2020 Flechas de los Andes Gran Cabernet Franc
As far as Argentinian wines go, Cab Franc has an industry reputation for producing premium bottlings. They’re high-end and highly sought-after.
A chameleon grape, it produces wildly different expressions from each unique plot of soil – something those of us in the industry adore. A winemaker can only do so much – the terroir makes the wine.
Minimal plantings and prestige make it hard to find reasonably priced Argentinian Cab Franc. As in Bordeaux, these plantings command a high pricetag.
That we found one under $30 is already a joy. That we found one with high ratings – 92+ Points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate alone – excited us even more. That it has ties to 1st Growth Bordeaux – well, now our jaws are on the floor!
Mendoza, Argentina was not an especially well-known or esteemed wine region at the end of the previous millennium, but famed winemaker Michel Rolland had already identified the area as a prime spot for viticulture. Armed with that knowledge and the desire to create a “Grand Cru,” they planted vines and inaugurated Flechas de los Andes.
Their vineyards lie in the premier Vista Flores subzone of Uco Valley, sometimes compared to Napa or Sonoma. These areas might not have been famous 25 years ago, but it’s wineries like Flechas de los Andes that set the bar.
92 Descorchados: “This is a selection of cabernet franc planted in the late 1990s on the Flechas de los Andes property in the Uco Valley, and it’s a succulent, voluptuous take on the variety. The herbal touches barely noticeable amidst a layer of well-ripened red and black fruit flavors, and tannins are friendly, but strong enough to support the weight of that fruit in a winter red.”