Tapiz Alta Collection Cabernet Sauvignon

Tapiz Alta Collection Cabernet Sauvignon (750ML)

Tapiz Alta Collection Cabernet Sauvignon is a highly expressive, deeply texturized red wine that showcases the stunning precision of high-altitude winemaking in Argentina. Produced by Bodega Tapiz—one of Mendoza's most technologically advanced and quality-driven estates—this collection benefits from the expertise of legendary consulting winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet, who spent 44 vintages making the mythical Château Pétrus in Bordeaux. For wine lovers seeking an alternative to over-extracted styles, the Alta Collection delivers intense concentration beautifully balanced by old-world structural elegance.

The structural brilliance of this wine lies in its extreme vineyard terroir. The fruit is estate-grown in the San Pablo vineyard located in Tunuyán, Uco Valley, Mendoza, at a breathtaking altitude of 4,430 feet (1,350 meters) above sea level. At this elevation, intense Andean sunlight builds thick grape skins rich in tannins and color, while freezing mountain nights preserve a vibrant racy acidity. The wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, hand-harvested and aged for 10 months in French oak barrels (90% used, 10% new) to elegantly frame the fruit. Bottled at a balanced 13.5% to 14.0% ABV, this wine consistently captures outstanding 92 to 94-Point Ratings from international critics like James Suckling and Tim Atkin.

Technical Wine Specs

• Size: 750ML Standard Premium Claret Format

• ABV: ~13.8% (Vintage Dependent)

• Wine Classification: San Pablo IG, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

• The Varietal Architecture: 100% High-Altitude Cabernet Sauvignon.

• The Wood Regimen: Aged for 10 months in French oak barrels (10% new staves) to achieve a seamless, perfectly integrated oak integration.

• Value Bracket: Elite High-Altitude Value Tier (~$17.99 to $22.99)

Tasting Notes: Flavor and Aroma Profile

The intense high-altitude skin extraction grants the liquid a brilliantly clear, deep ruby-purple color in the glass with thick, slow-running legs.

• Aroma (Nose): Forward, complex, and intensely aromatic. The bouquet skips any aggressive ethanol vapors, opening instead with a dominant wave of ripe black currants, dark cherries, and wild blackberries, beautifully supported by secondary top notes of fresh red bell pepper, graphite, dark chocolate, and a cool touch of mint.

• Palate (Taste): Full-bodied, texturally plush, and smooth. The entry coats the tongue with an immediate, juicy arrival of black plum and red currant jelly. Across the mid-palate, its fine-grained, firm mountain tannins assert themselves—unrolling balanced layers of cocoa powder, warm cedar wood, and a savory hint of loamy earth that keeps the bold fruit structured.

• Finish: Long, balanced, and remarkably clean. The primary orchard fruits recede gracefully, closing with a trailing signature of lingering espresso bean, toasted oak vanilla, and a dry, sophisticated graphite spine.

Connoisseur Service Rituals

• The Aeration Window: While Tapiz Alta is engineered with smooth-grained tannins that make it accessible upon release, its mountain structure unfolds beautifully with oxygen. Let the wine rest inside a clean decanter or an open bottle for 45 to 60 minutes before serving to allow the graphite, chocolate, and dark berry layers to fully bloom.

• The Cool Cellar Temperature: Avoid serving this rich Argentine red at a hot room temperature, which can artificially amplify the alcohol and mask the delicate red pepper and herbal top notes. Target a perfect cool cellar window of 62°F to 65°F (16°C to 18°C) by setting the bottle inside your refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes before pulling the cork.

• The Stemware: Serve exclusively inside a large, wide-bowled Cabernet or Bordeaux glass to maximize oxygen surface interaction.

Smart Gourmet Culinary Pairings

Tapiz Alta Cabernet’s magnificent alignment of rich berry sugars, savory herbal nuances, and firm, integrated tannins allows it to perform as a spectacular companion for flame-grilled proteins, hearty comfort foods, and sharp artisan cheeses.

• Traditional Argentine Asado: An absolute textbook match next to a grilled ribeye steak, flame-charred flank steak with chimichurri sauce, or slow-roasted lamb chops. The wine's rich body and firm tannins cut through charred meat fats seamlessly.

• Rich Savory Comforts: Pair a glass next to a dish of slow-cooked beef pot roast, wild boar ragu over wide pappardelle pasta, or a savory mushroom tart, which beautifully echoes the wine's built-in cedar and herbal tones.

• Aged Hard Artisan Cheeses: It behaves beautifully next to a casual grazing board highlighting extra-aged sharp white Cheddar, smoked Gouda, or a wedge of blue cheese accompanied by dark chocolate squares, where the food salts draw out the wine's sweet vanilla finish.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does Tapiz Alta Collection Cabernet Sauvignon taste like?

It delivers an incredibly smooth, full-bodied, and dark fruit-forward tasting experience. The front of the palate features a lush explosion of blackcurrant, dark plum, and blackberry, which transitions cleanly across the mid-palate into complex, savory layers of cocoa powder, vanilla oak, and fresh red pepper before closing with firm, velvety tannins.

Is Tapiz Alta Cabernet Sauvignon sweet or dry?

It is a completely bone-dry red wine. While the intense Argentine sunshine ensures the grapes achieve optimal sugar accumulation—giving you a lush, juicy, and sweet-perceived sensation of dark berries and vanilla up front—all natural grape sugars are fully fermented into alcohol. The high altitude preserves an incredible natural acidity that ensures a clean, savory, and balanced finish with absolutely zero residual sugar.

How should I store the bottle after it is opened?

Once the cork is pulled, oxygen will slowly open up the wine but will eventually begin to flatten its delicate aromatics. To properly preserve its vibrant profile, push the cork back down firmly (or use a vacuum wine stopper) and store the opened bottle inside your refrigerator. The cold temperature drastically slows down the oxidation process, keeping this mountain Cabernet tasting structurally sound and fresh for 3 to 5 days. Just remember to take it out of the fridge 20 minutes before serving so it can return to its ideal cellar temperature.