Fuenteseca Cosecha 2020 La Tuna de Arriba

I’m a big fan of the Fuenteseca Cosecha releases from venerable tequila maker and master blender Enrique Fonseca. He creates these special editions at his Tequileña distillery (NOM 1146) located in the town of Tequila, but with estate grown agave from The Highlands.

I’ve been waiting for this 2020 La Tuna de Arriba release, given the standout nature of the 2018 and 2013 Cosecha releases. It’s like the anticipation of Christmas morning!

The series of Cosecha releases are premium, limited-batch, overproof blancos. The key differences between each batch are the harvest locations, or “cosecha,” which make each flavor profile different.

These releases also stand out because they are rested in stainless steel vats for years before bottling, which helps soften and integrate their aromatic and flavor complexities.

Indeed, this release drinks very differently from the other Cosecha bottles; neither better nor worse, just its own expression.

The agave for this 2020 La Tuna de Arriba was grown in mineral-rich soil at the base of the extinct Highlands volcano, Cerro Gordo. “La Tuna de Arriba” roughly translates to “the fruit from up above” befitting the high altitude nature of this field.

For a higher proof Blanco at 45.7% ABV, it has a surprisingly soft mouthfeel with an oiliness that coats the palate on the finish. The flavors really come alive at the end and continue to linger, which makes each sip keep giving.

On the nose, I picked up a lot of brine, so I expected that to shine more on the palate. Instead, it comes through more subtly. I get more savory notes of tobacco, black pepper undertones, and a lot of cooked agave on the finish. There are also creamy tropical fruit notes that round it out and balance the savory side.

Compared to the 2018 release, which bursts with flavor right up front, this one builds more slowly. The finish is where it really starts to show itself. I also love the way the heat lingers. Some higher-proof tequilas have a heat that coats the back of the throat and moves into the chest, but this is more of a gentle tingle that stays on the palate.

Overall, this is a beautiful sip. It feels like the kind of pour I would enjoy during a relaxing evening or movie night.

This is definitely worth the price tag and a special bottle worth seeking.