This is an Argentine wine from the Bodegas Valentin Bianchi winery in Mendoza, Argentina. I've been drinking this wine for over 20 years and it is consistently good from vintage to vintage. I lived in Buenos Aires for five years back in the late 80's and early 90's and I can tell you that Bianchi is one of Argentina's most respected wineries.
Malbec is usually considered to be Argentina's best red wine and the malbecs from Bianchi are very solid, but supposedly Bianchi winemaker Francisco Martínez “loves Cabernet” and I think it shows in the wines they release.
The 2005 Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal. The wine spent 12 months in oak, one third of the wine in new oak, one third in one-year old oak, and one third in two year old oak before blending. This 2005 Cabernet’s nose is loaded with berry, casis and mocha notes. The first sip reveals a lot of spice characteristics, which stay with the wine from beginning to end. This is a rich, fairly big wine and should be paired accordingly. Red meat, mushroom based dishes and red sauce pasta dishes are all safe bets. I served it with lasagna last night and it paired very nicely. The oak on this Cabernet is apparent but well integrated and unobtrusive. This is smooth, elegant and well balanced for a Cabernet this young and at this price point. It has good complexity and enough structure for near-term aging. A Napa or Sonoma Cabernet of this quality would easily fetch twice the price.
The Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon is widely available for around $16. If you like well made Cabernet at a more than reasonable price, this one is for you. If you can find it at $16 it's a steal.
According to Wine Spectator: "Has a solid structure, with coffee, plum and currant flavors backed by bittersweet cocoa on the finish. Drink now. 6,000 cases made."
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