Alta Vista Premium Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Alta Vista Premium Cabernet Sauvignon is made in Mendoza by the Aulan family, owners of the Piper-Heidsieck Champagne house, who turned to Argentina drawn by its terroir. Cabernet Sauvignon ripens here in high-altitude vineyards in the Andean foothills, where strong sunlight and very cool nights give a wide diurnal range. That swing ripens the thick-skinned grape fully while preserving the acidity and firm tannin that define the variety. The stony, free-draining alluvial soils keep vigour in check and concentrate the fruit. The wine is aged for ten months in a mix of French and American oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange softens the tannins and adds spice, vanilla and a sweeter, coconut-tinged note from the American wood. The result is a full-bodied, structured red. It pours deep ruby to purple, with a nose of blackcurrant, plum, black pepper and the minty, eucalyptus lift typical of altitude Cabernet, over cedar, vanilla and cocoa. The palate is firm and concentrated, with grippy tannin, dark fruit and a long, oak-framed finish. Serve at 17 degrees, decanting an hour ahead. It suits grilled red meats and hard cheeses.