Meaning
“The Cottonwood” and home to the largest Cottonwood tree in New Mexico (second
in U.S.), this small, family run boutique winery will fill that special place
in your wine heart. The estate has been in family hands for about 200 years and
was already a working farm for apples and apricots. Winemaker and founder, Joseph
Martinez, had already taken a stab at making wine for about 15 years for the
family. Almost a decade ago, he and his family began planting vines on the
estate of primarily Riesling and Baco Noir. With his mechanical engineering
background, his science-based approach to winemaking and intuitive talent has
yielded some great tasting wines. 2017 was the first commercial vintage and the
tasting room opened in 2020. With about 1200 vines on the estate as well as grapes
sourced from other New Mexico vineyards, this new operation has been producing
about 300-600 cases per year of wine. There are a lot of different wines to try
on the list. For the whites, there are four different Riesling styles from dry,
semi-dry, to sweet. Ranging in vintages from 2018 – 2020, each has their own
unique character on Riesling notes, but those citrus, apple, and apricot notes
are all quite pleasing. Also on the list is an Apricot wine. This surprisingly
dry like fruit wine was from a bumper crop they had and has good acids for food
pairing. For the Boco Noir grapes, check
out their Rosés. Taste all of them from
dry to sweet, but all vintages from 2018 to 2020 will peak your senses with
lots of aromas of strawberries. You will be in for a special treat with their
2021 Primavera. This porch sipping wine is a blend of Riesling and Baco Noir
with fantastic floral notes. For the red wines, start off with the 2018 Baco
Noir. Light in tannins, it has a smokiness to it along with flavors reminiscent
of a Pinot Noir. The 2020 Baco Noir will tickle your wine senses with some
bourbon notes along with flavors of plums.
There are also some traditional reds on the list to try including, 2019
Petite Sirah (dark garnet color, light acids), 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon (black
cherry notes, rich mouthfeel), 2018 Tempranillo (black pepper, bold, tannic),
and the 2020 Nebbiolo (light color, big tannins, rose petal notes). Save some
room at the end for their dessert wines.
For Riesling lovers, the white version is clocking in at 18% abv and is
quite soothing to the soul. The red dessert wine is based off the Baco Noir.
Fortified with Brandy, this 2020 beast is what to savor for at the end of a
long day and great meal. Also on the horizon are Sangiovese and Petit Verdot
wines to be added to the menu. A number of these wines have also garnered top
awards at the 2021 New Mexico State Fair Wine Competition. This is a
great gem to stop and visit North of Santa Fe as you trek along state road 68.
The family and friends there are the best and will treat you quite well. It is
always a pleasure visiting a new winery during its early startup years and we
look forward to future visits with this one to see how they continue to grow.
Cheers!
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