Fabre Montmayou Cabernet Franc Reserva 2020

Master of Wine, Tim Atkin bestowed the ultimate honor upon Herve, giving him the “Winemaking Legend” Award during his Argentina Special Report. Nobody is more deserving, sure. But I figured that would be the final nail in the coffin for my unlimited allocations and basically, I was right.

The truth is, Herve Fabre’s Cabernet Franc – for years – has been my secret weapon. While his Malbec steals all the glory, it’s long been Herve’s belief that Cabernet Franc is one of the grapes of the future that will continue Argentina’s ascend on the world stage. His own Cabernet Franc in particular proves his point. 

Hand harvested in small trays to avoid bruising any of the fruit, the results are amazing. More than half the Cabernet Franc that comes in is rejected, prioritizing only the best grapes. This makes for a super energetic Cabernet with juicy red and black fruits, and the signature dash of a mint on the finish. It’s insanely good. 

But with Herve and Fabre Montmayou wracking up NYT features, huge scores, gold medals and lifetime achievement awards, I’m left with one choice: get in now or be left in the cold come January. Waiting for the scores to roll in is a luxury that we know longer have with Fabre Montmayou. Good for the winery, not so good for us. 

Rest assured though, the 2020 Cabernet Franc Herve sent me is fantastic, and will surely be minted with the same kind of high-flying praise as the vintage before it. But by that time, you’ll only have a bottle or two left in the cellar.