Tilia Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
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2017-
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Robert
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Robert
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Robert
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Robert
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Wine &
Sustainability pioneers, Tilia Wines were the first to carry the certified sustainable seal from Bodegas de Argentina on the label.
Today, Tilia is the first wine label to illustrate the path toward sustainability in Argentina. Through powerful symbols, the label highlights Tilia’s core values and represents programs implemented by Tilia to practice both environmental and social sustainability. People enrich the land at Tilia, and Tilia enriches the land of its people. With a focus on social sustainability, Tilia supports it community with an array of programs to ensure that everyone thrives as one.
Tilia’s roots, like its traditions, are robust and deep. They descend far into the soil to access glacial water from the ancestral irrigation canals. The winery thrives on biodiversity, preserving and nurturing plants, insects, and animals so that its vineyards can adapt to a changing environment. There is a natural resilience at Tilia, and a reverence for traditional farming practices that has shielded their ungrafted vineyards from interventions, sustaining the land for generations to come. Everyone is stronger together at Tilia, and the wines reflect its values: honor tradition, support the community, and respect nature.
Gonzalo Llensa, Tilia’s Winemaker, believes his love for the vineyard started when he grew tomatoes, peppers, and squash in his grandmother’s orchard. He is constantly looking to repurpose resources, save water, and turn off lights – a trait he got from his father, a professional electrician. Every weekend, Gonzalo walks seven blocks to his family home for a day-long asado and dreams of one day taking over the grill from his father.
Guillermina Van Houten, Tilia Sustainability Vineyard Specialist, has always been fascinated by nature and understanding how it works. Born a scientist at heart, her focus is to care for the grape and its environment as a whole to create the best wines. Her passion for sustainability was awakened while studying in France. What inspires Guillermina about winemaking is the fact that a piece of Mendoza’s land is able to travel to the farthest parts of the world in a bottle of wine.
Argentina of course is heralded for its Malbecs. But in the last two decades Cabernet Sauvignon has been drawing increased attention from winemakers there, and is now the third most planted variety. It is grown in the Mendoza region in the Andean foothills, especially in Maipú and Luján de Cuyo, at altitudes between 2300 and 3100 feet. Here the climate is continental, with hot summers and cold winters. It is very dry and sometimes quite windy, with runoff from the snow-capped Andes providing irrigation. These Argentinian Cabernets offer dark fruit, spice notes, full body and often a voluptuous style.
Another source within Mendoza is the higher altitude Uco Valley, at 3300 to 5000 feet. Up at this level grapes ripen more slowly, despite the bright sun. But that enables them to develop bright acidity levels, giving the wines a fresh quality to go with intense fruit flavors. Another source of good Cabernet Sauvignon in Argentina is Cafayate, in the Calchaquí Valley. North of Mendoza, these vineyards are even higher, at about 5700 feet! These Cabernets carry notes of spice, herbs and menthol to go with dark fruit. Like those from Uco Valley, they show concentration and great vibrancy.
A few producers to look for are Catena, Viña Cobos, Pulenta and Altocedro. Salud!