Bodegas Piedra Negra Gran Lurton Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Cellar for up to 15 years. No need to decant before serving.

The Lurton family are considered winemaking royalty in Bordeaux with more than chateaux to their name, so it’s little wonder that Francois Lurton left France for South America to make his own mark on the industry. Francois first started making wine in South America with his brother Jacques in the 1990s, and in 1996 they bought some 200 acres in the arid Uco Valley in Mendoza. At the time many people thought they were a little crazy as the region was considered barren and unproductive.

Today, however, the Uco Valley is considered one of Mendoza’s finest sub-regions and is home to many of Argentina’s top wineries, including Francois Lurton’s namesake property. Although Malbec is king in these parts, Cabernet Sauvignon also thrives in the high altitude terroir and this bottling was originally one of the first wines Francois made here. The sunny summer days help the grapes to achieve optimum maturity with ripe tannins, while the cooler nights help preserve freshness and aromatics.

Once in the winery the must ferments in stainless steel tanks and the young wine is then aged in small French and American oak barrels for 12 months. The final step is to clarify the wine and bottle without filtering. The result is a rich, powerful Cabernet that’s bursting with succulent dark berries and cherries, hints of woodsmoke and tobacco leaf, and subtle spiced notes on the long finish. Cellar for a few more years or enjoy now with a prime steak or rich stewed meat.