A Mexican icon, Mariatinto is the culmination of a dream between two friends: celebrity restaurateur Guillermo González Beristáin and international wine merchant Humberto Falcon. Together, they wanted to create a new expression of the Valle de Guadalupe, with the sole purpose of creating a balanced wine to pair with the stunning food of Baja California. Twenty years after their inaugural release, they've more than done that. Today, their eponymous red blend is one of the benchmark wines of the region, and we're incredibly excited to share it with you.
I connected with proprietor Humberto Falcon over a choppy internet connection (sorry!) to learn more about Mexican wine. It was a fascinating conversation, especially learning about some of the challenges of winegrowing in Baja California.
Tasting Note
Led by Tempranillo, Syrah, and Nebbiolo, this is a unique blend that brings together some of the top performing grape varieties of the Valle de Guadalupe. It's remarkably complex, with wild berry fruit that's joined by beautiful aromatics of violets and pepper, and what really stands out is the purity of the fruit. It's intensely concentrated, thanks to remarkably low yields in the vineyard, but still elegant and balanced, with ripe, supple tannins that lead to a seamless, long finish.
Food Pairing
Try with braised meat or spiced dishes.