Andes Plateau Cota 500 Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Cachapoal Valley, Chile

Vinous 92 points! Wine Advocate 91+ points! (on the 2021 vintage)

Andes Plateau Cota 500 Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful mountain Cab from the Cachapoal Valley of Chile. Andes Plateau in the Maule valley of Chile is a family winery centered on their passion for mountain wines! The husband-and-wife team of Felipe Uribe and Maite Hojas had their first harvest in 2012. Maite worked as a winemaker for Santa Helena. Felipe has worked in Chile for several top wineries including Santa Helena, De Martino, Miravalle and William Fevre in the Maipo. He has also worked in the US at La Crema in Sonoma Valley. It was at William Fevre that Felipe fell in love with the vineyards in the Andes mountains and the distinctive wines that this rugged and extreme terroir can produce. So when he and Maite decided to take the plunge to start their own winery, it had to be in the mountains. Few, in Chile, risk working in the mountains because of the frost…but Felipe and Maite clearly believe the reward outweighs the risk.

The Andes Plateau vineyards are at an average of 560 meters elevation in the Maule up against the Andes mountains. The yield on the vines is 2 kg/plant and they have 3 hectares in total. The vines are 20 + years old, set in alluvial soil transported by the local rivers so it contains gravel, sand and silt. Practicing organic and all work is done by hand.

“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Cota 500 comes from the Maule Andes and was aged for 10 months in used barrels. A mild purple hue, the nose features rose and sweet and sour cherry with gentle hints of pyrazine and cinnamon. In the mouth it’s dry and slightly tannic with a finely grained, almost chalky texture and juicy finish. An unusual style for Chile that will improve in the bottle.”—Vinous, 92 points!

Enjoy Andes Plateau Cota 500 Cabernet Sauvignon over the next 8-10 years with grilled meats, short ribs, rich vegetable dishes and aged cheeses.