Review: Fuenteseca Cosecha 2013
Updated: Jul 6, 2021
Fuenteseca Cosecha 2013 - AAF 7867 - NOM 1146 - 45.7%
Every so often, you run into a pour that redefines your conception of a spirit category, recalibrates your rating system. Mile makers and ghosts that influence every tasting after. A series of firsts: the vintage candied nose on 1980s National Distillers bourbon; the layered, looping, oak-soaked profile of a 1981 Cardinat Bas-Armagnac; the full sensory rollercoaster of 130+ proof Hampden rum, bright tropical fruit framed in half a century of aging with Jean-Luc Pasquet Tres Vieille cognac, floral and melon notes quieting the smoke in Mezcalero #16. Fuenteseca Cosecha 2013 is one of those pours. Rested in stainless steel for 3 years, released ~2016/2017, this blanco was an exercise in tequila terroir representing a single agave harvest from a single field. Recently, the Fuenteseca Cosecha 2018 was released following similar production philosophies.
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Nose: Roasted sweet corn on the nose. Fresh peppers. Black pepper. Candied lemon. Olive brine. Roasted nuts. Super layered and complex.
Flavor: Cantaloupe. Mineral driven. Floral honey. Earthy. Spicy. More florals in the finish. Wow, this is just great.
Structure: Big viscosity. Measured pacing. Dynamic - rising and falling with each note. Great transitions and harmony.
Alcohol Integration: Spot on proof that pops flavors. Clarifies structure. Adds length. Plenty of body. Holds up with two drops of water. Released florals on the nose and in the finish. Brought out more nuance (fruits) on the palate.
Score: 9 (Stash Two) Clarity and complexity may be the best I’ve had in any tequila. Hangs with the best spirits in the world in those regards. Why not a 10? May as well be. If the dial would've turned up ever-so-slightly on the fruits or brighter notes my wallet would've been in worse trouble than just tracking down 2 back-ups.
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It's like a blend between old school 4 Copas and Herradura 46.
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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