Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/288975
120 / the tasting panel / april 2014 CATEGORY REPORT Tres Agaves Reposado Founded in 1900, family-owned El Llano Distillery (NOM 1109) is one of the oldest distilleries in Jalisco. Likely their crowning achievement is Tres Agaves Reposado 100% Agave Tequila. The tequila is matured from six to nine months in Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey oak casks, Woodford Reserve and other bourbon barrels. The reposado has an amber hue, a lightweight, silky textured body and a generous citrus, herbaceous and lightly floral nose. Its palate features a blend of herbs, lemons, spice, mint and black pepper with a hint of smoke and menthol on the finish. "To achieve the slightly smoky, yet smooth flavor profile of our reposado, we blend tequilas aged in several different barrel sources," con- fides Barry Augus, President of Tres Agaves Products. "This affords our Master Distiller the flexibility to achieve just the right amount of oak and to smooth out inevitable variations in flavor that are imparted from one barrel to the next. The real art to aging tequila, and where I believe Tres Agaves shines, is in not overpowering the agave flavors with either oak or the predecessor spirits in the barrel." TRINCHERO FAMILY ESTATES Excellia Reposado What makes this tequila so unique is how it's made. The process starts in the Highlands of Jalisco at La Alteña (NOM 1139), home of Master Distiller Carlos Camarena of Tapatio and El Tesoro fame. After the second distillation, the handcrafted tequila is placed in two types of barrels—XO Cognac Limousin oak and grand cru Sauternes wine casks. Each type of oak has a singular effect on the aging tequila. When the barreled spirits have reached their peak maturity, Camarena and creative partner Jean-Sébastien Robicquet blend the two wood-finished tequilas together to obtain the desired flavor profile. Excellia Reposado is aged nine months before being blended. "We're such true believers in the reposado that when we created Excellia, we atypically started with the elaboration of the reposado. The blanco and añejo were born afterwards," says Audrey Fort of importer Domaine Select Wine Estates. "Excellia is the alliance of two cultures—Mexican and French—and of three terroirs— Jalisco's Los Altos and the Sauternes and Cognac regions. The young wood of the Sauternes bar- rels imbues the tequila sweet and fruity notes, whereas the Cognac casks release elegant rancio notes." DOMAINE SELECT WINE ESTATES Cruz del Sol Reposado Ultra-premium Cruz del Sol Reposado 100% Agave Tequila is handcrafted at Fabrica de Tequila El Nacimiento (NOM 1455) in the Los Altos Highlands. Its estate-grown agaves are baked in traditional brick ovens and slowly fermented in open vats. Afterwards the young tequila is rested for six months in charred American white oak. "Our tequila best illustrates why reposados are so popular with consumers," says Pep Katcher, co-founder and President of Cruz Tequila. "It is a soft, complex spirit that can be enjoyed straight, but also offers the utility of starring in traditional cocktails. It is imbued with subtle flavor nuances derived from the barrel, all of which do not overpower the sweet citrus flavors of the agave. Being tequila purists, we used no artificial flavoring to achieve the depth of our reposado." Cruz Reposado is an accessible tequila with a pale golden hue and vanilla, spice and fresh fruit aro- mas. Its palate is a layered affair of citrus, caramel, red plums and toasted oak. The lingering finish is spicy warm. TRINCHERO FAMILY ESTATES Grand Leyenda Reposado Estate-grown Santoyo Grand Leyenda Reposado is a tequila of passion from a family-owned estate. According to founder Jesus Santoyo, who serves as the company's CEO, the "grand legend" is his father, Jose de Jesus Santoyo Medina Acevedo, a larger-than-life family man who inspired his son to succeed. In every respect, this exquisite tequila is a tribute from the son to the father. Like the Grand Leyenda Silver and Añejo expressions (both of which have won Gold Medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition), Grand Leyenda Reposado is USDA-certified Organic. Rested for a minimum of 11 months in barrel, it delivers striking citrus and white fruit notes on a silky body, leading to nut and caramel flavors mid-palate and ending with a long, vanilla-laced finish. GRAND LEYENDA TEQUILA NOTE: In our March issue, some information about a mezcal brand was erroneously placed into the spotlight on Grand Leyenda Silver Tequila. Grand Leyenda 100% de Agave Silver is made from ten- to 12-year-old agave, grown on a family estate passed down through four generations of the Santoyo family. TP0414_102-132.indd 120 3/21/14 2:53 PM