The Vena Cava Estate
- Vena Cava is a boutique winery founded in 2005 by Phil and Eileen Gregory under the principles of passion and quality over quantity. While they didn’t start with the intention of making “natural” wines, the more they learned the more this seemed the only interesting route forward. Today they are among the standouts of wineries in Mexico that are making exceptional wines in a “natural” style. While the estate makes wines that are strictly natural and others that are organic and noninterventionist (yet still apply some conventional techniques), we offer only their purely natural wines.
- All Vena Cava wines that have “Crystal Ship" or“Natural” as part of the name are made with organic grapes, fermented with native yeast, see no corrections, fining or additives and are bottled unfiltered with only a minimal amount of sulfites.
- While Vena Cava has its own estate vineyards, they have focused their business model on creating deep relationships with the best growers and the best vineyard sites such that, today, only 10% of their wines come from their estate owned grapes.
Vineyard locations, elevations and grape varieties –
- In addition to their 9.8 acres of estate vineyards located next to the winery in Valle de Guadalupe, they source their grapes from a number of select sites in Valle de Ojos Negros, Valle de San Vicente and Valle de Santo Tomás. All are organically farmed.
Total production: 10 regular wines and 10 “experimental” wines that change occasionally from vintage to vintage, 2,000 cases
2019 Phil's Blend - Vena Cava
Tasting Notes and Drinking Window:
At the peak of intensity and boldness in the Vena Cava lineup sits Phil’s Blend - a commanding expression composed in equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Nebbiolo. With such a trio, its power is no surprise. The nose is a complex weave of black pepper, rose petals, tar, and a brooding mix of red and dark fruits, setting the stage for a richly layered experience. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and immersive, exploring the shadowy depths of flavor: dark berries, tobacco, black cherry, dark chocolate, and espresso all make their presence known. Tannins are robust but beautifully integrated, signaling graceful aging potential for well over a decade.
In 2019, (a leaner vintage) Phil took a restrained approach, producing less wine but with heightened precision. The alcohol is down a full degree from the previous year, and the result is a wine that feels more focused and expressive than ever.
200 cases made
Drinking window: upon release (with a decant) – 15 years
Vintage:
2019
Blend:
34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Syrah, 32% Nebbiolo
Producer:
Vena Cava
Winemaker:
Phil Gregory - British lives in Mexico
Vineyards:
Vena Cava’s wines come from select sites in Valle de Guadalupe, Valle de San Vicente and Valle de Santo Tomás. Because of their approach to making several individual fermentations of each variety and blending just before barrel aging, specific site information is not available.
Winemaking:
All of Vena Cava’s grapes are fermented separately in two lots – half French oak barrels and half flexi tank. This gives them a variety of options when it comes time to blend in the process of making the final wine. After blending this wine was aged in 3rd use barrels for 12 months before bottling.
Sulfites: 35 ppm
Farming:
Organic, sustainable
Alcohol:
12.4%
