Argento Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark ruby in color, this excellent Cabernet Sauvignon has a concentrated nose of fresh cherries and plums. Flavors of red currant fruit with shades of green bell pepper, combined with truffle and cassis notes from oak aging, lead into a long, vibrant finish.

Winemaking Notes

100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from our high altitude vineyards (2950ft to 4300ft above sea level) throughout Anchoris, Alto Agrelo, Tupungato in Mendoza is fermented into stainless steel tanks for at 77-82°C for 10-12 days. Maturation takes place for in French (80%) and American (20%) oak for 6 months prior to bottling.

Wine Production Stats

Alcohol: 13.9%
Total Acidity: 5.2g/L
Residual Sugar: 2.5 g/l
pH: 3.74

2009 Harvest Report

The winter of 2008 was quite mild compared to previous years; there was barely any frost or heavy rain. Although there was no snow at the foothills, snow and rain precipitation in the mountains ensured enough water for irrigation during spring and summer. Blooming started in late September in some areas, but generally happened in October. A minor late frost occurred in October slightly affected the yields in some areas. At the end of the spring there was some rain which consequently brought a cooling impact at the beginning of the summer; this allowed a good development of the canopy.

Summer was hot and dry; however there were some hail storms that caused damage especially in the East and South regions of Mendoza, and in Cafayate. Overall temperatures were high, and although there were wide diurnal variations, night temperature was comparatively higher than previous years. The weather stayed dry from December onwards, only one rainfall was recorded in February and there was no rain at all during harvest time. The high temperatures in autumn brought forward the beginning of harvest by one to two weeks. The dryness of the season allowed viticulturalists to plan picking rationally according to the conditions in each different wine region. Fermentations were exceptional due to the optimum condition of the grapes. Cabernet Sauvignons showed exceptional color and feeling in the mouth, being slightly longer than usual.

In general terms, the harvest was 20% lower than expected in quantity, 25% less compared to historical figures. But in regards to high-end grapes the amount picked was average. In general the 2009 vintage shows great aromatics, round tannins good concentration and excellent colour. Alcohol levels are slightly higher due to the high temperatures experienced by the berries. The present vintage can be compared to 2004, but is fair to say that 2009 wines show better structure and finesse.

88 Points - Best Buy

Wine Enthusiast
"A huge improvement over recent years, this wine offers pure cassis, berry and leather aromas. The palate is round, smooth and jammy, with fresh flavors of cherry, berry and cassis."
- Michael Schachner (2010 vintage)
- June 2012