Estate-bottled, classy, and sophisticated Mendoza Cab for less than 13 bucks? Yep, the Altosur Cabernet Sauvignon is the best value of its type that we stock, and the 2022 is in especially fine form. I would confidently put this into a blind tasting against wines that cost 2-3 times the price, and I guarantee you it would perform well.
From Finca Sophenia's high-altitude, certified organic vineyards in Gualtallary, this mountain-grown Cab is quite complex for the price, offering up a wonderful mix of fruit, spice, herb, and mineral. Drinking well now, this extreme value has some staying power, and I can't say that about many reds in this price range. Drink now - 2030.
2022 Finca Sophenia 'Altosur' Cabernet Sauvignon
Why should you buy it?
- This is a serious bottle of wine at a crazy-good price! In addition to the classic Cabernet flavors of blackcurrant, dark cherry, pepper, and roasted herb, there's a mineralic note of graphite that I love but never get in Cabs below $25.
- Gualtallary is gaining a stellar reputation for Cabernet Sauvignon. Planted at over 5,000 feet in elevation, these are some of the highest vineyards in the world, and the combination of hot and sunny days, cool nights, and rocky soils stress the vines to the max.
- Much like a Cab from Howell or Spring Mountain(s) in Napa, the "situation" found in Gualtallary gives us Cabs with juicy acidity, more intense color and grape skin tannin, and thus more age-worthiness.
- While the '22 has not been reviewed yet, I think it's deserving of 92-93 points. Is it like Dunn Howell Mountain Cab? No, it's not quite that serious, but it does share some of that "Mountain Cab Personality."
This would be a great deal at $20 to $25, but at $12.99, it's an insane value to enjoy with grilled meats all spring and summer. It also makes for a great "house red" to enjoy after a long day's work. I highly recommend buying more than 1 bottle.....
