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Cavas Sol y Barro

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The drive up to Cavas Sol y Barro.

Cavas Sol y Barro Winery

Cavas Sol y Barro Winery

 

Cavas Sol y Barro Winery

Cavas Sol y Barro Winery

 

Cavas Sol y Barro Winery

Cavas Sol y Barro Winery

The tasting room of Cavas Sol y Barro is very nice.

The Tasting Room at Cavas Sol y Barro

The Tasting Room at Cavas Sol y Barro

 

The Tasting Room at Cavas Sol y Barro

The Tasting Room at Cavas Sol y Barro

The first wine we tasted was the Solybarro Grenache Cabernet Sauvignon 2013. Sorry for the blurry photo, it was not because of all the previous tastings.

Solybarro Grenache Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Solybarro Grenache Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Retail price: MX$330
Grapes:Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon
Comments: Ruby Red, good legs
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

The next wine was the Solybarro Barbera Nebbiolo 2013.

Solybarro Barbera Nebbiolo 2013

Solybarro Barbera Nebbiolo 2013

Retail price: MX$420
Grapes:Barbera and Nebbiolo
Comments: Light legs, dark ruby red, musty, yeasty, dry but young to the taste.
Rating: 3.0 out of 5.

The final wine was the Malvoiste (Pinot Gris) 2015.

Solybarro Malvoisie (Pinot Gris) 2015

Solybarro Malvoisie (Pinot Gris) 2015

Retail price: MX$270
Grapes: Pinot Gris
Comments: Very young, aroma very floral, somewhat sweet, with a little blush.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.

website: www.cavasolybarro.com.mx but this does not work
facebook: None
Telephone: +52 (646) 118 5313
Wine maker: Aimé Desponds
Address: Carretera Ensenada – Tecate Km. 87

Vinícola 3 Mujeres

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3 Mujeres is a very interesting winery which Ivette Vaillart started 17 years ago and 10 years ago they started selling them to the public.

The current portfolio of wines from 3 Mujeres

The current portfolio of wines from 3 Mujeres and a nice art piece made by Ivette

The first wine we sampled was the La Mezcla Mestiza 2012.

La Mezcla Mestiza 2013

La Mezcla Mestiza 2013

Retail price: MX$ 250
Grapes: Genache, Zinfandel and Carignan from France
Comments: Light, fruity but a bit young.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

The second wine was the La Mezcla del Rancho 2013

La Mezcla del Rancho 2013

La Mezcla del Rancho 2013

Retail price: MX$250
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon and Garache
Comments: Dry, slight fruit, alcohol, lighter color.
Rating: 3.0 out of 5.

We also sampled the ISME 2013, but I did not get a photo of the individual bottle.

Retail price: MX$250
Grapes: Merlot
Comments: Light color, fruity , smooth, Elegent, similar to a Sonoma County Merlot.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

The current portfolio of wines from 3 Mujeres

The current portfolio of wines from 3 Mujeres

website: None
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3MujeresVinicola/
Telephone: +52 (646) 171 5674
Wine maker: Ivette Vaillart and Eva Cotero
Address: Km. 87 Carretera Tecate-Ensenada

Viñas de Garza

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You arrive at Viñas de Garza in a beautifully maintained facility. We were very impressed by the commitment to eco-friendly techniques as well as the architecturally elegant design of the entire location.

The parking lot at Viñas de Garza

The parking lot at Viñas de Garza

Through out the winery there are signs from the older generation of farming and agriculture.

Some old Farm Implements at Viñas de Garza

Some old Farm Implements at Viñas de Garza

 

Some old Farm Implements at Viñas de Garza

Some old Farm Implements at Viñas de Garza

Plus if anyone really knows Jo Ann they know that she loves her rototillers.

Jo Ann loves her rototillers

Jo Ann loves her rototillers

 

2 km/h 2013

2 km/h 2013

The first wine we sampled was the 2013 2km/h.

Retail price: MX$280 (MX$200 at the winery)

Grapes: 70% Tempranillo and 30% Grenache

Comments: Ruby Red, a little cloudy around the edges, big nose, fruity, spicy but a little dry.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Tinta del Rancho Mogorcito 2012

Tinto del Rancho Mogorcito 2012

The next wine was the 2012 Tinto del Rancho Mogorcito.

Retail price: MX$400 (MX$300 at the winery)

Grapes: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot

Comments: Good legs, cordovan chocolate color, dark fruit, a little spice, little tannin, but dry.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Colina Norte 2009

Colina Norte 2009

The third wine was the 2009 Colina Norte.

Retail price: MX$560 (MX$500 at the winery)

Grapes: 60% Tempranillo, 25% Cariñena and 15% Grenache

Comments: Lots of legs, deep ruby color, some floating sentiment. Dark fruit aroma, raspberry, a little smoky. Elegant, smooth, vanilla and dry taste.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Amado IV 2009

Amado IV 2009

The final wine was the 2009 Amado IV.

Retail price: MX$620 (MX$500 at the winery)

Grapes: Cabernet, Merlot, Tempranillo, Zinfandel

Comments: Dark Ruby, many but small forming legs, dark plum, very dry, lots of tannin, black pepper. My belief is that this wine will need to be decanted for 20 to 30 minutes prior to drinking.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

We truly loved all four of the wines and bought some of each to have shipped home. Also the staff at the winery were very pleasant as well as Amado Garza who we talked with for a while about his wines.

As you leave the property, you will see these two interesting buildings. We kept wondering what was housed there, the owners or….

Some very interesting buildings down the road from Viñas de Garza

Some very interesting buildings down the road from Viñas de Garza

the owners wine cellar?

Some very interesting buildings down the road from Viñas de Garza

Some very interesting buildings down the road from Viñas de Garza

website: www.vinosdegarza.com
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vinosdegarza
Telephone: +52 (646) 116 7365
Wine maker: Amado Garza
Address: Carr. Ensenada – Tecate, km 87, Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada, Baja California

Alximia Vino Elemental

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After our great visit at Rancho Cortés, we stopped in to Alximia, which uses the concept of Alchemy in the name of the winery and various elements in the naming of their wines.

Alximia Vino Elemental

Alximia Vino Elemental

Jo Ann have always had a special place in our hearts for Paris and seeing the winery made us both remember the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Alximia Vino Elemental Tasting Room and Production Facility

 

The Tasting Room of Alximia

The Tasting Room of Alximia and Some Old Farm Equipment

I enjoyed some of the artistic placement of the old farm equipment and the machines for crushing and de-stemming of the grapes.

Waiting to be used again.

Waiting to be used again.

 

Waiting to be used again.

Waiting to be used again.

We never asked what la Terrace was, but we believe it is the restaurant that is on site. We never visited it so we can not comment on the quality or the offerings.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

La Terrasse San Roman

Alximia has a very extensive wine list. The prices at the winery are less than what you can buy them for on the web site so I have included the retail price below from the web site, but you can see there is a slight discount if you go to the winery.

The Wines of Alximia

The Wines of Alximia

 

The Wines of Alximia

The Wines of Alximia

Talisman 2014 

Retail price: MX$220
Grape: 100% Viognier
Comments: Spicy, long legs, straw like aroma.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Senda 2013

Retail price: MX$349
Grapes: Petit Verdot (Valle de Santo Tomas), Zinfandel (Valle de Guadalupe), Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo (Valle de Guadalupe)
Comments: Alcohol 13.9% Pairs with meat, earthy with long legs. Aged 12 months in French oak barrels. Intense violet red color.
Rating: 3.0 out of 5.

Magma 2012

Retail price: MX$625
Grapes: ⅔ Carignana, ⅓ Grenache
Comments: 13 months in French oak barrels. Balanced, sassy but classy. Deep red, long legs, less tannins, won a double gold metal.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Pira 2012

Retail price: MX$625
Grapes: 100% Barbera
Comments: Long legs, but a short finish. 15 months in French oak barrels. Deep ruby red color.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0

website: www.alximia.com
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alximia
Telephone: +52 (646) 151 9363
email: info@alximia.com
Wine maker: Álvaro Alvarez Parrilla
Address: Tercería al Tigre km. 3, San Antonio de las Minas, Ensenada, Baja California

Clos de Tres Cantos

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Clos de Tres Cantos is a relatively new vineyard in the Valle de Guadalupe. From the main road you are greeted by their sign.

The entrance to Clos de Tres Cantos

The entrance to Clos de Tres Cantos

As you drive up to the winery, you see some very unique architecture. We were later told that the owners a big supporters of the local artists and that every two years or so a different local artist can use the facility for presenting their art. You see that in the building below on the left side were there is a large mural on the roof of the building.

The winery supports local artists by having them paint part of the winery or install their art inside the winery.

The winery supports local artists by having them paint part of the winery or install their art inside the winery.

Here is some more art from the local artists that is hung inside the winery.

Art Hung by Local Artisians

Art Hung by Local Artisians

As you walk up to the winery, you first enter the tasting room.

The entrance to the tasting room at Clos de Tres Cantos

The entrance to the tasting room at Clos de Tres Cantos

The views of the Valle are beautiful from up in the winery.

View of the Valle from Clos de Tres Cantos

View of the Valle from Clos de Tres Cantos

We have a special placer both dogs and wine, so what is not to love about this winery when you see the “guard” dog at attention.

Wine and dogs, what is not to enjoy.

Wine and dogs, what is not to enjoy.

We first took a tour of the winery and as the images below show, it has been designed with some very interesting touches.

Some very interesting and unique architecture.

Some very interesting and unique architecture.

They even installed alters in both the bottling area and the room where the wines are stored in barrels.

Another alter this time in the bottling area

Another alter this time in the bottling area

 

Some very interesting and unique architecture.

Some very interesting and unique architecture.

Plus there is some nice art pieces dedicated to the Virgin de Guadalupe.

Pray Alter in the Cava

Pray Alter in the Cava

The storage area is well maintained and very cool. They do have to run air conditioners at times during the year but when we were there in March it was very cool inside the caves.

Petite Syrah and Tempranillo in barrels

Petite Syrah and Tempranillo in barrels

 

The room where they store the wine in barrels usually for 12 months.

The room where they store the wine in barrels usually for 12 months.

They also have recycled used wine bottles as “window treatments” to let in natural light based on the position of the window.

A different view of how the old wine bottles defuse the light.

A different view of how the old wine bottles defuse the light.

 

Holding Vats

Holding Vats

 

View of the vats in the cave and how the old wine bottle glass lets in some natural light.

View of the vats in the cave and how the old wine bottle glass lets in some natural light.

 

They use the old wine bottles to create a unique obscure window treatment

They use the old wine bottles to create a unique obscure window treatment

After the tour we visited the tasting room and sampled all of their wines. In general we found them all to be very nice and we of course left with a number of them.

The Mezcla de Tintos is aged 12 months in barrels and 12 months the bottle. 13.5% alcohol. Smokey bouquet with long legs. Good finish, fruit taste. Earthly, ruby red color. Our rating: 3.5 out of 5. Please note that this wine is only available at the winery.

The Clos de Tres Cantos "Mezcla de Tintos".

The Clos de Tres Cantos “Mezcla de Tintos”.

The 2013 Noesis is  100% Tempranillo. It is aged 12 months french oak, 12 months bottle. The wine has good legs, is a lighter red color, with a musty or yeasty aroma. The wine is smooth but not as bold. Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

The Clos de Tres Cantos "Noesis" which is a pure Tempranillo.

The Clos de Tres Cantos “Noesis” which is a pure Tempranillo.

The 2013 Resilencia is 100% Petite Sarah. It is aged 12 months in French oak and 23 months in the bottle. 14.5% alcohol. Dry, fruity, good finish with a red fruit aroma. Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

The Resilencia is a 100% Petite Syrah.

The Resilencia is a 100% Petite Syrah.

I forgot to shoot an image of the wine Nada which is a 2013 vintage. It is 100% Tempranillo. It is aged 12 months french oak, 12 months bottle. The wine has good legs, is a lighter red color, with a musty or yeasty aroma. The wine is smooth but not as bold. Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

Address: Carretera Tecate – Eseada, km. 89m Rancho Santa Lucía, San Antonio de las Minas, Baja California.

website:www.closdetrescantos.com
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Clos-de-Tres-Cantos-1498521527058077
Telephone: +52 (55) 8568 9240
Wine maker: Maria J. Benitez Cantarero y Joaquín Moya Cussi

Vena Cava Vinícola

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On Friday we visited Vena Cava and winery owned by Phil and Eileen Gregory, where Phil is also the Enólogo. The winery is made up of a number of upside down boats which welcomes you to a slightly funky decor.

The entrance to the Vena Cava vinicola.

The entrance to the Vena Cava vinicola.

 

Vena Cava

Vena Cava

 

The architecture of the Vena Cava winicola is based upon upside down boats.

The architecture of the Vena Cava winicola is based upon upside down boats.

There also is a water pond just past the parking lot. It gives a beach front feeling that you will not receive at any of the other wineries.

Beach Front at Vena Cava?

Beach Front at Vena Cava?

When we entered the winery, the crew were in the middle of bottling some of the wine. Very organized and productive process.

Bottling Rose at Vena Cava

Bottling Rose at Vena Cava

Inside the barrel storage area, the a numerous barrels of various blends, some of which have the same grapes but have slightly different mixes of the grapes.

La Cava en la Vena Cava

La Cava en la Vena Cava

 

La Cava en la Vena Cava

La Cava en la Vena Cava

Prior to our tasting Jo Ann was having a conversation about the history of the wines.

Jo Ann in the Vena Cava Tasting Room

Jo Ann in the Vena Cava Tasting Room

Vena Cava has an extensive portfolio of wines, but alas we did not get to taste all of them.

Seleccion de vino en Vena Cava

Seleccion de vino en Vena Cava

 

We did not get to try this bottle yet, so I can not comment on the taste or aroma.

We did not get to try this bottle yet, so I can not comment on the taste or aroma.

 

We did not get to try this bottle yet, maybe we will return, but the blend looks very interesting to me.

We did not get to try this bottle yet, maybe we will return, but the blend looks very interesting to me.

 

I enjoyed the Vena Cava Zinfadel.

I enjoyed the Vena Cava Zinfandel. I found the wine had a great deep red color, good clarity. It had a fruity but was not spicy. I rated it 3.5 out of 5.

 

The Vena Cava Rosado 2014 was a very unique blend for a Rosado.

The Vena Cava Rosado 2014 was a very unique blend for a Rosado. It has long legs, but was a little thin on taste. My rating was 2.5 out of 5.

 

The white was a mix of varietals and was very good.

The white was a mix of varietals and was very good. It has a sweet taste but is very complex for a white wine. I rated this 4.0 out of 5.

 

View across the Valle

View across the Valle

We did come back the following Tuesday in order to meet up with Phil and talk about his wines. Here is Jo Ann and Phil sharing a great glass of the Big Blend.

Phil Gregory and Jo Ann

Phil Gregory and Jo Ann

Address: Rancho San Marcos, Toros Pintos S7N, Ejido Francisco Zarco, Ensenada, B.C.

Phone: +52 (646) 156-8053

www.venacavawine.com

email: venacavawines@gmail.com