elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 11-19-2002
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Valle Wine Tasting - No Reservations - mostly
We had a great time on my wife's Baja BD Bash. Wine tasting (no res) and lunch Saturday at Frannes - bought some of the Sauv Blanc, Cab & Mezcla
de Tintos. The manager saw how much fun we were having and since the owner Ernesto Camou was having lunch there he gave us a taste of the 2010 Camou y
Camou (old label that they can no longer use-when its gone its gone) Reserva Cab. We bought two of those as well. We started with some almejas ahumado
from the mesquite grill and then the Wifey had shrimp dish with piņa and risotto and I had short rib with veggies and mashed - nice light lunch to get
the weekend started off.  The pours were healthy and the fee was 'comped'
after we ordered half a case + to go. Frannes was a great take in and we will be back there, beautiful setting and friendly people and we liked the
wine.
Spent the afternoon tasting/visting at Sol y Baro - bought a bottle of their blend and some red wine vinegar and olive oil. Interesting architecture
and artwork. Worth the time. (No res)
3 Mujeres is right up the path so we headed there and tasted (no res). Bought a couple of bottles of a blend that included a varietal I never heard
of, part of a collaboration between some vinters in the Valle and some in France. Last year wehn we were at Mogor they told us about it. It was good
and a good value. Lots of art and sculpture to enjoy here as well. There was a small group of folks having lunch at the restaurant El Pinar on the
property and it looked good. Will need to check it out someday.
Checked into our 'room' - Posada San Antonio - it was a small one room out building behind a house. Very quiet. I took a nap.
http://www.sanantonioposada.com/es-es/
We had dinner at Malva. Sopes de pato and bone marrow on the grill, salad greens picked that morning, conejo wrapped in bacon and ribeye grilled to
perfection. We went with a recommendation from server on a bottle of red wine from Mina Penelope winery. It was 250 pesos and we ended up getting one
to go. We plan to go back here when the winery is open. Bill including tip and 2 bottles of wine was $96 US. That meal in San Diego would be 2 1/2
times that. Highly recommend Malva.
Sunday we got up and headed to Doņa Esthela for breakfast. 2 hour wait so we head back out to where we came from and Corre Caminos. 20 minute wait and
good eats.
While we waited for our food to be made I sent an email to Kristin at Lechuza and booked a tasting at 1:00 PM. We headed up there and had a really
good time. Really great people and really good wine. Adam and Kristin alternated pouring in between tasks and chasing their son around. Kristin's
parents were there as well and we sat around and chatted with everyone and had a leisurely, relaxing time. Had some local cheese, bread and olive oil
and tried all the wines including some oaked Chard straight from the barrel. The wife and I concur that this is some of the best wine we have had from
the Valle. We are not experts but we know what we like.  We ordered a case
of wine and it will be delivered to us in July sometime. We will definitely be heading back there and soon. I sent two of my cousins there (today) and
a group of four friends are going there this Saturday. Cant say enough about the hospitality and the wines.
After almost 2 hours we left and headed north up 3 to find Las Gueritas. Two other trips to the Valle we were headed in that direction but got
'distracted'. The specialty here is quail (the wife's favorite bird) grilled over mesquite. Two birds with rice, beans & salad for 10 bucks US.
After lunch we drove around and checked out a few places to stay. We plan to get a small group of like minded amigos and do a trip early fall after
the temps die down. In the meantime we will do a few more 'fact-finding' excursions of our own. 
We were in the Valle for only about 30 hours but we packed a lot in and as they say - happy wife happy life.
Thanks again bajaguy, Santiago, BajaBound and bajadock for the links, info, recommendations!
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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Maron
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Registered: 4-14-2014
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Super report, great info on the food and wines. How do you get that much wine across? Do you have it shipped or just take your chances.
My last crossing, I told the truth - 3 bottles of wine. Thought I was going away forever.
Thanks again for the info
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woody with a view
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Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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And here i thought no rez needed for Campo Lopez! 
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 11-19-2002
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We have Sentri so we only bring back the legal limit. We have a beach house so we store what we buy there and then bring it back a bit at a time. BUT
- Lechuza has a deal with an import/distributor on this side of the border and the case we bought there will be delivered to us stateside. Mexican
government taxes wine as a luxury when sold in country at 47%. The tax is less (20% something I think) when its 'exported' so the distributor can
afford to make some money and the winery makes some money and we get some great wine to share with friends that's not from Napa, Sonoma or Mendecino
Quote: Originally posted by Maron  | Super report, great info on the food and wines. How do you get that much wine across? Do you have it shipped or just take your chances.
My last crossing, I told the truth - 3 bottles of wine. Thought I was going away forever.
Thanks again for the info |
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4332
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
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You are correct. Sort of. Just tell em at the gate your with me and paddle out!
We are going down tomorrow for the day and taking the parents. Get to bring back 4 more bottles.
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
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I brought back a case last week. The officer at the gate said. "No problem, you paid taxes in Mexico". It all depends on who you meet in the booth at
the border.
Better start planning another trip. I've been to the Valle four times but never to any of the place you mentioned!
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