Banhez Espadin & Barril vs Rosaluna Joven

Two bottles that end up on the same shelf, tasted the same way on the same rubric. Scores, current average US prices, and the call.

The call

Banhez Espadin & Barril scores higher and costs no more. Easy call.

The default first bottle, with Mestiza Negra ($20 at Trader Joe's) as its rival

Nose: Green herbs with melon rind, cooked agave

Palate: Brighter and more aromatic than its price tier suggests, the barril adds a savory undertow under the espadín's sweetness

Finish: Clean, faintly bitter – medium

Wave it off. Del Maguey Vida for about the same price does the same job honestly

Nose: Light smoke with faint citrus, a nondescript sweetness

Palate: 40% is the categorical tell; the bottle behaves like a hospitality brand designed around a cocktail spec sheet. Clean, inoffensive, absent

Finish: Clean, forgettable. Short