Viñas Pijoan started as a hobby, a desire to make wine and share it with family and friends, but Pau Pijoan, a Catalan settled in México, made a hit with his hobby and had no choice than to keep it going and growing!!!
I visited this winery a little while ago and i was very well impressed, not only for the quality of the wines, but also for the personality of Pau, the owner and winemaker. But most of all, i was impressed to see the love of this man for his family and his wines; such love that as a tribute to the women of his family, each wine have their names.
The vineyards are small and they buy grapes from other vineyards, there´s a wharehouse where they ferment the wine and age them in French, American and Hungarian Oak barrels.
If you could hear Pau Pijoan describing each wine and explaining why he named it according to the personality of the woman that inspired it, ladies…you would have a huge smile in your face as i had it while listening to him and tasting his wines!!!
Viñas Pijoan is a small familiar winery but they produce honest wines, that represent the elegance and fullness of the terroir in Ensenada, México.
This wines have their names inspired in the owner and winemaker´s wife, daughters and mother: Leonora (my very very favorite!!) Paulinha ( a wonderful young red wine, a Clarete) Doménica, Silvana and Mare (mother in Catalan)
I will start with “Leonora” my favorite!! First of all I want to say that I know Pau´s wife; Leonora, an elegant lady with beautiful green eyes, a strong will, a smile for her friends and the biggest love and support for her husband, so I can perfectly understand why she inspired this wine!!
Leonora is a very nice blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvingon, on nose it gives aromas of red fruits and spices like white pepper, nutmeg, vanilla and liquorice. It´s a very refined. A complete wine, with fresh acidity and good soft tannins that persist in mouth while you might even get some notes of chocolate and coffee. I really recommend you this wine!
Silvana is a white, blend of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Moscatel and Sauvignon Blanc, a very fresh wine, with a soft acidity and white flowers aromas.
Paulinha is a very interesting wine, a blend of Merlot, Barbera and Syrah, a wine that some could describe as a Clarete, some as a strong rosé or a light red; I agree with the last one, it´s a very light and fresh red that is fruity on the nose and a bit dry in mouth and Pau describes this wine as his young daughter, a joyfull, restless girl that loves to surf.
Domenica (I loved this wine too!!) is a blend of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Syrah; a wine that´s nice to socialize, to just sip end enjoy while listening to good music or pair it with Mexican food, like Mole! This wine is like the inspirer, a young lady that loves to travel and meet people.
Mare (mother in Catalán) is a blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignong and Merlot, a wine that evokes respect, love for the roots, the mother and the terroir.
Salud Mare, Salud to women, family, Catalunya and…Viva México!!!
Yuri
a round, sofisticated but joyfull wine, strong tannins, persistent in mouth, with aromas of cinnamon, red fruits, cassis, coffee, a bit “animal” , leather, wood”: that one is called Gina and is an Amarone della Valpolicella. It is like silk in the mouth, brings joy and happiness at the first zip!
Its heavenly shapes are smooth and round, its body is a symphony of pleasure!