend from the Canary Islands but this label caught my eye. Upon seeing it’s a N. Rhône blend (85% Syrah 15% Viognier) I had to grab it.
Immediate, pronounced nose of black pepper. So much so my husband coughed after a sniff. The palette is lush black fruit: stewed blackberry and figs. You can taste some French oak with baking spices rounding out, and of course, heavy black pepper. More time in the carafe brought out more tender, savory, meat-sweaty character I love in this grape.
Too fruit forward to be confused with the N Rhône, but i think this could compete well with higher priced Barossa Valley Shiraz. Impressive considering the price point of $35. Will buy again.
by scoc89
4 Comments
Sounds lovely and I’ll be on the lookout for it. I had a very nice Mexican Cabernet a couple of years ago but never got the opportunity to try it again. I think I may start an exploration of Mexican wines. Thanks for the post.
I wouldn’t buy this wine off the shelf blind in a million years. So thank you for taking the risk and sharing. Fascinating notes that I wouldn’t expect from Mexico.
My local wine shop has been highlighting Mexican wines recently and they’ve all really surprised me. My favorites so far have been sparkling from Queretaro, Chemin Blanc from Guanajuato, and Syrah/Tempranillo from Guadalupe valley (also known as the “new napa”)
Thanks for your contribution,love Cote Rotie! A traveling surfer/oenophile turned our wine group on to quality Baja Norte wines 25 years ago so actually not that surprised by this. Thanks again –