Fortaleza Tequila Anejo

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T October 11, 2009
 
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91 (2)
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Fortaleza Tequila Anejo

Tequila Review

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Fortaleza
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2012 TEQUILA.net Awards - "Best of the Best" Best Lowland Añejo Tequila
2012 TEQUILA.net Awards - Best of the Best

Tequila Fortaleza Anejo

Fortaleza Añejo Tequila - 100% estate grown Blue Agave Tequilana Weber, aged in wood oak barrels for 2-3 years. Our Añejo label contains a drawing, which is a view of our estate.

At Tequila Los Abuelos, we are committed to producing the finest Tequila possible. Our Tequila is made using traditions established centuries ago, from 100% stone milled agave, entirely produced on our estate. We are located in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico, first populated in the 1530’s by our Spanish forefathers. Our land is nestled in rich valley at 4,000 feet of altitude, in the foothills of the 9,560-foot tall, Volcan de Tequila. Here is where our blue agaves grow for seven to eight years, caressed with the warmth of the Mexican sun, nourished by the summer rains, and protected from the harsh and cold winter winds.

Our Tequila is produced entirely within the walls of our estate, using centuries old, traditional methods, which although are very labor intensive, create a tequila, which is unequaled in taste and smoothness. Using the age-old brick oven, with its meter thick walls, we cook our agave for thirty six hours. Then we crush or mill the agave as my Tartarabuelo did over 135 years ago in the stone mill called the Tahona. The crushed agave is then washed with the pure mountain water from the Volcan de Tequila to separate the pulp from the woody fibers to create an agave juice called mosto. The woody fibers of the agave, called bagazo, are removed at this time, and taken to the fields to use as compost. The agave mosto is then naturally fermented for five days in small wood vats, and then double distilled using small, labor-intensive copper pot stills. Our glass bottle is hand-blown in Tonala, Jalisco by artisan glassmakers and our bottle tops, artisan designed to represent the harvest agave, or Pina, are hand-made by our workers.

Tequila Fortaleza is the American label for Tequila Los Abuelos, due to a Rum with the name "Abuelos" already being distributed in the USA.



User reviews

2 reviews
Overall rating
 
91
Aroma-Nose
 
93(2)
Initial Taste
 
91(2)
Body
 
90(2)
Finish
 
93(2)
Enjoyability
 
93(2)
Price
 
85(2)
Presentation
 
88(2)
Overall rating
 
90
Aroma-Nose
 
91
Initial Taste
 
91
Body
 
90
Finish
 
91
Enjoyability
 
91
Price
 
84
Presentation
 
91
This is a very unique anejo. Aged well, but still retains many of the qualities of the very good blanco version from this Fortaleza line.

Aroma: A TON of agave nose along with a soft vanilla scent, floral notes and some fruit.
Initial Taste: Very smooth agave and a buttery hint as well.
Body: The complexities come out nicely. Wood, pepper and caramel notes compliment the strong agave taste. However, the aging keeps it mild and smooth with only a little bit of heat from the alcohol.
Finish: A nice, LONG finish that lingers on and reminds you how good it is. The tongue tingles from the pepper and slight alcohol heat.

This is a really nice tequila. Is it my favorite in the price range...nope. Despite being someone who more often prefers rested tequilas, I actually think that the blanco is the strongest in this line. The bottle is nice, the cork is one of the finest you'll see. But for $60-70, I like the other options out there better. Still, if you have the means you should definitely go out and try this juice.
TT
#1 Reviewer 414 reviews
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 0
Overall rating
 
92
Aroma-Nose
 
94
Initial Taste
 
90
Body
 
90
Finish
 
95
Enjoyability
 
94
Price
 
85
Presentation
 
85
Bought 5/1/10, paid $70 online. Everyone has seen this Anejo on the shelf and maybe passed on it. The bottle is unremarkable at best, goofy stickers with a nice cork top. In spite of the so so bottle, the contents are stunning! Sampled from a 6 oz shot glass, color is straw, leaves very fast legs that gather quickly into tiny tears. The nose hits you right when you open the bottle, very sweet agave, almost no trace of alcohol at all. Let it settle in the glass for a bit, this tequila will come alive as it warms and works in the glass, revealing a more complex character. There is floral, vanilla, caramel with traces of pepper, oak and spice. Medium to thin mouth feel, not an Anejo that needs to settle, just put it down, very smooth with a slight heated finish and no tongue residue at all save the slight alcohol numbing. Very pleasant, it wont kick you in the pants like some but this is a keeper. Its not cheap but well worth the $. The bottle is a liability IMHO. Fortaleza Anejo is going on the top shelf.
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