Dominio de las Abejas Estate
Founded: 2015 by Mauricio Ruiz and family
Winemaker: Mauricio Ruiz (Mexican born, lives part time in Ensenada and part time in Australia where he runs two other organic biodynamic natural wineries
Winery location: Valle de Ojos Negros, Baja California
Region and grape source: Las Abejas is a concept winery that was started based on choosing the best possible piece of land for growing grapes in anticipation of climate change. Their search alighted on a piece of land in the high elevation Valle de Ojos Negros in Baja California, located just south and slightly inland from Valle de Guadalupe. Priority was placed on organic certification since the beginning, and the vineyards are certified organic by the CCOF. All grapes in their wines come from estate vineyards.
Vineyard location, elevation and grape varieties: The las Abejas vineyard is located in a very unique section of Valle de Ojos Negros that was once a marsh, (when the water table was much higher than it is now). The marsh was a resource for untold generations of migratory waterfowl all of which left deposits that enriched the soil. The marsh was gone long before they purchased the land, but the signature of this period is left in the rich and unique composition of the soil which has far more organic content than the surrounding area. At 2,200 ft in elevation, the main challenge of growing grapes here is the threat of frost during the growing season. They grow 10 grape varieties: Nebbiolo, Grenache, Nero D' Avola, Cinsault, Carignan, Chardonnay, Marsanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Colombard, and Zinfandel.
Notes:
- The wines of las Abejas are made naturally. Ambient yeast fermentation, no corrections or additions, no filtration or fining and only a 30 ppm sulfite addition at bottling. This absolute gem of an estate is one of only a handful of organic certified vineyards in Mexico making 100% natural wine that is clean and precise, showing no faults of any kind. Their creations are at the top level of natural wines worldwide.
Total Production: 5 wines 3,400 cases
2023 Nebbiolo - Dominio de las Abejas
Tasting Notes and Drinking Window:
All of the wines in the lineup from Dominio de Las Abejas are best summed up by a single word “delicious” as their balance of fruit, tannin, texture, and persistence all seems to perfectly tweak the pleasure dial to 11. This 100% Nebbiolo is one of the few representations of the variety you’ll find in Mexico that presents with the same light color and structural rigidity of Italian wine made from the same grape. The mystery of Nebbiolo is how it can be so light and beautiful in color and texture and yet deliver such intensity of flavor and structure. Here that dual nature of the grape is on full display, nuanced and light body, but with the intensity and structure of a serious red. The 2023 has more of a punch to it right out of the gate compared to previous vintages, and the balance here is absolutely incredible. Hands down a top wine from the 2023 vintage and without a doubt the best vintage of the wine to date. Since 12 hectares of their estate vineyards came on line in 2023 we were able to get a lot more of it too. Enjoy!
800 cases made Drinking window: Upon release – 7 years
Vintage:
2023
Blend:
100% Nebbiolo
Producer:
Dominio de las Abejas
Winemaker:
Mauricio Ruiz - Mexican
Vineyards:
Valle de Ojos Negros - Estate vineyards planted in 2015 (with additional plantings in 2022) on the site of an ancient riverbed composed of a variety of soil profiles. The areas surrounding the old riverbed consist of rich red clay loams over brown and sandy loams with calcareous rocks at depth, whereas the old riverbed itself is comprised of a quite sandy white-gray loam, over brown-gray loam. The former is quite nutrient rich which leads to better vigor, yields, and concentrated fruit, while the latter has quite poor soil that leads to tiny crops with of amazing complexity.
The Nebbiolo in particular is planted in the northern part of the block, in a red clay loam that has excellent drainage due to rock formations and sandier loam at depth. At an elevation of 2,200ft, this is high desert and the very definition of extreme viticulture. Vineyards are certified organic by the CCOF.
Winemaking:
All grapes were picked on the same day and fermented on native yeast after a light first press “bleed off” to concentrate the color. Fermentation took place over a period of 14 days at the lowest temperature possible in search of a wine with low extraction and maximum purity and delicacy. Like all the rest of the wines from Las Abejas, this was bottled without filtration or fining. Sulfites: 50 ppm
Farming:
Organic certified, sustainable
Alcohol:
13.6%
