2019 Bodegas Henri Lurton Le Sauvignon Valle de Guadalupe 750 ml

Bodegas Henri Lurton’s Le Sauvignon is a perfect example of why we’re so excited about the wines of the Valle de Guadalupe. The passion project of a French wine legend, this stunning Sauvignon Blanc harnesses Baja’s unique terroir to produce one of the more remarkable white wines we’ve tasted this year. With ripe fruit that’s balanced by electric acidity and mouth-watering minerality, it’s seriously delicious and a fantastic value.

Bodegas Henri Lurton’s namesake and founder is a man with the wine industry in his veins. The owner of Brane-Cantenac, an iconic Grand Cru Classé Château in Margaux, he’s a member of one of the most notable families in the vinous world—the Lurtons own more than 20 châteaux in Bordeaux alone. His founding of a winery in Baja was a major sign that the region was on a rocket-like trajectory, and they’ve been at the forefront of quality in the area ever since.

Their Sauvignon Blanc is of the standouts of the lineup, with bold tropical-inflected aromatics. They soar out of the glass, full of notes of passionfruit, green mango, and lemongrass, with an underlying minerality that builds remarkable complexity. The palate has ample richness, without any oak influence, and builds on the same dialectic of bold fruit and minerality that makes the nose so engrossing. The result is a wine that demands attention and respect, easily standing toe-to-toe with Napa examples costing twice as much.

Lurton has been obsessive about matching the varying terroirs of Guadalupe to the grapes they cultivate, which means this Sauvignon Blanc comes from the historic Valle de San Vicente. Only nine miles from the cool breezes of the Pacific ocean, grapes have been planted here since 1780. The combination of red clay and sandy soils, plentiful sunshine, and a cooler micro-climate are perfect for white grapes, promoting elegant textures and gorgeous aromatics in the wines.

That prime vineyard demands a state-of-the-art winery, and again Lurton sets the bar. They flood the inside of their Bucher press with Nitrogen gas before pressing this Sauvignon Blanc, preventing any oxidation of the juice in the process. That protects the delicate aromatic compounds in the wine, which are further enhanced through low-temperature fermentation entirely in stainless steel tanks.

Wine from Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe has yet to hit the mainstream, but there’s a reason that top bottles from the region appear on Michelin-starred wine lists like those at The French Laundry and Topolobampo: They’re exceptional, with unique voices and prices that reflect that the region is relatively unknown, making them fantastic values too.

This bottle combines the rich fruit and power of a Napa Sauvignon Blanc with the minerality and precision of a Sancerre, making it a clear winner. In ten years, this will be priced like the icon it’s destined to be, so don’t wait.