Mendoza is a very large wine region with a great deal of local diversity. It is a wine region where there are less than 50 miles separating sites that are as cold as Champagne and sites that are as hot as North Africa. And it all can be labeled Mendoza! Catena created the appellation series to showcase and familiarize consumers with the different sub-regions within Mendoza, not unlike how Robert Mondavi did to Napa in the 1980’s. San Carlos is the Southernmost sub region of the Uco Valley, it is approximately 65 miles South of Mendoza City. The Uco Valley is closer to the Andea foothills than the traditional heart of Mendoza. This is one of the first regions that was planted with Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon back in the 1880’s. The soils are alluvial, loamy sand with calcareous layers and small stones. Cabernet Franc, while it has alway been present, has become more important in the Uco Valley over the last two decades. The warm days, with high UV, the calcareous soils and cool Andean nights are the perfect combination of elements to grow this varietal. The fruit is ripe, the tannins are fine and polished, and the savory herbaceousness is not as prominent as it is in the Loire Valley or Bordeaux.