WTN: L. A. Cetto Petite Sirah 2016

L. A. Cetto Petite Sirah 2016 - Baja California, Mexico; 14% abv; c. 18€

I have only tasted one Mexican wine before, a Nebbiolo, but remember positive mentions of this Petite Sirah so decided to try it when it became available here. Quite a spicy, plummy aroma with all kinds of ripe fruit - rather than reminding me of Syrah it kind of reminds me of Merlot, but interesting. That was mean. I'm so sorry, Merlot! Quite rich and fruity on the palate, low in acidity, medium tannins, and a strange salty sensation that I quite like. Buy again? Probably not. It was interesting to try a grape and a country I'm not familiar with but I think the genre of this wine is so far removed from what I genuinely like that this was more an academic exercise. Give me lean and acidic, or if rich give me Musar-like funk. This was a technically competent wine with plenty of interest but just in a genre I'm not all that much into.

[Jenise]

Very fair TN. I've recently been introduced to several producers out of Baja, including LA Cetto. The wines have really impressed, but yes they are definitely new world--but kind of in the way South Africa's wines are new world vs. California. It absolutely blows me away to think of grapes growing all over the hills within view of Ensenada and the famous Hussong's Cantina, where certain scenes of early adulthood took place for me and many a Southern California wanderer. That saltiness you detected probably has a lot to do with the coastal location.