2015. Bottle 58/612. Bubble gum and fresh ginger on the nose with hints of aftershave and fresh aloe as well. The palate is SUPER delicate. Notes of papaya, pineapple, and other light tropical fruits mixing with grilled pepper, old broken-in leather, dusty old books, and spearmint. This is really delightful.

Really pleasant! Aromas of chocolate oranges, lavender, coconut, fennel, and caramel. The palate is full and viscous. Notes of dried green tea, nugget, oysters, and cooked asparagus. This is a solid Espadin and it’s bigger and fuller than what I expected at 44%.

Lot J-01-TOB-20. Aromas of crushed black pepper, sandalwood, patchouli incense, pine, and strawberries. The palate takes a minute to open up. Notes of leather, wet hay, tapioca, brown rice, and asparagus. A bit of mint on the finish.

Lot BCXJVS2005. Aromas of sandalwood, toothpaste, and toasted oats. The palate has some melon and dried mango. It’s a bit caramelized with honey and maple, and it has some clove and nutmeg as well.

Lot D-01-19. Aromas of lime, grapefruit, cherries, and orange peel. The palate is rich with black licorice and anise. Additional notes of new lumber, dried spearmint, green tea, and wet clay. There are smoky and candied elements to this that weave a complex base for these other notes.

Lot A2-07-EL-20 from September 2020. This bottle had that classic Aquilino heat that faded after a few pours and after sitting it on the shelf for a week. Almost identical to the famed Elote from Aquilino. High minerality, sea salt, fresh flowers, and confectionary sugar on the nose. The palate has a floral masculinity. It’s rugged yet refined. Notes of roasted corn, sweet potato, creamy jalapeno, and marshmallow. This is really nice and it’s great to see the Elote tradition live on.

Very soft and delicate on the nose with aromas of bubblegum, sea salt, and fresh flowers on the breeze. The palate is delicate and richly textured. Notes of blueberries, strawberries, whipped cream, and molasses. This has the same silky, exquisite textures I find with other Viejo Indecente as well. Absolutely stunning Tobala.

Clean nose. Slight hints of cotton Candy on the nose. The palate is both savory and sweet. Notes of chicken broth, grape juice, and subtle airheads. That combination doesn’t sound good together but it is! This is delicious.

March 2019. 45.9%. Aromas of sea breeze, fresh flowers, and orange creamsicle. Palate is lavender and vanilla. So silky and velvety. This is fantastic.

Feb 2020. 46.8%. Aromas of jalapeño cream, doña sauce, and palm oil. Palate is a bit leathery, with notes of dates, raisins, and overripe berries. Sticky on the palate.

47.3%. 2016/2017. Smells very citrusy with notes oranges, lime, and fruit punch. The palate has big fruits of pineapple and mango, mixing with raw sugar cane and bubble gum. This is a fantastic Espadin.

HER-CUC-001. Aromas of musty straw and grass, starchy uncooked potatoes, and pencil eraser. The palate is a little sharp but enjoyable. Notes of spearmint, menthol, Parliament cigarettes, and vanilla beans. This one is a wild ride.

Batch 1. Bottle 3632/5040. Notes of paint thinner and turpentine on the nose and palate. There are hints of diesel exhaust as well. Not my jam.

Lot 1. Bottle 309/750. Aromas of sweet BBQ ribs, Worcester sauce, vinegar, and poppy seeds. The palate has even stronger notes of BBQ chicken, charcoal, and red onions. This is like a copita of Texas barbeque.

Lot MR-015. Smells nice. A bit of clay and wet earth on the nose. Rakhal pointed out boiled asparagus, which is spot on for the palate for me. I also get a water chestnut note. This is soft and pleasant, very inoffensive.

Batch 001-MP. Bottle 862/1440. Strong aromas of gingerbread cookies, fresh flowers, and serrano peppers. The palate has vanilla bean, jalapeno, dry grasses, minerals, and spicy radishes. This is really tasty.

Lot 1HEC0520. 50.2%. Pretty clean on the nose, with some light hints of flowers and fresh rain. The palate is thick, almost syrupy, and this really coats everything in the mouth. There are a lot of bass notes on this, and not much treble. As a bass player, that’s what I enjoy most in music, and it’s surprising to find it in this spirit. There are some caramel and red apple notes on the palate, but they lurk deep in this spirit. The surface level has some interesting hints of orange slice candies and parsley. Unfortunately, I only had a small dram of this, but I’d like to try more.

Lot TP001. 46%. A little funky on the nose, funkier than I expected from a Tep. Aromas of parmesan and mozzarella cheeses and some apple cider vinegar. The palate has a touch of that lactic funk, but not nearly as much as the nose. The palate has a bit of black pepper and broccoli, and sweeter orange finish. Some might really love this, but it’s not really what I look for.

Tobala/Tobasiche 2020. Aromas of wet earth and leaves mixing with blueberries, red raspberries, and nearly ripe (but not yet) strawberries. There’s a creaminess on the nose as well. The palate has a lot of dark chocolate with raspberries, newly tanned leather, and chocolate milk. Very gentle and complex.

Lot MADTGC2002. Sweet aromas of cherry cola, Macintosh apples, honey, and raw sugar. The palate is floral, with notes of fresh flowers, spring rain, and honeydew melon. It’s balanced and nuanced with the classic minerality and vegetal characteristics that I’d expect from a Madre from this region.