Winemaker Notes
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 and 2015 vintages were not produced, because they were difficult years for the grape, so I tasted the 2016 Finca Los Membrillos, a single-vineyard pure Cabernet Sauvignon that was last bottled in 2013. It comes from a vineyard planted with a massal selection of the grapes that they bought. In 2016, they did a selection of two kinds of soils (in this case, the shallower soils because of the cooler and wetter year), then this was fermented in concrete and matured in oak barrels. These Cab grapes were picked in between picking Malbec grapes, which is not like it was done in the past, when Cab grapes were kept for last, and if you left them too late, they dried out and became very tannic. I think this wine transcends the varietal; yes, there are some spicy and peppery notes and it's balsamic, but it's mostly stony/chalky. It has fine-grained, chalky tannins, typical of the variety and the Altamira soils. This is serious, balanced and has good aging potential in one of the finest (if not the finest) vintages.
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James Suckling
This is a pure cabernet sauvignon with green olives, hints of tobacco and currants. Green cedar, too. Medium to full body, round and chewy tannins and a flavorful finish.
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.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.