Maguey Melate Tobala - Abel Quiroz

Verdict

Abel Quiroz makes a clean, textbook Sola de Vega tobalá, and for a first tobalá this works. It won't teach you as much as Banhez Tobalá at half the price or as much as a Rey Campero tobalá at twice, but it will not steer you wrong. A fine middle bottle on a tobalá shelf, not the anchor.

Tasting notes

Nose: Honey, green melon, wet stone, a thread of wildflower

Palate: 46.4% of competent tobalá, the floral clarity is there, the mineral undertow is present, but the bottle doesn't push beyond 'well-made potatorum from a famous village.'

Finish: Medium-long, floral, dry

The bottom line

A competent tobalá. Not the one to chase