Marcelo Bocardo Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

black cherry, blackcurrant preserve, plum leaf, clove, and graphite

Explorers Club members will recognize this wine as a January feature but it seems appropriate to mention it this week too. It is important to see how good Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza is and the value it offers. You can show this wine blind against great examples from California and Bordeaux and it will easily stand up.

Marcelo Bocardo grew up in his family’s vineyards in Mendoza, learning about wine from his father and Italian grandfather. In 2014, he purchased his first organically farmed vineyard and impressed with the health of the vines, began to implement similar methods throughout his property. His current project, and the subject of our feature this month, was created when Marcelo’s son Nicolas joined the family business in 2019. With 4 generations of Bocardo men working the vineyards, Marcelo wanted the family name featured prominently on their new label. Their goal of sustainable viticulture is to pass on to the next generation a healthy and thriving vineyard capable of producing world class wines.

When you open this wine, I strongly suggest decanting for at least half an hour, though if you can stand to wait, a full hour is ideal. Once this wine has some time to open up, it is quite long and complex with notes of black cherry, blackcurrant preserve, plum leaf, clove, and graphite. Drink now through 2028 with grilled skirt steak and vegetables or lamb chops.