This year's Decanter World Wine Awards Regional Trophy for Argentinian Red Bordeaux Varietal under £15 went to Fabre Montmayou, Reservado Cabernet Franc, Mendoza 2013 (14.5%)
Tasted against:
- Antucura, Barrandica Cabernet Sauvignon, Vista Flores,Mendoza 2013
- Mascota, La Mascota Cabernet Franc,Mendoza 2012
- Trapiche, Estacion 1883 Caberne tFranc, Mendoza 2012
Profile:
Following successful career s as both a Bordeaux négociant and a supermarket wine buyer, Hervé Joyaux Fabre arrived in Argentina in the early 1990s to become a wine producer.
He established his winery in 1993 in Vistalba, Lujan de Cuyo,18km north of Mendoza at 1,150m, among the first 15 hectares of Malbec vineyards the company bought. Planted in 1908, they are densely packed at 8,000 vines per hectare. Fabre sold 15,000 bottles that first year, a figure which has now reached a total of three million across three wineries.
Although Malbec rules the roost in volume and consumer interest, Cabernet Franc has proved fascinating for Fabre due to its potential quality and challenges. ‘It doesn’t mature everywhere in Argentina, and doesn’t even give the same results within the same districts of Mendoza.’
Low yields and location are the keys to its success – yields of more than 40hl/ha here would result in aggressive tannins. When it works, though, the results, as evidenced by this Trophy-winner, can be sublime, with aromatic blackberry and pepper characters of vivid intensity. 23,000 bottles were produced.
Written by Decanter
