Boise Coop Wine Shop

Tasting: Wines from Mexicio

• March 5, 2008

Wines from Mexico? You bet, in fact the northern Baja is an emerging wine region boasting 24,700 acres of vines spread across six valleys. The dozen or so wineries there account for 90% of Mexico’s wine production.

Cavas Valmar

Established in 1983 at Rancho Valentin near Ensenada, this winery started out in a parking lot at their ranch with an old basket press, hand corker, and just six barrels. Today production is up from that original 300 cases, but they stilll only bottle about 2500 cases a year. Their 2001 Valmar Cabernet shows lots of cherry fruit on the nose with touches of licorce and earth. Cherry cola and plum fruit flavors dominate the palate backed by a nice hit of acidity.

Vinisterra

Located 25 kilometers east of Ensenada, this winery began in 2002 as a partnership between local Guillermo Ropdriguez Macouzet and Swiss winemaker Christoph Gaertner. The midlevel Macouzet label consists of a Cabernet Merlot blend and a Tempranillo. The ‘03 Macouzet Cab/Merlot offers sweet, dried cherry fruit on the nose. It’s marked by a creamy palate with dark plum and blackberry fruit. A rich but well balanced wine. The 2004 Macouzet Tempranillo is filled with lush cherry and dark fruit aromas with a nice meaty quality. Equally lush on the palate, plum and cherry fruit flavors dominate, backed by ripe tannins and a touch of pepper.