We have taken to referring to our 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon as the “Michael Phelps” of our wine catalog. Looking at the bottle on our tasting room shelf is reminiscent of seeing Phelps standing on the pedestal with a stunning array of medals around his neck. You can’t even see our label! But what is the hoopla all about?

Well, let’s start with the fact that our Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded a 92 point rating (outstanding) on the prestigious James Suckling list, in addition to numerous awards from the New Mexico state fair competition, Fingerlakes International Wine Competition, and the San Francisco Chronicle wine competition. Then let’s see WHY it rates so highly among critics and wine lovers of all kinds.

Taking 100% Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon, mostly free run juice, and aging it in mixed French, Hungarian, and American oak for 18 months, our winemaker created a Cabernet with dark, rich colors, tannins that burst onto the palate, and a backbone of complex berries and plums. Bone dry and full-bodied, this wine is a perfect reflection of who we are as winemakers and showcases the best of what New Mexico has to offer.

Is this the culmination of over ten years of creating wines solely from New Mexico grapes in the little mountain resort area of Ruidoso? Not yet. There are still many grapes to harvest and wines to produce in years to come.

But we’re heading in a good direction!
 

“If you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people aren’t willing to do.”
— Michael Phelps, former competitive swimmer and most decorated Olympian of all time