Cruz de Fuego Espadin

Verdict

A working mid-tier espadín – clears the category floor without arguing for more, which is the honest position in a competitive tier. Cruz de Fuego's tepextate is the bottle you buy; this espadín is the back-bar pick that subsidizes it. A legitimate workhorse; the range's real argument lives elsewhere.

Tasting notes

Nose: Warm stone first – then cooked agave, faint smoke and a trace of dried herb

Palate: Clean at 45%. Standard mid-tier Oaxacan espadín without the distinguishing character that the range's tepextate reaches; the producer's hand is competent, the proof lands, and the bottle clears the mid-tier bar without arguing for more

Finish: Dry, with a slow smoke fade

The bottom line

The workhorse that funds the tepextate

Where to buy online

We found this bottle at 5 US retailers. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.

• Binny's – $39.99
• Saratoga Wine – $45.12
• Astor Wines – $45
• Mission Liquor – $45
• Keg N Bottle – $54.99