2018 Durigutti Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza Argentina 750 ml

The Durigutti brothers are legends in Argentina for their homegrown success. Born in Mendoza, the cradle of Argentine winegrowing, they’ve risen to acclaim in their native land for their polished, muscular reds. Their 2018 Cabernet might be their most remarkable wine yet—a 94-point coup that hits the palate with power and verve.

Even in a land known for value, this Cabernet stands out for its price as well as its monster score. James Suckling praised its “wonderful balancing act between concentration and freshness” in his rapturous review, and we think it sets a new standard for value in Argentine Cab.

Pouring dark purple in the glass, it’s immediately clear that this could pass for a $60 bottle from Napa. Scents of black plum, fig leaf, cacao powder, and violets intermingle, drawing you in, excitedly, for your first sip. There, you’re met by a powerful wave of black currant, accented by hints of cigar box and a graphite minerality. The balance is excellent, with plenty of power and compelling freshness, demanding another sip.

Héctor and Pablo Durigutti have raised the bar for quality-to-price ratios in Argentina because of their intimate familiarity with the local landscape. Born and raised in Mendoza, they both fell in love with food and wine at a young age—eventually becoming enologists and winemakers. While other wineries might employ outside consultants or flying winemakers, the brothers handle that task themselves with a knowledge of the landscape that would be the envy of most other producers.

Their Cabernet is drawn from two outstanding sub-regions south of the city of Mendoza. Agrelo, in the Luján de Cuyo district, brings rich fruit and silky texture to the wine, while the prized La Consulta, in the San Carlos section of the Uco Valley, is what separates this wine from its value-priced peers. La Consulta is planted to a massale selection of the best Cabernet vines at an extremely high density. That combination makes for impossibly low yields, but produces intense character that’s not attainable any other way.

All that’s left is for the brothers to take the exceptional grapes and treat them like the premium Cabernet they are. That means a long, gentle fermentation in concrete tanks with four pump-overs per day, for maximum fruit extraction and texture, before aging in 600L French Oak barrels for polish without overt wood flavors.

The result is a wine that’s remarkable in every way—but especially in its price. We’re used to Argentina bringing the goods when it comes to value bottles, but not like this. Take advantage while you can.