In the soils of El Alto Vineyard in Ugarteche, Luján of Cuyo, in a mixture of pebbles, gravel and clay they planted Doña Paula Estate Cabernet Sauvignon in 1998. The climate of this estate, located at 3,445 feet above sea level, is characterized by its warm days and cool nights, with an average temperature variation of 57°F and an average annual rainfall of just 9.8 in. These vines yield just 2-3 tons per are and they are trained using drip irrigation.
After a gentle destemming, the must is cold macerated before fermentation to preserve the primary aromas. The temperature during. A post-fermentation maceration is performed for 10 to 15 days, and then malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels. Ageing is carried out in first, second and third-use French oak barrels for 12 months.
The Wine Advocate said " "The 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was produced with grapes from vines planted in Ugarteche in 1998, cropped from a ripe and low-yielding year. It matured in used barriques for ten to 12 months. They like to harvest the Cabernet Sauvignon from Luján at the same time as the Malbec, so they pick it earlier. They like to keep the freshness and herbal aromas and don't want any overripe notes in their Cabernets. This has always been the style from Doña Paula. Even though the wine shows good ripeness and some creamy notes, the palate is medium-bodied, with some fine tannins."