Riccitelli 2025 “Hey Franc” Cabernet Franc

PRODUCER INFO

Matías Riccitelli started his boutique winery in 2009, located in Las Compuertas at 1100 meters above sea level. It is the highest area of Lujan de Cuyo, and here he tends 20 hectares of ungrafted old vineyards. Matías also works with small, independent growers that own their lands at the bottom of the Andes halfway between 1000 and 1700 meters above sea level – in Gualtallary, Chacayes, Altamira and La Carrera.
All harvests are conducted by hand and fermentation takes place in small concrete vats and concrete eggs. Purity and delicacy in winemaking are prized by Matías and great care is taken in preserving the fruit’s singularity in order to obtain vibrant wines.
In 2015 a new project was begun: old vineyards of Semillon, Merlot and Malbec were discovered and reclaimed in Argentinian Patagonia. The vineyards are located in the Rio Negro high valley and were planted in the late 1960’s. The resulting wines are fresh, intensely aromatic and highly balanced.

ABOUT THE WINE

Cabernet Franc is, today, one of the most vibrant and influential varieties in Argentine viticulture. Hey Franc! is Riccitelli’s fresh, easygoing take on it — part of the same “Hey!” line as Hey Malbec! and Hey Rosé!
Equal parts Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, farmed agroecologically — no herbicides, no systemic products. Hand-picked in the first weeks of March into 20 kg cases, then sorted by hand.
No oak: fermented and aged entirely in small concrete vessels, which keeps the fruit and the variety’s pepper right up front.

Vintage: 2025 | Wine Type: Red Wine
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Franc
Origin: Argentina | Appellation: Mendoza (Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley)
Vineyard: Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley in equal parts, agroecological farming, average yield 7,000 kg/ha, hand-harvested
Elaboration: 20% whole clusters, the rest destemmed; gravity-fed into small concrete vessels and fermented with native yeasts at 24–26°C with gentle punch-downs; aged in concrete until the following harvest.
Winemaker: Matías Riccitelli

TASTING NOTES

Fresh and friendly. Red fruit with floral aromas and a line of black pepper; soft, ripe tannins carry a balanced, succulent finish. Drinking well now and will keep for up to seven years. Serve slightly cool, at 58–60°F.

TECHNICAL DATA

Alcohol: 13.5% | TA: 6.2 g/l | Residual Sugar: 1.8 g/l | pH: 3.6 | Format: 12 x 750 ml

PRESS & POINTS

2025 – 90 Points, Wine Advocate (Matthew Luczy): “a classic, varietal nose of dark fruits, bittersweet chocolate and stony accents” and “a succulent, refreshing and well-defined finish.”

2025 – 90 Points, Tim Atkin MW: “a firm, youthful, unwooded expression of the variety,” black cherry and paprika over sinewy tannins.