On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, we had the opportunity to interview Fabián Valenzuela. Fabián is the Winemaker for three wineries in Argentina: Tapiz, Zolo, and Wapisa. We covered a 2022 Pinot Noir Wapisa, a 2022 Cabernet Franc, and a 2019 Petit Verdot from Zolo. We closed the tasting with three terrific wines from Tapiz: a 2020 Malbec and two high-end 2018 Bordeaux-styled blends that pay tribute to Jean-Claude Berrouet, the winery’s consultant who is famous for his time making Petrus. In this post you will learn more about Fabián, the three wineries, and all of these terrific wines.
Before we get to the wines, I thought I would share some tidbits Fabián shared.
- This year was Fabián’s 40th
- He started when he was 18.
- He has worked mainly in Argentina. He has done some work in Napa and France.
- He worked 8 years for Catena.
- He started working for Patricia Ortiz in 2003.
- Wapisa winery is in Patagonia.
- It is the only coastal winery in Patagonia. All the others are inland.
- Rio Negro is a city. Rio Negro means “Black River.”
- Patagonia which is south of the river has a similar altitude to Uco Valley.
- In Patagonia – you pick early to get good balance.
- Zolo winery is in Agrelo, Mendoza.
- This region has compact clay soils.
- They grow Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc there.
- Cabernet Franc is fashionable in Argentina right now.
- Petit Verdot is usually a grape used in blending.
- In Agrelo, Petit Verdot ripens well.
- It is always the last pick.
- It likes the heat.
- For the “Black” wine they only use a specific block.
- In Agrelo, Petit Verdot ripens well.
- Tapiz winery is in San Pablo in the Uco Valley.
- The vineyards are at an altitude of 1,400 meters.
- They have 450 hectares.
- Their consulting winemaker is Jean-Claude Berrouet who is famous for his 41 years at Petrus.
- The “Retrato por Jean Claude” wine is mainly Cabernet from 2 blocks.
- “Retrato” mean portrait.
- The 2018 vintage was very cool.
- The “Las Notas de Jean Claude” wine is mainly Merlot.
- “Las Notas de” means “The notes of.”
- Jean Claude calls the Argentinian Merlot, “The real Merlot.”
1) Wapisa 2022 Pinot Noir “Rio Negro” $25 (KWGTP 90.5)
2) Zolo 2022 Cabernet Franc “Reserve” (Mendoza) $20 (KWGTP 90)
3) Zolo 2019 Petit Verdot “Black” $40 (KWGTP 92)
4) Tapiz 2020 Malbec “Black Tears” (Mendoza) $65 (KWGTP 94.5)
5) Tapiz 2018 “Retrato por Jean Claude” (Mendoza) $100 (KWGTP 94)
62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot & 2% Malbec
6) Tapiz 2018 “Las Notas de Jean Claude” (Mendoza) $100 (KWGTP 97)
69% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, & 1% Petit Verdot
You can find reviews of past and future, Wapisa, Zolo, and Tapiz wines that we cover on their respective Wapisa, Zolo, and Tapiz KWG winery pages on our website. We hope you enjoy these terrific wines as much as we did. Cheers! Ken