By:
Jeffrey M. Cohen, CMS, Wine Specialist
In this edition of Taste, I would like to tell you of an event that took place a couple of weeks ago. I was invited to a tasting at one of my favorite restaurants, Chama Gaucha. I met up with Tom Bracamontes of La Competencia Imports. This was an amazing blast from the past. For the early Napa Trip members, Tom was the gentleman that was instrumental in our first stop on our trip at Mi Sueno. To help jog your memories, that was the office park visit that we all stopped at in disbelief. We walked in and there was a handmade Mexican food spread that was over the top. We actually were greeted by three different vineyards and three sets of wines, and then … came the tequila. That was certainly a jump start for that trip. I can’t say much more because, “What happens in Napa stays in Napa!!!”
So, back to my tasting. Tom has left the Mi Sueno group and is now constructing wines from Mexico into a conglomerate of a wine portfolio. He and his team are working on building the wine industry, to partner up as one united group. They are trying to build it with different growing regions very much like California. In the end, the philosophy that is being used is “what is good for one will be good for all.” The same remains the same in Napa and Sonoma. “It is important to have vacationers come to us and everybody will succeed.”
I won’t take you through the entire tasting because we tasted through about a dozen wines. Some highlights that we tasted were the 2021 Bruma ‘Plan B’ Sauvignon Blanc. This was nicely acidic and would be perfect with shrimp or oysters with plenty of cocktail and hot sauce. Another was the 2022 Lagrimas Chardonnay from Ensenada. This was light and crisp with nice tropical notes. Very opposite of a heavy Napa or Sonoma chardonnay. Neutral oak is used so there isn’t a lot of manipulation. Just fresh fruit.
My three favorites were all reds, maybe due to where I was and what we were eating. We enjoyed the 2019 Tribos Entrelazo, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Shiraz from Coahuila. The 2021 Bruma Ocho Reserva Mezcla is from the Valle de Guadalupe and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. The last wine that I will tell you about is the Adobe Guadalupe ‘Gabriel.’ This is a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec.
I can’t speak about which of the steak choices were best but I absolutely can tell you that with the wine line-up that we had, it was an amazing boost to an already delicious lunch.
Jeff
Jeffrey M. Cohen, CMS, is the Wine Specialist/Beverage Manager at The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch. He can be reached at jcohen@cordilleraranch.com and 210.677.9234.
