Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

Description

Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from high-altitude Mendoza vineyards, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml format. The 2021 vintage earned 94 points from James Suckling, who highlighted its clean precision and fresh natural acidity. Previous vintages have collected Gold Medals at both the International Wine & Spirit Competition (2018 vintage) and the Sakura Awards (2022 vintage), reinforcing its consistent quality across releases.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5% | Origin: Mendoza, Argentina | Reserva | Winery: Bodega Terrazas de los Andes

Production & Heritage

Bodega Terrazas de los Andes, part of the Mot Hennessy portfolio, built its reputation on the principle of matching grape varieties to their ideal altitude in the Andean foothills. The Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon draws fruit from over 25 individual plots across three vineyards in Lujn de Cuyo and the Uco Valleyall planted with vines at least 20 years old and currently transitioning to organic certification. After harvest, the wine ages for 12 to 14 months in a combination of first-, second-, third-, and fourth-use French oak barrels, a graduated approach that layers complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with fresh blackcurrant and redcurrant, followed by grilled herbsthyme and rosemaryand a subtle floral lift. Beneath the fruit sits a thread of vanilla and cacao contributed by the French oak maturation.

Taste: On entry, dark berry fruit is bright and focused, carried by lively natural acidity. At mid-palate, dark chocolate and baking spice emerge alongside ripe plum, building toward a savory, open-grained texture. The tannins are fine and polished rather than grippy, supporting a medium-bodied frame with genuine depth.

Finish: The finish is moderate to long, closing with notes of hazelnut cream, cardamom, and a gentle smoky quality. A saline, savory undertone lingers, keeping the wine engaging well after the last sip.

How to Drink Terrazas Reserva Cabernet

This Reserva is best served at 1618C (6064F), either in a large-bowled glass without decanting or after 2030 minutes of aeration if you want to open up the herbal and spice layers. It drinks well on its own but truly shines alongside food. A bold Argentine-style Red Sangria built around this wine, blood orange, and cinnamon works for warm-weather gatherings because the wine’s tannic backbone holds up to fruit and ice. A simple Cabernet Spritzequal parts wine and sparkling water with a rosemary sprigmakes a lighter aperitif that plays off the wine’s herbaceous nose. For a classic warm cocktail, a Mulled Wine base with star anise, cloves, and orange peel leverages the existing dark spice character rather than masking it.

Best For

• Pairing with a weekend asado or grilled steak dinner
• Introducing someone to high-altitude Argentine Cabernet Sauvignon
• Gifting a red wine enthusiast who appreciates New World structure with Old World restraint
• Building out a Mendoza vertical or comparative tasting alongside Malbec

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Terrazas Reserva Cabernet taste like? It leads with fresh blackcurrant, dark chocolate, and baking spice, supported by fine tannins and bright acidity. The medium-bodied palate finishes with hazelnut cream, cardamom, and a savory undertone.

How does Terrazas Reserva Cabernet compare to Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are premium Mendoza Cabernets from high-altitude vineyards with French oak aging, but Terrazas sources from over 25 plots across multiple sub-regions for a multi-terroir blend, while Catena tends toward single-vineyard or more tightly defined site selections. The Terrazas Reserva typically sits at a slightly lower price tier, making it a strong entry point into serious Argentine Cabernet.

Is Terrazas Reserva Cabernet good for sipping neat? Yesits polished tannins, balanced acidity, and layered spice make it a rewarding glass on its own, especially after a brief period of aeration in a wide-bowled glass.

Where is Terrazas Reserva Cabernet made? It is produced by Bodega Terrazas de los Andes in Mendoza, Argentina, using fruit sourced from vineyards in the Lujn de Cuyo and Uco Valley sub-regions at the foothills of the Andes Mountains.

What foods pair well with Terrazas Reserva Cabernet? Grilled ribeye steak benefits from the wine’s tannic structure and smoky finish. Slow-braised short ribs mirror its dark fruit depth. Hard aged cheeses like Manchego complement the savory and nutty undertones. Lamb chops with a rosemary crust echo the herbal aromatics. Dark chocolate desserts pick up the cacao notes from the oak aging.

What sizes does Terrazas Reserva Cabernet come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Terrazas Reserva Cabernet worth the price? It positions as a mid-premium Argentine Cabernet Sauvignon, sitting above everyday table wines but below single-vineyard or Grand Reserve bottlings. With a 94-point James Suckling score and multiple international Gold Medals, it delivers strong quality relative to its price tier.

Why Terrazas Reserva Cabernet?

What separates this Reserva from the crowded field of Mendoza reds is its multi-terroir sourcing strategyblending over 25 plots from vines at least two decades old across both Lujn de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. That approach, combined with a graduated French oak program using barrels across four usage levels, produces a wine with real complexity that avoids the heavy-handed oak treatment common at this price point. The 94-point James Suckling score and Gold Medals at the IWSC and Sakura Awards confirm what the glass suggests: this is a benchmark Reserva-level Argentine Cabernet. With vineyards in active transition toward organic certification, it also signals a winery investing in long-term quality rather than short-term extraction.