2021 Bruma Plan B Tinto Valle de Guadalupe

Baja’s sun-blanketed landscape, profound Pacific influence, and rocky soils produce wines so delicious that the Spanish government once banned them. The competition, they reasoned, was far too serious to allow it to threaten Spain’s top bottles.

Valle de Guadalupe is a wine region located in the northern part of the Baja peninsula, in the state of Baja California, Mexico. The region has been producing wine for about 100 years. It now produces 90% of the wine from Mexico.

Valle de Guadalupe’s climate is a slightly warmer cross between the Southern Rhône and Tuscany. Balanced by Pacific breezes and rich in rocky soils composed of granite, sand and clay, which challenge the vines to be vigorous, the region has all the ingredients of a world-class wine growing area.

Valle de Guadalupe reminds us of Napa in the 1970s — a place with immense potential, a spirit of innovation, and a community of quality-minded producers.

Bruma was launched with the intention of establishing the premier wine brand in Mexico. In addition to the winery (Bruma), they created top-tier lodging (Casa Ocho, Casa Montaña and Ático) and operate one of Valle de Guadalupe’s finest dining destinations (Fauna). To ensure long-term success, renowned winemaker Lulu Martinez Ojeda and acclaimed chef David Hussong joined as partners in Bruma and Fauna, respectively.

Bruma’s 2021 Plan B Tinto is a ruby-hued jewel from what’s now one of the world’s most exciting wine regions. It’s proof that the elite wineries of Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe can compete not only with powerhouses in Spain, but also in Italy, France, and the U.S.

A blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Merlot, and Malbec, the wine boasts lushness and spice layers that will enthrall lovers of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and the bold fruit of California’s Central Coast—Mission plum accented by violet, garrigue, and graphite.

Crafted by the exceedingly talented Lulu Martinez Ojeda, an alum of Margaux icon Château Brane-Cantenac, the Plan B shows the vibrancy, multidimensionality, and versatility that’s landed Bruma’s wines on lists at top restaurants like The French Laundry.

Lulu picks early to balance the naturally concentrated fruit with a fresh acidity and then ages the wine in barriques to polish the tannins to perfection. Her philosophy is to produce high quality wines that showcase the unique characteristics of the Valle de Guadalupe.

This delicious red wine is perfect for pairing with charcuterie, pasta with pesto, steak tartare, and lightly grilled meats.