Winemaker Notes
Intense red color, medium depth and purple hues. Predominance of fresh red berries such as raspberry and currant laced with herbal notes of green bell pepper, flowers, and some mint. A medium-bodied Cabernet Franc with soft and ripe tannins. It has a natural and very balanced acidity with a good structure. The flavors of red berries combine with herbal and spicy hints of black pepper and licorice. It delivers a long, persistent finish with a pleasant mouthfeel of freshness and elegance.
Blend: 88% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Sweet tobacco, paprika, red berries and some savory spices on the nose showcase the varietal transparency. Fresh and fluid, with firm, fine-grained tannins and a linear, medium-long finish. Fruit from Agrelo. Drink now or hold.
Cabernet Franc, a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, is the subtler and more delicate of the Cabernets. Today Cabernet Franc produces outstanding single varietal wines across the wine-producing world. Somm Secret—One of California's best-kept secrets is the Happy Canyon appellation of Santa Barbara. Here Cabernet Franc shines as a single varietal wine or in blends, expressing sumptuous fruit, savory aromas and polished tannins.
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.