Reviews / Maguey Melate Tepextate - Hermanos Martinez

Review · · by The Editors

Maguey Melate Tepextate - Hermanos Martinez

Three brothers, one tepextate, not enough voice

Score: 3.0/5 agaves

Maguey Melate Tepextate - Hermanos Martinez bottle
  • Producer: Maguey Melate
  • Maestro: Jacinto Martinez, Marcos Martinez, Raymundo Martinez
  • Region: Zoquitlan, Oaxaca
  • Agave: Tepextate
  • Price: $70 ($$)

Verdict

Tepextate is the agave that punishes undersell – at less than 48% the florals thin and the stone-fruit heart doesn't drive. The Hermanos Martínez bottle is technically clean but it reads like a tepextate someone was afraid to bottle loud. If you want marmorata that actually marmorata-s, reach for Hermógenes Vásquez or Reina Sánchez in the same lineup. Pass on this one.

Tepextate needs to shout. This one whispers

Tasting notes

Nose: Quiet florals with light stone, a soft green note

Palate: Mid-weight and restrained – the marmorata character reads faint, the proof isn't listed but the bottle drinks like it's sitting under 46%, which for tepextate is low-ceiling territory

Finish: Short-to-medium, soft, floral

The bottom line

Skip. Marmorata deserves more spine than this

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