The Santos Brujos Estate
- Founded: 2008 by Sergio Salgado and family
- Region and grape source: All grapes for their wines are sourced from their estate owned organic and biodynamic certified (CCOF/Demeter) vineyards in Valle de Guadalupe.
- Vineyard specifics: Vines were planted in 2008 in soils of decomposed granite and clay at an elevation 900 ft approximately 8 miles from the Pacific. While most of the vineyards are planted in a standard slope and prevailing wind based orientation, a portion of their vineyards are planted in a Fibonacci spiral.
- Notes:
- Santos Brujos is one of the few wineries in the region that has taken the steps to become certified organic and biodynamic. Certified by the CCOF, USDA and Demeter, they are perhaps more dedicated to this approach than any other estates in the region thus far. Even the name "Santos Brujos", which translates to "Saintly Witches" makes reference to the practice prescribed by Rudolf Steiner, (the founder of Biodynamic farming) by which the amendments to the soil and plants are prepared and stirred at length by hand in large cauldrons.
- All of the wines are made in a “natural” style with native yeast fermentation, no additives or corrections at any point during the process. Minimal sulfites are added at bottling for stability.
- The philosophy of Santos Brujos is to learn from the land - to nurture and respect it in every process. In their wines they seek to exalt the freshness of the fruit in combination with the elegance of the tertiary aromas provided by the French oak.
Annual production: 4 wines, 2,200 cases
2017 Ananda - Santos Brujos
Tasting Notes and Drinking Window:
The third release of Ananda, the ultra premium project of Santos Brujos is made from individually selected grapes that represent the best of the best from the vintage. A 1,000 liter cuvee that amounts to 990 bottles, this is one the best efforts Mexico has to offer.
Grapes for this cuvee are individually selected. That's right, each grape is pulled off it's cluster and considered for this wine and since they only make 80 some cases of it a year, it goes without saying that the selection process is extremely discriminating. Only the best of the best make it in.
Softer on release than the 2016 before it, this wine still has the build to last for decades in the bottle and will reward at least some decant if opened in the near future. That said, experiencing the wine in its youth is an experience of energy that shouldn't be missed so it’s difficult not to recommend those serious about wine to get at least a couple bottles here. Santos Brujos is a leader for quality in the Valle but the Ananda is a game changer even for them.
82 cases made
Drinking window: Now (1 hr decant) - 25 years
Vintage:
2017
Blend:
100% Tempranillo
Producer:
Santos Brujos
Winemaker:
Luis Pecina Garcia - Spanish born, lives in Mexico
Vineyards:
Valle de Guadalupe - Estate vineyards, located in the center of the valley approximately 8 miles from the Pacific at an elevation of 900 ft. Soils are a sandy clay marl.
Winemaking:
Extended maceration of 3 days then fermented on native yeasts in French oak barrels, racked and aged in new French oak of the absolute highest quality for 12 months . Bottled unfiltered.
Sulfites: 13 ppm
Farming:
Biodynamic, organic, sustainable
Alcohol:
13.5%
