11th November, 2016 by Kristiane Sherry

Constellation Brands-owned Tequila house Casa Noble has released a “rare” Cabernet Sauvignon-finished extra añejo expression with a US$1,200 price tag.

Named Alta Belleza, the five-year-old, 43% abv release is the first in a new series, Colección del Fundador – or Founder’s Collection.

Developed by Casa Noble’s founder and maestro tequilero, Jose ‘Pepe’ Hermosillo, the expression brings together the worlds of wine and Tequila, chiefly the To Kalon Vineyard in Napa Valley and the agave fields of Jalisco.

The vineyard serves as inspiration for the Tequila’s name: ‘To Kalon’ is Greek for ‘highest beauty’, with Alta Belleza meaning ‘high beauty’ in Spanish.

A 100% blue weber agave Tequila, the expression has been triple distilled and aged in French white oak barrels. It was then transferred to T5 Tonnellerie Taransaud French oak wine barrels, previously used to age Robert Mondavi To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon from the To Kalon Vineyard.

The barrel combination is said to impart a “distinctive, intense flavour” with stated nosing and tasting notes for the “copper-red” liquid including green apple, cinnamon, toasted almond and sweet cooked agave.

“I am thrilled to share the first volume of Colección del Fundador with the world,” said Hermosillo.

“At Casa Noble, we are proud to make tequilas that rival the finest spirits available, with a complexity that is unmatched. We’re dedicated to looking for groundbreaking techniques to create authentic yet unexpected tequilas that celebrate the spirit in a way it deserves.”

Alta Belleza is limited to 563 bottles and will be offered in select cities in the US and internationally. Further expressions in the Colección del Fundador range are expected to be released each year.

Casa Noble’s Cabernet Sauvignon-finished Alta Belleza follows the launch of Patrón Spirits’ Sherry-matured Patrón Cask Collection Sherry Añejo earlier this year.