(Article originally published on L’Officiel Mx web)

Mexico is a country filled with tradition. One of them is to celebrate Father’s Day surrounded by family. We’ve chosen 5 special wines to celebrate with.

Father’s Day is a celebration that is particularly relevant to me for several reasons that allow me to remember the past and also enjoy the present and future. This time I suggest three reds, one white and one champagne to celebrate that special member of the family.

1. CASA MADERO GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY

Our first suggestion is a white wine from Casa Madero, one of Mexico’s oldest and most traditional winemakers. Located in the Valley of Parras de la Fuente, in Coahuila, they have been extremely successful in producing top quality and accesible wines. The Casa Madero Gran Reserva Chardonnay, it’s one of my favorite white wines and definitely one of the best Mexican ones. It is made 100% from fully matured Chardonnay and aged for 6 months in French Oak. On the nose we immediately get hit by green apple, citrus and vanilla notes. On the palate it is elegant and unctuous, with buttery sensations and long finish. Would definitely pair great with creamy seafood pasta or fish and shellfish dishes.

2. FLUXUS (RED)

Another Mexican suggestion comes from Valle de Guadalupe, region where more than 90% of Mexican wine is being made. Fluxus is a project by one of my favorite Mexican winemakers, Alberto Rubio, who ran Mogor Badan for about four years. This wine is one of his personal projects. Fluxus Tinto (Fluxus Red) is a Grenache, Syrah and Mourvédre (GSM) blend, characteristic on wines from the Rhône region in Burgundy, aged for 15 months in French oak. It is a rather uncommon blend in Mexico, however it is a perfectly achieved, complex and constantly evolving wine. We suggest to decant it to fully appreciate its evolving traits. Strawberries, cherry, cranberry, oak and mineral notes are present. We suggest pairing it with grilled chicken or turkey, semi curated cheese and fruit boards.

3. VIÑA ARANA GRAN RESERVA 2012

Another red wine suggestion, it is one of the top releases of the year and hails from the Rioja region in Spain. Another fantastic delivery by La Rioja Alta, S.A., Viña Arana Gran Reserva 2012 is a simply spectacular and perfect wine fit for celebration and immediately approachable, however cellaring for the next 10 years could further improve it. Given its excellent ability to produce age-worthy wines, La Rioja Alta, S.A. decided to produce the first Viña Arana Gran Reserva (it used to be a Reserva). Said wine is made from 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano Grapes. On the glass it has a deep dark cherry color and heavy aromatic power. Ripe red fruit, plum, red berries, caramel, sweet tobacco and vanilla notes are present (this last one resulting from the oak aging process). It reminds me of the new style wines from Napa in California.

This one pairs beautifully with roasted meats or hearty dishes. You can get this from our friends of Vinoteca.

4. AN/2  2016

The last red wine suggestion we have today comes from the Island of Mallorca, in Spain. Not your typical location for winemaking and to be honest one that I haven’t tried before. It was a delight to come across with this wine from boutique producers called Anima Negra. Their AN/2 2016 is a Callet blend (typical grape from that region), Mantonegro-Fogoneu and Syrah, aged for 13 months in 80% de French and 20% American Oak. This wine is really aromatic, powerful yet silky on the palate. Black cherry, strawberry, black berries, pepper and herbal notes round up the experience.

Pair this red with traditional Mediterranean cuisine like Fideuá. This wine is a great opportunity to try something out of the ordinary, and trust me you won’t regret it. In Mexico you can buy it through Cavas del Mundo.

5. PIPER HEIDSIECK BRUT NV

Last but not least, what better option to celebrate Father’s Day than a pristine bottle of champagne. The Piper Heidsieck Brut NV has a remarkable price/quality ratio that’s hard to beat. Made with the traditional method, from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes, it has a bright straw and golden color. Floral, citrus, pear, apple, almond and hazelnut notes round the palate. It is an extremely expressive and well structured champagne.

We suggest to pair it with cheese or seafood or drink it as an aperitif. You can get it from out friends of Selección D’Otto.