Felipe Rutini Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza 2012: Inky dark purple color; dark fruit, cherry, clove on the nose; dark fruits, cherry, strawberry, chocolate, coffee, vanilla on the palate;
dry, dense, full-bodied, firm tannin, integrated and well behaved oak—the wine spends 12 months in French oak, 50% new and 50% used barrels. Rutini is famous Argentine quality maker founded by Italian-born Felipe Rutini in 1885; the La Rural Winery is located on the outskirts of Mendoza; fruit comes from several vineyards in Tupungato, Argentina’s premier grape-growing region with some vines more than a century old. Winemaker Mariano Di Paola recently was named one of the top 30 winemakers in the world by Decanter magazine. Di Paola is noted for attention to quality and allowing wine to reflect its place rather than steering the product to fit the latest trendy flavor profile; he also is noted for modernizing vineyard and winemaking practices, which he has done at Rutini since 1995. His stated goal is to position Rutini as the most prestigious Argentine producer of premium wines worldwide. This wine tastes like a bold Argentine cab made by Italians, true to its 130-year-old roots. It cries out for pairing with beef or lamb. Tasty, serious, big-boy cab from top Argentine maker. $35
Winery website
Second photo: Winemaker Mariano Di Paola.
