Domingo Molina Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Yacochuya, Calchaquí Valley, Salta, Argentina 75cl

Domingo Molina farms at extreme altitude in Salta’s Calchaqui Valley, near Yacochuya, where thin mountain air and powerful sunlight shape wines of real intensity. This is its pure Cabernet Sauvignon, a variety that responds well to the region’s demanding conditions.

At these elevations Cabernet ripens its tannins slowly under strong sun while cold nights preserve freshness and colour, giving a wine that is concentrated but not jammy. The style leans savoury and structured rather than soft, with the herbal, peppery edge that high-altitude Cabernet often shows, and a clear stamp of its northern Argentine home.

The 2019 vintage produced ripe, well-defined reds in Salta, and this Cabernet reflects that concentration alongside good balance.

Expect an intense ruby colour and aromas of cassis and dark fruit lifted by roasted red pepper and black pepper spice. It is complex and concentrated on the palate, firmly structured, with grip and a long, savoury finish. It is drinking well now with a decant and has the frame to develop further.

This is a red for the table, at its best with grilled steak, roast lamb or mature, hard cheese. If you enjoy structured, savoury Cabernet with a high-altitude signature rather than a soft, fruity style, this Salta bottling is a distinctive and rewarding example. Serve it at a cool room temperature in a large glass and give it a decant, as the savoury, peppery character grows more expressive with air. It makes an interesting contrast with the softer, fruitier Cabernets of Mendoza further south, showing how much altitude shapes the style.