2016 Bichi La Flama Roja

Price: $26 Region: Tecate < Baja California < MexicoGrapes: Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Nebbiolo + Petit VerdotVineyard/Cellar Stats: organic farming, dry-farmed, 100 year-old vines, sandy, granitic soil, 2400 foot elevation, fermented in 450L concrete ‘tinajas’ (amphora), then ½ aged in stainless steel and ½ in old barrel, no added SO2; 378 cases; 12.5% ABVWinemaker: Jair Téllez and Luis-Antoine Luyt Another field blend of whatever grows in this vineyard near Tecate – some random French and Italian varietals in this case. But with Bichi’s light-handed, old-school treatment (amphora and used barrels, nothing but minimal SO2 added at bottling) the wine manages to be bright, lifted and perfectly balanced – and still only 12.5% ABV.