The Rubio EstateFounded: 2003 by Francisco Rubio
Region and grape source: The winery and their vineyards are located in Valle de Guadalupe approximately 11 miles from the Pacific Ocean. All grapes are sourced from their estate vineyards.
Vineyard specifics: Valle de Guadalupe - 1,100 ft - (Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Chenin Blanc, Palomino). Clay and decomposed sandstone mix. The site is one of the highest on the valley wall and has a gentle slope that faces southwest. 14 miles from the Pacific. Farming is organic.
Winemaker: Alberto Rubio (Mexican born, lives in Valle de Guadalupe)
Notes:
- They are the definition of a family run winery - all grapes are picked by hand and every family member has a role in an aspect of the operation. The tribe stays together.
- The elephants on the labels each represent specific members of the family. The animal serves as a symbol of the fact that elephants always operate in packs or family units and have the survival strategy of surrounding, (rather than out running as is the strategy of survival for many species) the young, fragile and old members of the community when under attack. If you visit their winery, you find their father running the tastings, their mother serving the food, the cousin making the wine, the younger brother running the kitchen, etc.
Total production: 10 acres under vine, 6 wines, 2,000 cases
2021 Mezcla Italiana - Bodegas F. Rubio
Tasting Notes and Drinking Window:
Always a rich and spicy treat, the 2021 Mezcla Italiana is certainly the wine of the vintage for the estate and one of the top red wines of the region for that year. Full bodied and structured with layers of tannins that will reward a 30 minute decant, this can be consumed now or aged for 15 years or more. An excellent example of the heights winemaking is reaching in Mexico’s Northern Baja region.
900 cases made
Drinking window: Upon release - 15 years
Vintage:
2021
Blend:
50% Nebbiolo, 34% Sangiovese, 16% Montepulciano
Producer:
Bodegas F. Rubio
Winemaker:
Alberto Rubio - Mexican
Vineyards:
Valle de Guadalupe - Estate vineyards composed of clay and decomposed sandstone mix. The site is one of the highest on the valley wall and has a gentle slope that faces southwest.
Aging:
Grapes were harvested by hand in three lots on October 2nd, 3rd and 8th then manually sorted and crushed before being left to ferment in stainless steel tanks. After fermentation was complete, the wine was transferred to 1st and 2nd use American oak barrels and aged for 12 months before bottling. Only 35 PPM sulfites at bottling.
Alcohol:
13%
