Familia Cassone Cabernet Sauvignon Obra Prima Reserva Lujan de Cuyo 2018

Cabernet sauvignon thrives in the high elevation, rocky soils, and arid climate of the Lujan de Cuyo region of Mendoza, for many of the same reasons it thrives on the hillsides of Napa Valley. Structured, full-bodied wines are the norm here and this 100% cabernet sauvignon wine is just that. Dark bramble berries, black currant, rooibos tea, blood orange peel, and peppery spice delight the senses, with a finish that shows fine, but certainly present, tannins and a warming salutation of Tahitian vanilla and saturated cinnamon bark. The level of complexity for the price of $15 is astounding, and when you add on the balance of approachability and ageability, this is a wine to grab a handful of and sip over time.

The Cassone family hails from the Northwest of Italy, in one of our all-time favorite locales, Piemonte. Following World War I, the Cassone family settled in Argentina with their young son, Roberto. As Roberto came of age, he decided to purchase a vineyard in Mendoza back in 1950, and Argentinian wine has been in the family ever since. Eduardo, Roberto’s son, carried on the tradition, eventually breaking ground with a new winery on their estate in 1998, with 9 members of the next generation waiting in the wings. The climate and elevation make troublesome pests and bacteria all but non-existent in their vineyards, leading to the “easy choice” to farm their vines organically. The vineyard itself has vines that go back 100 years, making it amongst the oldest plots in all of Mendoza. These wines are fermented in stainless steel following careful hand sorting of the grapes, and then barrel aged for 14 months in new French oak. The family doesn’t make much wine, and even less makes it stateside. Quite the find for us and we’re absolutely stoked to share with you today!

PAIRING IDEAS: This wine (and this writer) wants skirt steak. Marinate for 30 minutes in smashed garlic, olive oil, s+p, and thyme, then grill it hot and fast. Serve with roasted fingerling potatoes. Done.

MUSIC SUGGESTIONS: One of the most underappreciated bands of all-time, Electric Light Orchestra, has it for this one… “Turn to Stone”.