Nose: Honeyed grape must, crème brûlée, citrus blossom, and a lush cooked agave core. Layers of dried apricot, stone fruit, floral vanilla, and sweet oak follow once it has time to open up. There’s a waxy, almost candied richness here, balanced by a soft minerality and a pinch of black pepper. Palate & Mouthfeel: Full, rounded mouthfeel with just a touch of tannic grip. Cooked agave stays front and center, but now draped in waves of honey, caramelized fig, vanilla cream, and peach compote. There’s a floral lift, minerality, hints of anise, and a bright citrus note that cuts through the richness. Every sip reveals another layer. Finish: Long and coating, with that signature Sauternes stamp- white flowers, golden fruit, and creamy vanilla over a slow fade of oak and spice. A soft touch of botrytis funk lingers in the background. Final Thoughts: This one lands just shy- three months, I believe - of being classified as an extra añejo. But John and Lucie don’t chase aging milestones; they bottle when it tastes right. And they nailed it here. The use of Grand Cru Sauternes barrels brings a plush, elegant sweetness that plays perfectly against the agave’s natural edge. It’s refined and full of character. As a French oak fiend, this one hits the mark for me. It’s layered, polished, and seriously impressive.

Nice mouth feel with agave, oak, cinnamon, and nutmeg followed by nice fruitiness on the backend (pitted fruit) .

Montagave Anejo exploration 2 Samples from Frankie Medina and Bobo Stern Sipping out of a riedel stem At first, the nose is more subtle than the flavor. When it opened, I got whiskey with fruity, floral notes and honey. Palate is sweet cooked agave, like sweet potatoes, honey, barrel spices, whiskey, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel. Finish is spicy and warm with some whiskey Legs are beautiful. Nice viscosity I didnt get as much wine influence as I have with some of the other montagave expressions. Very good sipper

Nose: agave, butter, caramel, barn hay, toffee Pallet- agave, some white wine notes, honey, cinnamon, caramel, very silky, delicious juicd

Subtle barrel nose and decent palate with a little sweetness. It’s expensive but not bad

amazing fruit, mostly cherry, wine, some spices. Wonderful viscosity and flavor

I love this Añejo. agave, caramel, milk chocolate, cherry, raisin all abound. oak is present. slightly metallic. you can still taste the great Blanco beneath it all. so drinkable. not the most overly complex but so satisfying. juicy. price brings it down a bit. but daaaamn. this is fantastic.

On the nose some coked agave caramel oak hoey i get some raisin flavor cherry. Fun Tast is agave with decent caramel vanilla oak for sure. Maybe some cherry baking slices

Niceeee. Vol II Nice nose smells more like an XA. Cooked agave. Honey. Barrel room. Taste. Cooked agave. Yams. Maple syrup water. Oak Nice gentle lingering finish with a hint of pepper Pricy but good!

Cooked agave and lots of honey! Then, vanilla, dark fruit, and oakiness! Finally, u get that signature Cascahuin profile, mineral, earthy, cement! Pretty much an XA! Very solid, but a bit expensive!

Lemon, honey, agave, some baking spice. Velvety soft mouth feel. A really interesting departure at the other end of the anejo spectrum from Vol I. A little pricey but well worth it if you can get your hands on it, truly a treat!

In the glass: gold to amber color. Sheets down the Reidel aged agave tulip with sparse long legs. Nose: Sweet agave and bubble gum initially, giving way to mint, cinnamon, leather and wood Tannins. First sip/initial palate: Buttery oak with agave sweetness Main taste: Raw oak with heavy FO tannins, with very mild agave Finish: Very dry wood Tannins at the back of the palate, char/caramels cones firward a little, with lingering sweetness and baking spices on the tongue. Throughout entire tasting mild alcohol burn that belies being (slightly) high proof.

tannings, punchy, Cherry

Aroma: bright, floral wildflower & honey, and tropical fruit notes and apricot from the sauterne influence, vanilla & Carmel from the barrel aging. Palate: lush and balanced sweetness, peach and apricot, honey, and a saffron like warmth. Silky and rich, baking spices such as cinnamon, but agave shines through despite the 34 months in the barrel. You can sense the higher ABV which is a nice touch. Finish: long and extended. Tropical fruit and florals echo, leaving a linger of honey, and evolving into a drier, slightly nutty or toasty character. Amazing release from Montagave, truly pushing the boundaries. Yes, a little pricy, but more than hangs with the others in its price range.

Lot 628 13/01/25 Aroma: juicy fruity agave with honey and salted caramel sweetness, possibly some dark bing cherry and rose floral notes, simply amazing! Flavor: absolutely bursting with both bright and deep rich flavors, matching the aroma and including stone fruit like apricot and peach, slight baking spices, and a touch of deeper maillard character maybe even a hint of umami Mouthfeel: medium to big body with only a slight alcohol tingle on my mid palette Finish: incredibly long sweet finish that seems to take me on a journey Color: a beautiful dark amber This is incredibly fantastic juice! Apparently, this was a bottling of only 4 Chateau Guiraud Sauternes filled casks. Get your hands on some, and you will be pleasantly surprised.

This is the greatest Sauternes añejo offering in tequila!!! Hands down has complexity, viscosity and layers. I understand people complain about the price but there are añejos that can’t stand toe to toe with this offering for the same price. 1123 quality assurance is second to none.

Tastes like an extra anejo , sweet from the barrel, but still has agave and a bit of pepper on the back end. Delicious cool weather Tequila.

Not your typical Anejo AND in a great way! This is basically an XA at 34 months and the name explains what John and his team were trying to do …EXPLORE! I’m in love with this bottle, I’ve went through two entire bottles in which I did drink about 75% of each, the rest where samples given to friends and family who said it was amazing. The nose honey, grapes, agave. Pallet conforms to sweet agave, barrel, caramel, vanilla with a medium to long finish that makes you want to go back for more again and again! Home run! Montagave PLEASE keep exploring!

Montagave ‘Exploración’ Volume II Añejo 44% Rested in Sauternes barrels, LOTE 628, bottled on 130125, tasted on 2-13-25. Color: light brown. Aroma: hint of cooked agave, hint of agave honey, hint of caramel, light grape-y aroma, light dark raisin aroma, hint of wood note that becomes more noticeable together with the dark raisin aroma as time goes by. The type of wood note reminds me of El Tapatio Excelencia, however, this Montagave is more intense, the barrel feels newer, wood note feels more "saturated", wood-like and tannic, therefore less spices and less aromatic. After 30 minutes in the glass, toffee and Maillard effect notes emerge. Palate: confirms aromas perceived, also slightly tannic and drying, dark raisin aroma and sweetness helps balance wood note, warming. Finish is medium to long and spicy, cinnamon, barrel spice, light dark raisin, light wood note which is slightly dry, persists. Eager to find out how this tequila evolves in the bottle!