Septima Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
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Wine
Spectator
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Highly complex and spicy aroma with notes of roasted peppers,
dark plum fruit and overtones of fruit jam fragrant
with toasted coffee and vanilla.
Pleasant, well-rounded on the front palate with hints
of sour cherry and strawberry. Powerful, sweet tannins
fill the mouth and finish with hints of smoky oak.
Good length on the palate with a well-structured and
agreeable finish.
Match with; Grilled meat, chicken, roasted vegetables. Also pairs well with pasta and rice dishes. A complex wine with spicy notes, it pairs with a wide variety of dishes.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Ripe damson plum and linzer torte notes remain bright in this medium- to full-bodied red. Hints of incense and grilled herb, along with soft tannins, frame the solid finish. Drink now. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.
Other Vintages
2009-
Wine
Spectator
After many years of searching for an exceptional terroir in the New World, the genesis of Raventós Codorníu’s seventh (in Spanish, “septima”) winery began in the year 1999 and was built in 2001 in Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, in the foothills of the Andes Mountains and 1050 meters above sea level.
It is a winery comitted to its origin. It was built using the ancestral dry-stonewall system, a building technique used by the local Huarpes which makes the winery thermally insulated, and creates the perfect temperature to produce wine through a natural and sustainable procedure.
Septima however, shares characteristics with several establishments founded in Argentina at the beginning of the 21st century which provided the industry with prestige and diversity; and that happened to be key in the national winegrowing industry development. Those features are European heritage and know-how, owned vineyards, focus on the elaboration of premium wines and maximum respect for the terroir.
Septima represents the perfect balance of historical heritage, innovation and enological excellence.
Argentina of course is heralded for its Malbecs. But in the last two decades Cabernet Sauvignon has been drawing increased attention from winemakers there, and is now the third most planted variety. It is grown in the Mendoza region in the Andean foothills, especially in Maipú and Luján de Cuyo, at altitudes between 2300 and 3100 feet. Here the climate is continental, with hot summers and cold winters. It is very dry and sometimes quite windy, with runoff from the snow-capped Andes providing irrigation. These Argentinian Cabernets offer dark fruit, spice notes, full body and often a voluptuous style.
Another source within Mendoza is the higher altitude Uco Valley, at 3300 to 5000 feet. Up at this level grapes ripen more slowly, despite the bright sun. But that enables them to develop bright acidity levels, giving the wines a fresh quality to go with intense fruit flavors. Another source of good Cabernet Sauvignon in Argentina is Cafayate, in the Calchaquí Valley. North of Mendoza, these vineyards are even higher, at about 5700 feet! These Cabernets carry notes of spice, herbs and menthol to go with dark fruit. Like those from Uco Valley, they show concentration and great vibrancy.
A few producers to look for are Catena, Viña Cobos, Pulenta and Altocedro. Salud!