2023 Zorzal "Terroir Unico" Cabernet Franc

There’s a lot of excitement in Mendoza’s Uco Valley, where high altitude, calcareous soils in the foothills of the Andes are offering up wines with refreshing acidity. Particularly in the unique mountain climate of Gualtallary in Tupungato, which was first planted to vine in the early 1990s, having previously been considered too cold to grow grapes. In 2007, the Michelini brothers (Gerardo, Matías, and Juan Pablo) founded Zorzal and have led the charge by harvesting earlier than other growers, bucking the trend of overblown ripeness often seen in Argentinian wines. Juan Pablo Michelini and Noelia Juri are making the wine at Zorzal these days, though the Michelini family has its hands in projects all over the region. While this version of the classic old Loire Valley red grape variety wears is origin on its sleeve, the mile-high mountain sun drives this wine to impressive heights. Firm, direct, yet full of fruit, you won't find a more versatile food wine.