2018 Cabernet Franc Mini Ediciones, Finca Decero

Sleek, seductive, and perfectly poised, this is Cabernet Franc with an Argentine accent. The 2018 Mini Ediciones opens with lifted aromas of cassis, violet, graphite, and a touch of green peppercorn, before revealing a palate of black cherry, cocoa nib and fine spice. It’s beautifully structured, silky tannins glide beneath the fruit, the acidity bright and mountain-fresh. There’s a quiet intensity to it, a sense of precision and altitude that makes every sip hum with energy and finesse.

For when: Dinner’s special, and so is the company.
Pairs with: Chargrilled lamb, aubergine parmigiana, or dark chocolate by the fire.

At the foothills of the Andes, Finca Decero, literally “from scratch”, was born from an unplanted patch of land in Agrelo, Mendoza. Founded in 2000 by Swiss entrepreneur Thomas Schmidheiny, the estate is known for its high-altitude vineyards, sustainable practices, and unwavering focus on quality over quantity. The Mini Ediciones range is crafted only in exceptional years, in minute volumes that showcase the finest parcels of the Remolinos Vineyard. The 2018 vintage, long and temperate, produced grapes of superb balance and aromatic clarity. Aged 18 months in fine French oak, this Cabernet Franc captures the elegance of the variety with the precision and purity that define Finca Decero’s quietly luxurious style.