Bodega Tapiz Classic Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina 75cl

The Classic range is Bodega Tapiz’s everyday face, made by winemaker Fabian Valenzuela from the estate’s Uco Valley fruit. It is designed to be honest and varietally true, the kind of wine you can open midweek without a second thought. Its job is pleasure, not pretension.

This is pure Cabernet Sauvignon, grown at altitude where warm days and cool nights sharpen the grape’s savoury, structured character. It aims for typicity above all: recognisably Cabernet, medium to full in body and cleanly defined, with no need for fanfare. Altitude is the quiet secret behind its freshness.

The 2021 is a straightforward expression of its year. We hold little on the season, so the tasting notes carry the description rather than any invented vintage detail. It is ready to drink now and does not ask to be kept. This is a red for the week ahead, not for the cellar shelf.

Look for blackcurrant, a twist of red chilli pepper, dark olive, liquorice and tobacco. It is medium to full-bodied, with fine, even tannins that stay savoury and food-friendly right through a firm, dry finish that keeps it at the table.

A dependable weeknight Cabernet for those who like their reds firm and savoury rather than sweet or oaky. Serve at around 17 degrees, ideally with roast beef, grilled lamb or a wedge of mature cheddar. If you reach for Chilean or everyday Bordeaux Cabernet, this savoury, altitude-fresh alternative is well worth a try, delivering honest Cabernet character without any fuss or heavy oak.