Team C&J
If you stop by this blog frequently, then you know we absolutely adore French wines. Our membership to the Kermit Lynch Wine Club was easily one of our best wine investments, and a has introduced us to so many under-the-radar French producers. Having said that, our frequent trips to Valle de Guadalupe wine country have yielded just as many impressive bottles made with French – and Italian – grapes. When we cracked open this bottle from Roberto Curiel’s Vino De La Reina, we knew this was destined to become another go-to red wine for us.
Roberto Curiel created Vino De La Reina in 2011 as an ode to his wife. The winery’s name ‘Vino De La Reina’ translates to “The Queens Vines”. Talk about an impressive wine gift to give someone!
With his background as an architect, it was easy for Roberto to conceptualize the winery and the layout of the vineyards, and in 2006, he broke ground by planting his first rows of Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The first wines were produced in 2009 and released in 2011. After that, the development of the brand moved quickly. Just three years later, Vino De La Reina and winemaker Héctor Villaseñor received their first wine medal (a double gold!) at the prestigious San Francisco International Wine Competition.
Riding this wave of success, Roberto expanded the estate with a tasting room, hired experienced wine consultants from Paso Robles to further build on the quality of the wines, and later, in 2018, opened a restaurant to show just how food-friendly the wines of Baja are.
The portfolio of Vino De La Reina wines goes beyond Cabernet Sauvignon and includes:
The grapes are spread between vineyard sites in Valle de Guadalupe and San Vicente Valleys. In total, the estate is planted to 50 hectares of grapes of French, Spanish, and Italian varieties.
Vinedos de La Reina has three distinct labels: VR, Duquesa (Duchess), and Special Edition.
Here’s what you need to know about each label:
VR Wines, like this 2020 VR Cabernet Sauvignon, are single-varietal wines. These wines are intended to be cellar-worthy wines that are site-specific and express the terroir of their individual vineyards. French barrel aging concentrates the flavors in the wines, giving what’s in the bottle a profound richness that wine lovers won’t forget.
Duquesa (Duchess) wines are meant to be enjoyed right now. Winemaker Héctor Villaseñor wants you to pull these bottles out when you’re entertaining friends or you just want to enjoy an impromptu bottle to relax after a long day. The Duchess line-up is defined by its light-bodied wines that are fresh, aromatic, and acidic.
Special Edition wines are incredibly limited, and different bottles are produced each vintage to showcase exceptional fruit or ageability.
No need to sign up for a Valle de Guadalupe wine tour to try the exceptional wines of Vinedos de La Reina. You can visit the estate for a wine tasting or stop by the estate’s wine bar.
We also want to mention that one of the things that makes wine tasting in Valle de Guadalupe such a treat is that so many wineries, like Vinedos de La Reina, have on-site restaurants. The hospitality component of Mexico’s wine country really is an all-encompassing food and wine experience that we can’t recommend enough.
The color of the 2020 Vinedos de La Reina Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep ruby red. The nose is aromatic and offers great depth. Leather, spice (cedar and black pepper), rich black currant, graphite, and bell pepper present themselves.
If you appreciate full-bodied Cabernets from Napa, you will love the palate of this wine. The mouthfeel is tannic but soft and offers a similar presentation of characteristics as the nose: cedar, leather, black cherry and currant, bell pepper, and a touch of lavender. This Baja wine is oak-aged for 12 months, so you also get a bit of oak.
This is an excellent Cabernet Sauvignon that wine lovers who gravitate to the finer wines of Napa and Bordeaux will appreciate. Valle de Guadalupe wineries continue to hit above their weight and deliver value and quality all at once.
Mexico
Valle de San Vicente
Cabernet Sauvignon
14
Héctor Villaseñor
62–68°F / 16–20°C
Burgundy
1 Hour
Now to 2030
Vino De La Reina
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