2019 Durigutti Cabernet Franc Clasico Mendoza 750 ml

Cabernet Franc is en fuego. In Napa Valley, the grapes sell for around $10,000 per ton, 20% more than Cabernet Sauvignon’s average. The wines of Saint-Émilion are as popular as ever, and who could have predicted that the Loire’s Clos Rougeard would one day fetch over $500?

Argentina’s embrace of the grape is a relatively recent phenomenon, but their Cab Francs are already attracting huge attention for their quality. That’s why we believe the 2019 Durigutti Clasico, crafted by two of Argentina’s most sought-after consulting enologists, may be the greatest Cabernet Franc value in the world. Héctor and Pablo Durigutti’s 25-year-old vines and vinicultural expertise come together to make a wine that’s succulent and fruit-driven—much closer in style to Napa Valley than Chinon. 

Born and raised in Mendoza, Héctor and Pablo Durigutti both fell in love with food and wine at a young age, eventually becoming top enologists and winemakers mentioned in the same breath as stars like Alberto Antonini and Laura Catena. While other wineries might employ outside consultants or hired-gun winemakers, the brothers handle everything themselves with a savoir-faire that would be the envy of most other producers.

Their Cabernet Franc is drawn from two outstanding subregions south of the city of Mendoza. Their quarter-century-old vines in Agrelo bring rich fruit and silky texture. The prized La Consulta, in the Uco Valley, is planted at an extremely high density. This means fierce competition between vines, resulting in reduced yields and small, concentrated berries.

This thoroughly sumptuous and modern Cabernet Franc is a fantastic summer pour to enjoy as you set those plump chorizos and racks of lamb to cooking on a smoky parrilla.