BajaNomad

Excellent, reasonably priced wine found in Mexico

Hook - 4-18-2012 at 07:35 AM

We just ran across this one and it is a keeper. Possibly available in the States, too.

It's the Santa Carolina 2011 Carmenere. Not listed as a reserve (though this winery does bottle some). Just says "varietal". 13.5% GL. From Chile's Mapel Valle.

We discovered Carmeneres four years ago when we moved to Mexico. Never had had it "straight" before then. Since then, it's grown in popularity and the market is flooded with rather thin, uninteresting versions, especially the large volume wineries like Concha y Toro or Santa Silvia.

This one isnt like that.

If you havent had a good Carmenere before, I would liken it most closely with a Cabernet with more subdued tannins. This is not a wine for bottle aging; Carmeneres should be drunk young.

About 100 pesos over here on the mainland.

Hook - 4-18-2012 at 08:27 AM

You didn't think it was actually gonna be FROM Mexico, did you?? :lol:

Sorry if my title is misleading.......

bajaking76 - 4-18-2012 at 08:31 AM

La Comercial Mexicana has a verity of wines, most from local areas...I always go for the Santo Tomas wines they are very good and the price is decent.

Hook - 4-18-2012 at 08:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaking76
La Comercial Mexicana has a verity of wines, most from local areas...I always go for the Santo Tomas wines they are very good and the price is decent.


They're getting better, that's for sure.

But I still find so many better ones for cheaper from Chile and Argentina that I have stopped looking.

Post some of your favs from Santo Tomas. They are over here. I'll give em a try.

Sweetwater - 4-18-2012 at 08:46 AM

While in Chile last year for a medical mission in Cusco, I attempted to find a good drinkable Chilean wine without any success. The only wines that were decent were from Argentina. Since I have produced my own wines since 1990, I consider myself an intermediate judge of red wines and I can not recommend a single Chilean wine in a moderate price range.

Good to hear there are better options in Baja!

Hook - 4-18-2012 at 09:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sweetwater
While in Chile last year for a medical mission in Cusco, I attempted to find a good drinkable Chilean wine without any success. The only wines that were decent were from Argentina. Since I have produced my own wines since 1990, I consider myself an intermediate judge of red wines and I can not recommend a single Chilean wine in a moderate price range.

Good to hear there are better options in Baja!


That might be because the better wines are often for export only, just like many of the better tequilas in Mexico.

I agree; you have to wade through lots of Chilean wines to find really stellar ones.

[Edited on 4-18-2012 by Hook]

goldhuntress - 4-18-2012 at 09:35 AM

Thanks for the tip! I looked online and it is available in the US for $10. I don't mind splurging on wine once in a while but on an everyday basis I try to keep it reasonable. Since we are talking reasonable priced wine, for the NOB people I'll put a plug in for Dancing Bull Zinfandel. I had a bottle last night thought it was a great value. It was $6.99 on sale at a Sprouts market.

Fernweh - 4-18-2012 at 09:42 AM

Nothing wrong with a bottle of two-buck-chuck from Trader Joes's.....

The Merlot is great and for the price, you can splurge it among many friends:yes:
I'm always carrying a case, just in case....

capt. mike - 4-18-2012 at 10:27 AM

that's a great price for Dancing Bull Zin.

$2 chuck is not drinkable. Are you kidding?!:barf:

believe me i've tried.... many times. always the same crummy taste, and after taste.
well to each their own.

glad i have Bevmo and Total Wine both close - and Trader Joes.
plent of good stuff $5 to $10 all kinds, especially if you do the sales.

Sweetwater - 4-18-2012 at 11:50 AM

I would like to add the following caveat.....

Most commercial wines of lower quality are additionally compromised by the amount of sulfite added to the products. As a small quantity vintner, I have 5, 7.5 and 11 gallon carboys which are my fermentation tanks and aging vehicles. There is additional storage in stainless steel pony kegs and my wine is on tap with about 5 lbs of positive pressure, not enough to carbonate the wine. Because of my biochemistry background and sterile compounding certification, I am able to avoid sulfite to any significant degree. You would be amazed at how big a difference this makes in the final taste. While I don't own oak casks, much of those characteristics may be added by utilizing oak chips during the aging and my reds hold up nicely for 4-5 years.

It's just hell on me to try to age them that long......;D

Martyman - 4-18-2012 at 01:31 PM

The micro-oxigenation from wood barrels can't be repeated in carboys. I made a decent pinot in carboys but all the other reds...:barf: