Winemaker Notes
The fruit is sourced primarily from the Asti and Doña Elsa Estate, situated in Rama Caíida, San Rafael, Mendoza, around 750 meters (2,460 feet) above sea level. It is an ideal climate for the Cabernet Sauvignon grape because of the warm days and cool nights that are typical of the area. The soil is of sandy calcareous composition and alluvial origins. Picked by hand, the grapes went through classical crushing and fermentation, with periodic pump-over and 14 days’ maceration on skins. It was aged 6 months in 80% French and 20% American barrels. The wine then underwent stabilization, filtering and bottling, with six months’ further aging in bottle.
Serve at room temperature with red meats, lamb, cheeses.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.