I'm not even sure where to start with the intro on this one. The name Hotel California doesn't put me in Jalisco or evoke anything from me that makes me think of authentic Mexican items. The bottle is a beautiful red and the cap sort of looks like a weapon, so the packaging is very striking. Presentation and marketing can do some things, but ultimately the juice inside the bottle has to sustain it.

Price: $40-50/bottle
Aroma: Love the nose. Fruity agave with hints of vanilla and spice notes.
Initial Taste: Agave, orchard fruits (pears, plums) and baking spice on the entry.
Body: A thick and oily body. The spices and the oak come forward a bit and make a nice sweet & bitter combo. It works really well for this one.
Finish: A long linger that is more agave kick and wood/dark chocolate than the fruitiness. However, the fruit arrives after a decent while and you get to taste it yet again.

This is a wonderful reposado. Good balance, lots of agave flavor and a longer linger with nice pepper & spice notes. This is a solid juice that is good for aficionados or newbies and it's got all of the elements that you'd want from a good reposado. While I personally might find the name odd, I'm not really from the era where Hotel California evokes a feeling or meaning. Bottom line...if they keep making juice that's this tasty, I'll be hard pressed to care if it gets poured out of a Franzia box.