Andes Plateau Cota 500 Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Cachapoal Valley, Chile

Descorchados 94 points! Tim Atkin 92 points!

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.

“This is a blend with a base of about 90% of vineyards from the Rengo area, at the foot of the Andes, in what is known as the Alto Cachapoal Valley. Planted on colluvial soils, the vineyard for this Cota 500 shows a fruity, exuberant face of the variety. The palate is marked by fine, sharp tannins, and the fruity flavors are fresh. Juice for grownups.”—Patricio Tapia, Descorchados, 94 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.