There's no question that Malbec is the signature grape variety for Mendoza, if not Argentina. (Sorry, Torrentes.) Mendoza has about three times as much Malbec planted as Cabernet Sauvignon, and plantings continue to increase. There's something distinctive about the Cabernet Sauvignon, though – especially when it's planted on the right sites.
This single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley, a distinctive, high-elevation sub-region marked by stony, granitic soils layered with limestone. At over 1,200 metres above sea level, the fruit is dense and richly concentrated, with a pronounced stony minerality. Wild fermented with partial use of stems – unusual for Cabernet Sauvignon – this confidently Mendoza through-and-through.
Fun fact: this wine climbed to #73 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list in 2021. (Yes, we still read Wine Spectator.) It’s why Tim Atkin MW calls Zaha an “Argentine first growth.”
Tasting Note
This shows a ripe, brambly nose of blackberries and wild blueberries along with fresh sweet herbs, dried florals, graphite, and chocolatey oak from aging 14 months in French barriques. Medium-full-bodied, this shows impressive intensity and concentration, backed by balancing freshness, with dense, suave tannins that speak to the high-elevation mountain fruit.
Food Pairing
Well, if we're talking about Argentina, we have to talk about grilled meat. Think thick, richly marbled ribeye or a rack of lamb.