Don Nicanor Barrel Select Cabernet Franc
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3–8 years from vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb chops, roasted duck
✨ Technical Specifications
Named in honor of Don Nicanor Nieto, one of the founding pillars of the historic estate, the Don Nicanor Barrel Select Cabernet Franc is a sophisticated expression of how this classic Bordeaux variety thrives in the high-altitude terroirs of Mendoza. Sourced from select vineyards where the intense Andean sun is balanced by cool mountain nights, the grapes develop a complex aromatic profile featuring ripe red berries, subtle black pepper, and the variety's signature herbaceous notes of roasted bell pepper and eucalyptus. The 'Barrel Select' designation denotes a careful curation of the finest lots, which are aged in French oak barrels to soften the grape's naturally robust tannins, weaving elegant notes of cocoa, vanilla, and sweet spice into a structured, lingering finish.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1888 by Italian immigrants in Vistalba, Bodega Nieto Senetiner stands as one of the historic pillars of Luján de Cuyo viticulture. Acquired by the Nieto and Senetiner families in 1969 and integrated into Molinos Río de la Plata in 1998, the estate commands prime holdings across Vistalba and Agrelo, including Finca Villa Blanca and Finca Las Tortugas. Situated between 950 and 1,150 meters above sea level against the Andean backdrop, the vineyards thrive on alluvial clay-loam and gravelly soils subjected to wide diurnal temperature shifts and intense high-altitude sunlight. Winemaker Santiago Mayorga crafts both classic reds and pristine, aromatic whites and rosés with modern precision. While globally acclaimed for benchmark Malbec and heritage Bonarda, the estate demonstrates deft mastery of aromatic and refreshing profiles through everyday and fruit-forward ranges such as Benjamín, Fran, and Emilia, preserving pure varietal expression, vibrant natural acidity, and refined balance across Torrontés, Moscatel de Alejandría, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.
🍇 Grapes
Cabernet Franc
🍷 ABV
14-14.5%