Review: Fortaleza Anejo 42-A, 43-A, 48-A
Fortaleza Anejo - Lote 48 - 40%
Fortaleza Anejo - Lote 42- 40%
Fortaleza Anejo - Lote 43- 40%
Lote 42-A and 43-A have become legendary thanks to a blending miscommunication which resulted in 3+ year Fortaleza being blended with a lote of 12 month anejo in an attempt to avoid a distribution gap. Without a Fortaleza XA release anywhere on the horizon, these lotes will continue to be sought after as a small glimpse of what a Fortaleza XA could be if production and aging could keep up with demand.
Worth noting: Khrys Maxwell has pointed out that lotes 1-13 are actually closer to an XA (in terms of profile and distillate age) than 42 and 43.
I've yet to give a middling review to a Fortaleza release. The only other anejo I've tried was lote 46-A which I scored a 7 (a baseline score for me with Fortaleza).
Notes: 48 - On-profile for Fortaleza . Fairly dry for an anejo. Oak is a factor, but there's plenty of bright fruit and sweets that resonate more deeply than the reposado I recently reviewed. Bold, nuanced, and tasty.
42 - Less wood on the nose than 43. It's also thicker on the palate. Rounder and more poundable. Fruits and wood sugars are more pronounced up front. It's long and full on the palate - start to finish. Less dynamic and structured than 43, but richest of the three.
43 - More floral and spice driven. Reads as the most complex. More nimble and active on the palate - brighter and more floral again. The spice is really the thing - cinnamon and church incense. Long and lively through the finish.
Score
Lote 48: 7 (Highly Recommend) Fortaleza delivers consistent quality every time.
Lote 42: 9 (Stash Two) A little heavier on the palate and rounder/richer, but slightly less complex.
Lote 43: 9 (Stash Two) Doubt I'd be able to note much of a difference compared to 42 if it wasn't tasted side-by-side. But the structure seemed more active and the spice notes were a little more lively and interesting.
Rating System
10 - Reevaluate The Budget
9 - Stash Two (If Able)
8 - Stash One (At The Right Price)
7 - Highly Recommend It To Strangers
6 - Solid - Above Average
5 - Acceptable For The Situation
4 - Not Vocally Complaining
3 - Anything Else To Drink?
2 - Nothing Nice To Say
1 - Drain Pour