Piloto De Prueba – 2021

60+ year old Tannat vines
Organic farming
Only 3,200 bottles made

There’s no old family vineyard behind this wine. No tradition dating back centuries. Piloto de Prueba is an upstart in the high altitude wine town of Cafayate. To our knowledge, this 2021 is only the third vintage ever released.

The name “piloto de prueba” translates to “test pilot.” The project was supposed to be a mere experiment for winemaker Daniel Guillen and his friends. Today his is a label to watch closely. Why all the buzz? Tannat. It’s a grape from southwestern France typically found in Uruguay. Yet, word on the street is that it may just be “the next malbec.” While malbec remains king in the Andes, the tannat in this 2021 vintage makes a compelling case: wrapping the malbec and cab sauv in a rich, dark chocolate.