Another excellent find from Argentina, the Fuego Blanco Valle Del Silex Cabernet Franc Malbec available at Costco.
60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Malbec from vineyards 4,500 feet above sea level in Valle de Pedernal, San Juan, Argentina. The two varieties are co-fermented (see more on that here). 60% of the wine was aged in 1,000 liter French oak casks and it has less than 5 g/L of residual sugar.
The Fuego Blanco Cabernet Franc Malbec has an SRP of $30. We found it at Costco for $18.99 which is significantly less than the wine-searcher average of $26. 40,000 bottles produced. Imported by Tri-Vin Imports.
Pedernal is a valley formed by the movement of the Pedernal hill that leaves the valley embraced by the Oriental mountain chain and the Andes Mountains. Pedernal means silex, rock used in prehistoric time to light fire or make cutting tools. They are rocks of glacier formation almost entirely plane, very rich in chalk and slate.
14.5% Alcohol
The 2016 Fuego Blanco Cabernet Franc Malbec begins with pleasing aromas of blackberry, cedar and licorice plus touches of earth, spice, balsamic and tobacco. It's not as powerful as I was expecting right out of the bottle, but all kinds of interesting layers reveal themselves with some time in the glass.
The power seems to happen more in the mouth with lots of rich, juicy fruit along with more cedar, licorice, spice and tobacco, a bit of an earthy undertone and loads of mineral notes. There's lots of fresh acidity as well. This one is a winner.
Before reading the back label I wondered why the Costco receipt labeled this wine as "Flintstone" and one taste shows why, as it is loaded with minerality. I'm really loving these predominantly Cabernet Franc wines from Argentina.
It ends dry, chewy and quite long. Yabba Dabba Doo!
Ready to buy? Check for local retailers selling this wine here or visit your local Costco.
You may also want to check out more of our favorite wines from Argentina here.
