Reverse Wine Snob

Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good

  • About
  • Aldi® Picks
  • Costco® Picks
  • Trader Joe’s® Picks
  • FREE GUIDE
  • Insider Deals
menu icon
go to homepage
Get Our Free Guide!
search icon
Homepage link
  • FREE GUIDE!
  • Insider Deals
  • Best Of Lists
    • - Costco
    • - Trader Joe's
    • - Aldi
  • About
  • The Rating System
  • More Helpful Links
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Mayu Pedro Ximenez - A Refreshingly Refreshing Wine From A Grape You've Never Heard Of

    By: Jon Thorsen Published: April 9, 2014 Last Updated: March 1, 2021

    2012-Mayu-Pedro-Ximenez
    Meet Pedro Ximenez: A grape varietal long used in the production of brandy and sherry makes a surprisingly delicious wine.

    100% Pedro Ximenez from Elqui Valley, Chile.

    Sample submitted for review. SRP of $15 and available for as low as $12. 500 cases imported by Vine Connections. See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

    From the bottle:

    "In the northern edge of Chile lies the Elqui Valley, a place of bright days and cold nights. It's perfect for growing grapes and gazing at what the Incas called Mayu -- the river of stars in the Milky Way. For this reason, you will see eight observatories here, all studying the heavens.

    A stylish white wine, with appealing aromas of lemon and lime, balanced by fresh acidity. Long finish and mineral character makes this an excellent match for shellfish and seafood.

    12.5% Alcohol"

    The Elqui Valley is one of the newest regions for producing wine in Chile. In fact Vina Mayu, which was started in 2005, was the first winery in the valley. How then does today's wine come from 70 year old vines when the winery is so much younger?

    It's simple really -- the Elqui Valley has long been known for producing the best grapes for Pisco. Pisco is a type of grape brandy made in Peru and Chile. One of the primary grapes they use is Pedro Ximenez. (This variety is also planted in Spain where it is used in sherry.)

    In researching this new to me grape I read that it is generally considered not to be suitable for table wines due to a lack of acidity. Whether that is overcome by the unique conditions of the Elqui Valley, the age of vines, or something else altogether I don't know, but I do know that there was no evidence of a lack of acidity in today's wine.

    The 2012 Vina Mayu Pedro Ximenez begins with pleasant aromas of citrus, lime and a streak of almost fresh smelling minerals (if it's possible for minerals to smell fresh). The wine tastes really delicious with similar flavors to the nose and features a fresh, bright and lively mouthfeel with some nice underlying minerality. It ends crisp and tasty with the citrus turning tart and that fresh minerality continuing. A refreshingly refreshing wine that is just a delight to drink!

    See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.


    Taste Rating: 8              Cost Rating: 7
    Overall Rating: 7.8

    Highly Recommended


    Filed Under: Chile, Highly Recommended, Pedro Ximenez

    << Mazzoni Piemonte Barbera - Pizza Perfetto!
    Montaria - Exceedingly Drinkable >>

    About Jon Thorsen

    Author and independent wine consumer helping millions of people find great wines without breaking the bank since 2011. Sign up for my FREE GUIDE to learn how! Read more about me...

    Reverse Wine Snob Insider Deals Header Square
    Limited Time offers with amazing discounts just for our readers.

    Don't Miss Out!

    About Reverse Wine Snob

    Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good! Jon Thorsen is an independent wine consumer who has been helping millions of people find great wines without breaking the bank since 2011. If you're new to Reverse Wine Snob® sign up for my free guide and don't miss our exclusive Insider Deals! Read more about Reverse Wine Snob in the news and about me.

    Reverse Wine Snob Logo

    The "Perfect 10" Pack!

    Insider Deal Perfect 10 Pack!Four of our highest rated wines, all with 10 Taste Ratings (94+ points), all from different wineries, and all offered at a huge discount! Get them while you can.

    More Info

    Join over 450,000 followers on social media!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Get Our Free Guide! How To Drink Great Wine...Without Breaking The Bank

    Free Guide! How To Drink Great Wine Without Breaking The BankReady to start drinking the best wine of your life, and save money doing it? Sign up for our 5 Day Free Guide!

    Learn More

    Helpful Links

    • - Ask The Expert Series
    • - Browse by Variety, Region, etc.
    • - Buy My Book on Amazon
    • - Get Our Free Guide
    • - How To Choose A Good Bottle of Wine
    • - Insider Deals
    • - Insider Deal FAQ
    • - Printable Lists of Recommended Wines
    • - Ten Tenets of Reverse Wine Snobbery
    • - The Rating System
    • - Wine Tasting Basics

    • - Advertise
    • - Contact Info
    • - Submit Samples for review

    How To Drink Great Wine...Without Breaking The Bank

    Tired of wasting money on bad wine? Sign up for our Free Guide!

    No commitments, no spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Best Of Lists!

      • - Aldi Wine
      • - Best Pizza Wines
      • - Best Red Wines of 2022
      • - Box Wines
      • - Cabernet Sauvignon
      • - Chardonnay
      • - Chianti
      • - Costco Wine
      • - French Wines
      • - Italian Wines
      • - Malbec
      • - Merlot
      • - Oregon Wines
      • - Organic Wines
      • - Pinot Noir
      • - Red Blends
      • - Rosé
      • - Riesling
      • - Sauvignon Blanc
      • - Spanish Wines
      • - Sparkling Wine
      • - Syrah
      • - Thanksgiving Wines
      • - Trader Joe's Wine
      • - Vegan Wines
      • - Zinfandel
      • And Many More Best of Lists

    Reverse Wine Snob®: Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good.

    Copyright © 2011–2023 · Reverse Wine Snob, LLC. | Privacy, Editorial & Advertising Policy