PRESS BOOK 2018
SUSANA BALBO The creation of my wines at Susana Balbo Wines is to me the maximum achievement as a winemaker, product of all my efforts and many years of hard work. I could say that the winery is like my third child, a dream come true. Susana. AN EXTRAORDINARY PERSONALITY Born into a traditional family, Susana reneged of her fate since she was young by applying to study nuclear physics in Bariloche. As this was a very unconventional choice for the time, her parents refused to let her leave Mendoza. Susana decided to follow the family business (viticulture), thus challenging the contemporary social beliefs, because at that time no woman had ever graduated as winemaker. AN EXCEPTIONAL CAREER In 1981 Susana received her degree in enology, and became the first woman in Argentina to do so. Her career started in Cafayate, Salta province at Michel Torino winery where she was in charge of developing and stylizing the Torrontes varietal. Afterwards she worked at many well-regarded wineries in Argentina such as Martins and Catena Zapata. Susana also became the first Argentinean woman hired as a consultant to wineries worldwide: Spain, Chile, Italy, Brazil, Australia, and California. This experience allowed her to always be ahead of market trends and wine styles. Susana was elected by her industry peers as President of Wines of Argentina three times, most recently serving from 2014-2016, where she played a key role in putting Argentina on the world wine map. In 2015, she was recognized as "Woman of the Year" by Drinks Business Magazine. SUSANA BALBO WINES In 1999, Susana Balbo Wines was born, thus marking the achievement of Susana s lifelong dream to have her own winery and to create her own wines. After ten years of growth, another dream came true when Susana s two children, Jose and Ana, decided to continue the family tradition and join the business. SUSANA S PUBLIC LIFE In 2015 Susana was elected to represent Mendoza as a National Congresswoman, where she served as Vice President for the Commission for Small and Medium Sized Companies. In 2017, President Macri selected Susana as Chair of the W20 (Women s 20), a working group of the G20 dedicated to women s economic empowerment. In 2018, Susana transitioned from her role in Congress to focus full time on her work with the W20.
FIVE MUST-KNOW FACTS ABOUT SUSANA BALBO WINES 1. PIONEERING SPIRIT Susana became the first female enologist in Argentina after graduating with honors from Don Bosco University in Mendoza in 1981. Due to the male-dominated industry in Mendoza, her first job took her north to Salta where she changed Argentine wine history with her first vintage of premium Torrontés. 2. INNOVATIVE WINEMAKING Susana continually seeks innovative ways to enhance her winemaking, from experimenting with barrel volumes (160L through 6,500L) to testing wild vs cultured yeasts. For premium wine production, Susana chooses concrete eggs for fermenting vessels. 3. LEADING THE INDUSTRY Susana Balbo has been an influential leader in Argentinean wine not only with her own projects at SBW, but also as elected President of Wines of Argentina (Argentina s international trade promotion organization). With WofA, Susana has been elected by her industry peers three times due to her work ethic, visionary leadership, and dedication to the success of Argentine wine worldwide. 4. FAMILY TIES In 2011 and 2012, Susana s son Jose and daughter Ana joined the winery to help build SBW to where it is today. Jose helps Susana as the winery s head of R&D alongside his role as Export Manager. Ana is SBW s Markeng Manager as well as General Manager of the winery restaurant Osadía de Crear. 5. PUSHING THE LIMITS Susana continuously seeks uncharted territory in the wine world to see what limits can be tasted. Most recently, Susana has delved into making unique white wines with great personality and terroir character - wines like Susana Balbo Barrel Fermented Torrontés and Susana Balbo White Blend, both from Altamira. The Torrontés is not only the first of its kind, but harvested from previously unproven terroir for Torrontés in the Uco Valley, and the White Blend has been recognized as one of the great and most innovative Argentine white wines.
NEWS 2018
SUSANA BALBO WINES EXCELS IN WINE ADVOCATE S 2018 ARGENTINA REPORT July, 2018 Susana Balbo Wines earned excellent scores in the latest report by influential critic Luis Gutierréz of Wine Advocate, Argentina 2018: Back to the Future. Our white wines came out on top, with our Susana Balbo Signature Barrel Fermented Torrontés 2017 and Susana Balbo Signature White Blend 2016 earning 94 points each. Gutiérrez notes of the Barrel Fermented Torrontés 2017, produced with grapes from Altamira: Well beyond the varietal aromas, the complexity and aromatic profile of the 2017 Susana Balbo Signature Barrel Fermented Torrontés is completely different from any other Torrontés I know. He also highlights the White Blend as sharing some similar characteristics, with its Torrontés, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc also sourced from Altamira: It's aromatic and floral, with citrus, flowers and spice, and it has very good acidity, vibrant and serious, with high minerality. There's a solid, complex palate, with added nuance and texture from the other grapes, and a super tasty finish. Gutiérrez characterized our Susana Balbo Signature Rosé 2017 as more of a white in terms of the aromatic and flavor profile, calling it Truly delicious It s a lot more complex and serious than your average rosé. The wine was awarded 91 points, among the highest scores for rosés. The two signature red blends from the winery, Susana Balbo Signature Brioso 2016 and Benmarco Expresivo 2016, were also highly rated, with 93 points each. The Benmarco Expresivo 2016 shows great purity in the expression of its Gualtallary terroir. According to Gutiérrez, It's floral, ethereal, fresh and complex, and it's still very young and lively in a way that I really like. This year the blend is 75% Malbec and 25% Cabernet Franc, with all the wild herbs and flowers from Gualtallary.
In his overall highlights, Gutierréz notes that Susana Balbo is a producer making fresher wines, an important trend taking place across Argentina: To complete the list of highlights this time I saw fresher wines from Susana Balbo, starting with the whites and now unloading most of the reds from excess oak He also noted the increasing focus on expression of varietal and place across Argentina, another trend that Susana Balbo Wines has emphasized in its recent releases: As I've seen in other places in Argentina, there is a clear evolution to fresher wines with less oak and more expression of the varietal and the place. All of our wines in the 2018 tasting received 90+ points. Additional scores include: - Nosotros Single Vineyard Nomade Malbec 2013: 92 points - Susana Balbo Signature Malbec 2016: 92+ points - Susana Balbo Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2016: 91+ points - Benmarco Malbec 2016: 92 points - Benmarco Cabernet Sauvignon 2016: 91 points - Crios Torrontés 2017: 90 points - Crios Malbec 2017: 90 points - Crios Cabernet Sauvignon 2017: 90 points - Crios Red Blend 2017: 90+ points
SUSANA BALBO WINES AWARDED ROSE OF THE YEAR AND 3 SPOTS ON TIM ATKIN S TOP 100 LIST May, 2018 Susana Balbo Wines earned top honors in the latest annual report by international wine critic Tim Atkin, including Rosé of the Year for our Susana Balbo Signature Rosé 2017, a Provence-style rosé that was awarded 93 points and named the best rosé from Argentina. Susana Balbo Wines was also included on Atkin s list of First Growth wineries, a group that represents the most prestigious wineries and includes only 20 in Argentina. Three of our wines were named to Atkin s Top 100 List, including two whites from our Susana Balbo Signature line and a new, limited-edition release from our Benmarco line: - Susana Balbo Signature White Blend 2017 earned 95 points and a place on the Best Whites list. According to Atkin, Susana Balbo s mould-breaking cuvée of Semillon with 30% Torrontés and 25% Sauvignon Blanc has rapidly established itself as one of Argentina s best whites. - Susana Balbo Signature Torrontés 2017 also earned 95 points and a place on the Best Whites list. Atkin highlights the innovative style of this groundbreaking varietal as well as its terroir from Paraje Altamira, which Atkin calls a special place that makes a disproportionate number of Argentina s best wines. Atkin notes Susana Balbo s oaked white tastes like a Torrontés crossed with a top Sauvignon Blanc, such is its focus, minerality and acidity. Tangy and saline, it s skilfully oaked, with new wood folded into the wine. The source - Paraje Altamira- is everything here. - Benmarco Sin Limites Gualtallary 2017 earned 95 points in its first reléase and a place on the Best Reds list. The new Benmarco Sin Limites line is dedicated to exploring the extreme terroirs of the Andes, and Atkin noted the influence of this particular Gualtallary terroir on the wine: New to the Susana Balbo range in 2017 and making quite an impact on its first outing, this comes from a 12-year-old vineyard in the best part of Gualtallary. Fresh, intense and perfumed, with notes of liquorice and black olive, dark blackberry fruit and a chalky, refreshing finish. Bravo!
Atkin tasted several wines across all of our lines at Susana Balbo Wines, with scores highlighted below: Nosotros - Single Vineyard Nómade Malbec 2014: 94 points Susana Balbo Signature - Limited Edition Paraje Altamira 2015: 94 points - Malbec 2016: 94 points - Brioso 2016: 94 points- - Cabernet Sauvignon 2016: 93 points Benmarco - Sin Limites Pedernal 2017: 94 points - Expresivo 2016: 93 points - Malbec 2016: 93 points - Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 : 92 points
SUSANA BALBO WINES WINS TDB BEST CONTRIBUTION TO WINE & SPIRITS TOURISM May, 2018 Susana Balbo Wines received The Drinks Business 2018 award in tourism. Each year, the international publication distinguishes those who made the Best Contribution to Wine & Spirits Tourism. After being a runner up in 2016, the winery got this year s title. In the latest edition of the award, Susana Balbo Wines was praised for creating a travel experience that is a tourism of the senses as well as the terroir. Osadia de Crear one of the winery s restaurants- now offers two gourmet tasting menus, designed by renown chef Hernan Gipponi. The 5 and 3 course menus take diners on a culinary journey across Argentina while introducing its terroirs through pairings with our Susana Balbo Signature and Benmarco lines. The Drinks Business also applauded the community-driven tourist offering which steeps you in Argentina s vinicultural history ( ) Whether or not you choose to dine in the restaurant at this winery, its tours offer the opportunity to discover the best of Argentina s typical varietal wines through thematic tastings which enhance their true potential. Alongside this, support from the local community makes this a truly authentic experience. The winery and wines themselves regularly receive accolades in Argentina and beyond, and our judges said its appeal is clear and irresistable. Susana Balbo Wines opened its doors for tourism in 2013 and, since then, it has inaugurated two restaurants and increased its tourist offerings in creative and innovative ways. The numbers of visitors has consistently grown over the last 5 years, reaching 13.000 people in 2017.
SUSANA BALBO S NOSOTROS GUALTALLARY MALBEC 2013 TOPS THE LIST WITH 99 POINTS IN JAMES SUCKLING S 2018 ARGENTINA REPORT April 6, 2018 The latest report by influential critic James Suckling Argentina Pushes the Limits awarded our Nosotros Gualtallary Malbec 2013 with 99 points, putting it at the top of the list of 1300+ wines tasted and making it the single best Malbec from Argentina. 16 of our wines earned 90+ points in the report, which highlights the dynamism of Argentine wines in 2018, including world-class reds from malbec, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir, and whites that can compete with the best of the world. Suckling describes our Nosotros Gualtallary Malbec 2013, which is elaborated each year from a single parcel of land with the year s best Malbec grapes, as a wine that takes your breath away with its intense but more importantly ethereally fresh kaleidoscope of freshly-picked blackcurrants, brambleberries, boysenberries and mulberries. He also notes its potential for aging: So delicious now, but better in 2022 and way after that, too. Suckling s report emphasizes the diversity of styles in Argentine malbecs, praising the increasing drinkability and finesse of the country s latest releases and predicting that they will change the image of Argentine wine in the coming years. Reflecting this trend, six additional Malbecs from Susana Balbo Wines earned excellent points in the report. From our latest release BenMarco Sin Limites, which seeks pure expression of our diverse terroirs, our Malbec Gualtallary 2017 received 96 points and our Malbec Pedernal 2017, 97 points. Of the latter, Suckling notes Light-years removed from conventional bold and fruity malbec!... a revolutionary wine.
Our small batch production of Susana Balbo Limited Edition Paraje Altamira Malbec 2015 also stood out, with 95 points. Our Susana Balbo Malbec 2016 and Benmarco Malbec 2016 both received an impressive 92 points, and Crios Malbec 2017 90 points. Suckling points out that while Malbec is the star of Argentine wine, the grape only accounts for 17.5% of the country s total vineyard area and that world class reds are increasingly elaborated from other varietals as well. Indeed, two of our signature blends, Susana Balbo Signature Brioso 2016 and Benmarco Expresivo 2016 topped the list with 95 points and 96 points respectively, as well as two of our Cabernet Sauvignons, Susana Balbo Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 with 94 points and Benmarco Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 with 91 points. Our Crios Red Blend 2017 rounded out the list of our red wines scored, with 91 points. Suckling s report also highlights the white wine revolution taking place in Argentina, with our line of whites exemplifying the top notch quality displayed in the country s latest releases. Our Susana Balbo Signature Barrel-Fermented Torrontes 2017 earned 95 points, our Susana Balbo Signature White Blend 2017, 94 points, and our Crios Torrontes 2017, 92 points. Our Susana Balbo Signature Rose 2017 earned 92 points, leading Suckling to speculate that it may be the best rosé in Argentina.
SUSANA BALBO NAMED AMONG THE WORLD S 10 MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN WINE March 8, 2018 Susana Balbo was recently recognized as one of the 10 Most Influential Women in Wine by The Drinks Business. She is the only woman selected from Argentina, and this is the second time she has been included on the list of pioneering women who are pushing the limits in the wine industry across the globe. She first appeared on the list in 2012, and in 2015 Drinks Business also named her Woman of the Year. The article highlights her successful career as the first female winemaker in Argentina and her innovative style of elaborating Torrontes, which has earned her the nickname Queen of Torrontes, a tribute to the native Argentine grape that Susana has helped grow into the most important white varietal in the country. An excerpt from the article is included below: Known by many as the Evita of wine, Susana Balbo is the most famous female winemaker in Argentina. After 20 years of producing wine for other people as a consultant, in 1999 Balbo founded Dominio del Plata in Luján de Cuyo. Her vines are planted with Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Torrontés, from which she makes a beguiling barrel-fermented expression. Selling the wines under her own name, Balbo also has a line of fruit forward second wines, Crios de Susana, which are designed to be drunk young. She lives in Mendoza with her family. She has held the post of President of Wines of Argentina three times.
NEWS 2017
3 WINES RECOGNIZED IN WINE SPECTATOR S SPECIAL REVIEWS December 11, 2017 Three flagship reds from Susana Balbo Wines were recently recognized by Wine Spectator, earning coveted positions on the magazine s lists of recommended wines and receiving scores of up to 95 points. Our Nosotros Single Vineyard Nómade Malbec 2013 was named by Wine Spectator Insider as one of six Hot Wines, billed as the most exciting discoveries by the publication s editors. Ranked among wines from France and Italy, Nosotros was highlighted as a wine that may be difficult to find, but is worth seeking out. It received 95 points in the magazine s most recent panel tasting. Our Susana Balbo Signature Malbec 2015 was also recognized as one of Wine Spectator s 13 Argentine Wines to Welcome Fall. According to author Kim Marcus, this wine demonstrates that Susana Balbo, one of Argentina s best winemakers remains at the top of her game with this release and others. Also named an excellent Malbec value, it received 91 points in the most recent panel tasting. Our Malbecs were not the only standouts in this latest round of awards. Our Susana Balbo Brioso 2014, a blend of Cabernet Suavignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, was also recognized by Wine Spectator Insider as one of the most exciting wines discovered by editors in recent tastings. This well sculpted and luscious blend received 93 points.
SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE MALBEC 2015 MAKES DECANTER S MOST EXCITING WINES OF 2017 LIST December 2017 Decanter recently released its Most Exciting Wines of 2017, recognizing just one Argentine wine on this exclusive list: our Susana Balbo Signature Malbec 2015. The list was compiled through nominations of the wines that Decanter experts most enjoyed drinking and represent the most stellar buys of the year. Of the 173 wines nominated from experts around the world, a panel of judges selected the ultimate top 75 based on assessments of harmony, complexity and wow factor.
NOSOTROS SINGLE VINEYARD NOMADE MALBEC VOTED AMONG BEST WINES ON THE PLANET BY VIVINO USERS December 2017 In Vivino s 2017 Wine Style Awards, our Nosotros Single Vineyard Nomade Malbec was recognized by Vivino s 26 million users as one of the best wines on the planet, ranking among the top 3 wines from Argentina and the top 1% of all wines rated across the globe. Nosotros, which means all of us, represents the hard work of our entire team, and is elaborated each year with the best Malbec grapes that we harvest.
SUSANA BALBO WINES HAS THE BEST AGRITOURISM OFFER IN ARGENTINA December 11, 2017 Susana Balbo Wines was recently recognized as the Best Agritourism Offer in Argentina, a prize awarded as part of the annual Agricultural Excellence awards from the national newspaper La Nación and Banco Galicia. In its fifteenth edition, the event, held at the Rural Argentina Society (SRA) in Palermo, Buenos Aires, distinguished leaders and businesses that seek to innovate, incorporate technology, improve production quality, safeguard the environment and maintain positive relations with the local community. Among the 260 businesses that competed in 15 categories, Susana Balbo Wines emerged as the winner in the Best Agritourism Offer category. According to Ana Lovaglio, Marketing Manager, to receive this prize is a confirmation that year after year our Tourism area continues to strengthen, and that it has achieved the high quality standards that we hold in the rest of the winery, since for example we were recognized as the Best Winery in the same awards in 2013. At the same time, it is welcome praise to our team, who works every day with strong commitment and professionalism to ensure that each of the thousands of tourists who visit the winery each year have an unforgettable experience and leave as lifelong ambassadors for our brand.
NEW LINE FROM SUSANA BALBO WINES RECEIVES HIGH CRITICAL PRAISE IN FIRST YEAR November 2017 Our newly introduced Susana Balbo Signature Limited Edition 2013 was recognized as a serious Malbec from one of Argentina s star winemakers by Decanter s James Button, who awarded the wine 93 points. In the wake of critical praise from the likes of Tim Atkin, who also awarded 93 points to the wine, and Patricio Tapia, who ranked the wine among the best reds in Argentina with 97 points, this wine is proving to be a beloved addition to the Susana Balbo Wines portfolio.
SUSANA BALBO WINES RECEIVES SCORES OF 95+ FOR 11 WINES IN DESCORCHADOS 2018 GUIDE November 8, 2017 Susana Balbo Wines achieved outstanding results in the latest annual guide from Descorchados, one of South America s most important wine authorities. Patricio Tapia awarded 11 of our wines 95+ points in his most recent tasting, with results to be published in the 2018 edition of Descorchados. Five of our wines also received best in class awards, including the distinguished Vino Revelación for BenMarco Sin Límites 2017, presented for the first time this year, and Best Rosé for Susana Balbo Signature Rose 2016. Four of our wines were named the best from their region, including BenMarco Sin Límites 2017 from Pedernal, Nosotros Francis 2013 from El Peral, Nosotros Sofita 2013 from Los Chacayes, and Susana Balbo Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 from Los Arboles. Susana Balbo credits this year s impressive performance to the hard work and innovative approach of her team. Throughout our history we have always been open to experimentation, to exploring new perspectives and frontiers while keeping 100% focus on quality. Our winemaking team has been working relentlessly to develop new concepts like Susana Balbo Signature Limited Edition Paraje Altamira 2013 and
BenMarco Sin Límites while fine tuning all of our varietals and blends with each passing year, and I am proud to see such positive critical recognition of these efforts. Each of our lines of wine scored remarkably well in the latest guide. All three wines from our highest-end Nosotros line including Francis 2013, Single Vineyard Nómade 2014 and Sofita 2013 received 96 points, in addition to the Best from El Peral and Best from Los Chacayes recognitions. Nosotros Francis 2013 and Nosotros Sofita 2013 were also recognized among the top-ranking red blends from Latin America. Our Susana Balbo Signature line this year presented for the first time its Limited Edition Paraje Altamira 2013, sourced entirely from Altamira in Valle de Uco. This new wine received 97 points along with multiple awards including Ranking Best Malbec, Ranking Best Reds and Ranking Best of Altamira. Other highlights from the Susana Balbo Signature line include the Malbec 2015, which was awarded 96 points and ranked among the best from Altamira and the best red blends (due to its 5% blend of Petit Verdot), and the White Blend 2016, which received 95 points and ranked among the best white wines, best white blends and best from Altamira. The Susana Balbo Signature Brioso 2015 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 also scored highly, with 94 points, in addition to the Rosé 2017 with 94 points and the Torrontés 2017 and Chardonnay 2016 with 92 points. Our Benmarco line was also a standout this year, presenting for the first time its new Sin Límites Malbec, which reflects the open-minded and exploratory approach to terroir of viticulturist Edy Del Pópolo, who seeks to discover the most interesting soil and climate combinations to reveal different expressions of vineyards planted along the main appellations in Argentina. The Benmarco Sin Límites Malbec 2017 proved an impressive first run, receiving 97 points and multiple awards including Vino Revelación, Best from Pedernal, Ranking Best Reds and Ranking Best Malbec. Other highlights from the Benmarco line include Expresivo 2015, earning 96 points, Ranking Best Red Blends and Ranking Best from Gualtallary, and Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, with 94 points and Ranking Best from Los Arboles. Benmarco s Sin Limites Malbec 2016 also received 95 points and Benmarco Malbec 2016 94 points. Finally, Susana Balbo Wines Crios line of young, fresh wines received recognition for its Red Blend 2016 and Torrontés 2017, both of which earned 90 points and ranked among the best value for price/quality relation.
DECANTER RECOMMENDS TWO OF OUR WINES IN TASTING FROM ARGENTINA S HOTTEST MICRO-REGIONS October 2017 Our Susana Balbo Signature Malbec 2015 and BenMarco Expresivo 2015 received rave reviews in Decanter s recent panel tasting focused on Altamira and Gualtallary, the two most exciting micro-regions in Mendoza s Uco Valley. Paz Levinson awarded our Susana Balbo Malbec 97 points, calling it lovely and noting that it is beautifully textured, elegant and layered on the palate. BenMarco Expresivo received 94 points, with editors highlighting its beautiful juicy fruit and an alluring finesse on the finish.
SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE ROSE HIGHLIGHTED IN DECANTER S 25 WEEKDAY WINES October 2017 Our Susana Balbo Signature Uco Valley Rose 2016 was named among Decanter s 25 exciting and accessible wines for everyday drinking. Tastings Director Christelle Guibert calls the wine exquisite, noting that it is a fine and serious rose to rival Provence.
JAMES SUCKLING S 2017 REPORT: OUR WINES AWARDED EXCELLENT SCORES! June 28, 2017 Once again, Susana Balbo Wines obtained excellent scores from James Suckling in his last report: "The many, diverse wonders of Argentina", confirming that the wines made by one of Argentina's most relevant winemakers are among the best of Argentina's viticulture. The winemaker's most exclusive wine due to its limited production, Nosotros Single Vineyard Nómade Malbec 2012, from Vista Flores (Uco Valley) obtained one of the highest scores of the report with 97 points, being part of a select group of 10 Argentine wines. As well, Susana Balbo Signature Brioso 2015, the Bordeaux blend style that Susana elaborates with grapes from Agrelo's own vineyard, received 92 points. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot exudes elegance and it presents as one of the most emblematic wines of the winery.
Susana Balbo Malbec 2015 from Altamira and Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 from Los Árboles, shined with 92 and 93 points respectively. One of Susana s specialties is to create unique white wines with great personality and terroir character. Susana Balbo Barrel Fermented Torrontés 2016 from Altamira, received 92 points as well as her newest creation, Susana Balbo White Blend 2016 from the same terroir. The last one has been highlighted as one of the most spectacular and innovative Argentine white wines. The other white from the Signature line, the Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2016, got 93 points and received great comments from Suckling. The 2016 Rosé from this line shined with 92 points. The winery was also acknowledged for its viticulture wines, BenMarco Expresivo received 93 points and BenMarco Malbec obtained 92 points. About these recent scores, Susana Balbo highlighted: We are very pleased for this recognition for our wines, which are the result of great work that day after day we do with my children, together with a talented team of viticulturists and winemakers who have been able to understand the wine growing landscapes of Mendoza and capture them into wonderful wines that make us feel very proud.
TIM ATKIN PRAISES NEW VINTAGES FROM SUSANA BALBO WINES June 22, 2017 We are so excited about the results of Tim Atkin s Argentina 2017 Special Report that were published recently. They highlighted a strong performance by Susana Balbo Wines. Tim Atkin, the renown wine critic and Master of Wine, visited Susana Balbo Wines in February where he met with the winemaking team to taste new vintages of Crios, Benmarco, Susana Balbo Signature and Nosotros. The white wines from the Signature line were especially noteworthy, according to Atkin s report. The Barrel Fermented Torrontés 2016 was awarded 94 points and the Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2016, 93 points. The White Blend 2016 received the highest score, 95 points, and was selected by Atkin for tasting in his Masterclass, organized by Wines of Argentina a few weeks ago. Atkin praised the wine for paving a new road for Argentinian white wines. In fact, last year, he included this wine on his list of Top 100 best wines of Argentina. The Signature Rosé 2015, which has dazzled in all reports, was awarded 91 points. The red wines of the Susana Balbo line also received top scores: Brioso 2014 received 91 points, while the Malbec and Cabernet, both vintage 2015, received 92 y 91 points respectively. Benmarco, the line supervised by Edgardo del Popolo, also impressed: the Malbec 2015 was awarded 92 points, the Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, 91 points, and Expresivo 2015, 93 points. Nosotros 2013, the iconic wine of Susana Balbo Wines, also stood out with 94 points. Every vintage of Nosotros comes from a particular terroir, which is hand-selected by the entire winery team each year after harvest. This year, Malbec grapes were chosen from Gualtallary in the Uco Valley. Tim Atkin concluded by highlighting the overall quality of the 2016 vintage, including both the finished wines which he scored and those remaining in oak barrels for further aging.
STEVEN SPURRIER - DECANTER March 16, 2017 Steven Spurrier, recently named Man of the Year by Decanter magazine, recognized 5 of our wines in the latest review published in the digital version of the British publication. BenMarco Expresivo 2014 was awarded 94 points, with the review highlighting the mature black fruits contributed by the Cabernet Franc, the persistent freshness of the mouthfeel, and the elegant finish. With respect to winery s Signature line, Spurrier tasted 3 wines: Brioso 2014, Rosé 2016 y White Blend 2016. The first, Brioso, received 93 points and was remarkable for its intense color and aromas of red and black fruits that lead to an elegant floral touch. The Susana Balbo Signature Rosé was awarded 91 points, with the review highlighting its beautiful salmon color, its delicate floral touch with notes of strawberry and plum, and its versatility to pair with diverse foods or drink on its own. The Signature White Blend received 92 points and was called a fascinating wine due to its floral character accompanied by citrus notes in the nose and in the mouth. Finally, our iconic wine, Nosotros 2011, received 93 points. Spurrier highlighted various elements, including its intense color, the delicate expression of black fruit in the nose and in the mouth, and the harmony with which the oak is integrated in the wine.
NEWS 2016
THE WINE ADVOCATE 2016 - LUIS GUTIERREZ "BLOWN AWAY BY SUSANA BALBO'S WHITES" December 2016, Argentina: 2016 - The Sky is the Limit, LUIS GUTIÉRREZ Luis Gutierrez, taster for Robert Parker s The Wine Advocate, recently published his latest report Argentina: 2016 - The Sky is the Limit. When talking about the winery, he highlighted I saw an improvement toward more freshness and better definition of the wines. The whites really surprised me this year. For the critic, both Signature whites, Susana Balbo Barrel Fermented Torrontes and Susana Balbo White, set an example of the shift towards cooler places, in particular to the Uco Valley Valle de Uco has been the hot place over the last few years in Mendoza. Well, it s more the opposite, it s the COOLER place that is being favored by more people in search of fresher wines. Susana Balbo is a good example of that, and her whites blew me away this time. Susana s specialty, Susana Balbo Barrel Fermented Torrontés 2015, was awarded 94 points. Luis Gutierrez wrote its nose is completely different from any other Torrontés I ve ever encountered. If the nose is surprising, the palate is simply unbelievable. With its 93 points, the Susana Balbo White Blend 2015 also stood out. Luis Gutierrez emphasized that the oak is perfectly integrated in the wine and doesn t seem to lend aromas, perhaps because of the natural freshness of the wine. Super tasty!
Our last release, Susana Balbo Signature Rosé 2016, caught the wine critic s attention and received 90+ points. He said this is a serious rosé, with clean aromas and a sharp, fresh and very dry palate. This is one of the most impressive rosés I remember from Argentina. Nosotros Single Vineyard Nómade 2012 was awarded 93 points. The wine is now called Nomad because it is sourced from a different place each year. The grapes we selected for 2012 vintage are from Finca Los Carolinos at 1,100 meters altitude in Vista Flores in the Valle de Uco. As far as the reds from the Signature range is concerned, our Bordeaux blend, Susana Balbo Brioso received 92 points; while the Signature Malbec 2015 and Signature Cabernet Sauvignon got 91+ and 90 respectively. BenMarco, the wines made under the supervision of the viticultor Edgardo Del Pópolo, also achieved great scores. BenMarco Malbec 2015 received 91+; BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, 90 points and Expresivo 2014 was awarded 92 points. Last but not least, Crios wines showed great consistency across the range with ratings of 90 points and above. The balance and freshness of all the wines were highlighted. Crios Torrontés 2016 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 got 90+ points each. While Crios Malbec 2015 received 90 points and Crios Red Blend 2016, 91 points. COMPLETE REVIEW NOSOTROS Nosotros Single Vineyard Nomade 2012 / 93pts. SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE Barrel Fermented Torrontés 2015 / 94pts White Blend 2015 / 93pts. Brioso 2014 / 92pts. Cabernet 2015 / 92pts. Malbec 2014 / 91+pts. Rosé 2016 / 90+pts. BENMARCO Expresivo 2014 / 93pts. Malbec 2015 / 91+pts. Cabernet 2014 / 90pts. CRÍOS Red Blend 2016 / 91pts. Cabernet 2015 / 90+pts. Torrontés 2015 / 90+pts. Malbec 2015 / 90pts.
SUSANA BALBO MALBEC 2014 - DECANTER TOP 50 WINES OF THE YEAR 2016 December 2016, Decanter Magazine (January 2017 Issue) Decanter experts around the world named the five bottles under 55 that impressed them most this year. After tasting and rating the 195 nominated wines, and assessing them on harmony, complexity and wow factor, Decanter three judges (Sarah Jane Evans, Christelle Guibert and Andy Howard) compiled the ultimate top 50. # 11 Susana Balbo, Signature Malbec, Altamira, Uco Valley, Argentina 2014 A refreshing Uco Valley Malbec: dark plum fruits, a hint of violets and crisp acidity with raspy, leafy tannins to balance. Refined, classy and drinkable with a long aftertaste tinged with spices and floral notes. It is lively and vivid so should certainly age gracefully. Drink 2017-2022.
BENMARCO EXPRESIVO 2014 - # 24 THE 50 BEST VALUE WINES UNDER $50 IN 2016 - JAMES SUCKLING December 2016, http://www.jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-reports/50-best-value-wines-50-2016/ Great wine doesn t always have to come at a great expense. James Suckling s team combed through our top reports in 2016 to assemble this list of incredible values that cost $50 or less and scored at least 93 points. The breadth of value spans the globe, from Argentina and Australia to Spain and Bordeaux. #24 Benmarco Valle De Uco Expresivo 2014 This is great wine with fabulous transparency and clarity showing blackberry, blueberry and floral character. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a superb finish. 80% malbec and 20% cabernet franc. A wine that gives pleasure now but will be even better in 2020.
3 WINES SELECTED IN THE TOP 100 WINES OF THE ANDES 2016 REPORT JAMES SUCKLING Thursday, September 15, 2016 http://www.jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-reports/top-100-wines-andes-2016/ In his last report entitled The Top 100 Wines of the Andes 2016, the international wine critic positioned Nosotros Single Vineyard Malbec 2011 as the N 4 wine over more than 1,300 wines tasted from Chile and Argentina. BenMarco Expresivo 2014 was ranked 41 and Susana Balbo Signature Brioso 2014 was positioned # 86. We tasted more than 1,300 wines to come up with this list. Truly, something extraordinary is happening in the Andes. We ve visited the region four times in the last two years, and we re continually impressed with the reds and whites as they become increasingly refined and stylish. Chile and Argentina are also making some of the most drinkable wines in the world. We re happy to see the region embrace a more harmonious approach that emphasizes viticultural areas as well as vineyards. wrote the American expert. He added For Argentina, single-vineyard wines continue to highlight the country s quality revolution, with malbec leading the way. These are wines that can t be duplicated. When people ask us about the future of Argentina, we like to tell them malbec and more malbec. referring particularly to Nosotros Single Vineyard Malbec 2011.
MEININGER S FRONT COVER ARGENTINA S WINE PIONEER September, 2016, https://www.meininger.de/en/wine-business-international/issue-042016 Argentina's wine pioneer Susana Balbo has broken through many barriers during the course of her career, from being Argentina s first female winemaker to overcoming disaster. And now she s on a new mission. This article gets back on the difficulties Susana had to face at the beginning of her career as the winemaker, the challenges and failures she had to overcome to get where she is today and the new issues she decided to tackle as a newly elected politician in national parliament.
SUSANA BALBO WINES, ONE OF THE 5 BEST WINERIES IN ARGENTINA, JAMES SUCKLING 2016 May, 2016, https://www.jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-reports/2016-argentina-tasting-report/ Once again, Susana Balbo Wines obtained excellent scores in James Suckling's last report: "The pleasure of Argentina; 700 wines tasted ", confirming that the wines crafted by Susana Balbo are among the best of Argentina's viticulture today. Our most exclusive wine (due to its limited production), Nosotros Single Vineyard Nómade Malbec 2011, from Altamira (South Uco Valley) obtained one of the highest scores of the report with 98 points, being part of a select group of 10 Argentine wines. Susana Balbo Signature Brioso 2014, our Bordeaux blend style crafted with grapes from our estate vineyard, received 95 points. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot shows as one of the most emblematic wines of the winery. Both Signature varietals, Susana Balbo Malbec 2014 and Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 from Altamira and Los Árboles respectively, shined with 93 points. One of Susana s main skills is to create unique white wines with great personality and terroir character. Susana Balbo Barrel Fermented Torrontés 2015 from Altamira, received 93 points as well.
as her newest creation, Susana Balbo White Blend 2015. The last one has been highlighted as one of the most spectacular and innovative Argentine white wines. The winery was also acknowledged for its viticulture wines, BenMarco Expresivo received 96 points and BenMarco Malbec was granted 93 points. Last but not least, Crios range stood out for its consistency, both Crios Malbec and Crios Torrontes 2015 were granted 90 points; Crios Red Blend obtained 91 points. Susana Balbo highlighted: We are very pleased with this great recognition for our wines. This is the result of a days and days of hard work together with my children and with a talented team of viticulturists and winemakers who have been able to understand the vine growing landscapes of Mendoza and to capture them into wonderful wines that make us feel very proud. COMPLETE REVIEW NOSOTROS Nosotros Single Vineyard Nomade 2011 / 98pts. SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE Brioso 2014 / 95pts. Malbec 2014 / 93pts. Cabernet 2014 / 93pts Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2015 / 93pts. Barrel Fermented Torrontés 2015 / 93pts. White Blend 2015 / 93pts. BENMARCO Expresivo 2014 / 96pts. Malbec 2014 / 93pts. CRÍOS Red Blend 2015 / 91pts. Malbec 2015 / 90pts. Torrontés 2015 / 90pts.
SUSANA BALBO RECOGNIZED "WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2015" BY THE DRINKS BUSINESS May 2015, http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2015/05/db-award-winners-announced/ Susana Balbo, winemaker and founder of Susana Balbo Wines was awarded "Woman of the Year" by the prestigious British magazine The Drinks Business. This prize recognizes her career, leadership, commitment and contribution to the wine industry. With restless spirit and strong convictions, Susana defied the social conventions by deciding to professionalize in the wine industry and becoming Argentina s first female enologist in 1981.Her deep love and vocation for this career was what encouraged her to achieve her dream: found a winery where she creates her own wines. With more than 30 years of career, Susana has had the opportunity to work as a consultant for various wineries around the world, she has also been an influential leader for the Argentine wine industry, being chosen by her peers as President of Wines of Argentina three times (2006-2010 and recently 2014) due to her work ethic, holistic vision and dedication to success and positioning of Argentine wines in the world.
"This recognition has been for me the culmination of hard work and creativity used to fulfill my passion - make wines. It comes at a very special moment in my life because I'll have my first grandchild, what more can I ask? I want to thank those who have accompanied me and have made this award possible, especially my children and Susana Balbo Wines team announced Susana. The DB awards recognize the best professionals in the beverage industry worldwide. In this 12th edition a panel of judges and professionals established four broad categories "Personality Awards, Supply Chain Awards, Business Awards and Marketing Awards" to evaluate the trajectory and achievements of the nominees and companies participating in the contest. The awards gala was the 19thof May during the "London Wine Fair 2015" in Olympia - London, This event was attended by more than 50 people related to the beverage industry and spirits.
SEEN I N THE PRESS
December 2017
2 OF OUR WINES LEAD THE NEW DIRECTION OF WINE IN ARGENTINA December 19, 2017 Wine Spectator published in its December issue an article about the new direction of wine in Argentina. Brioso and Nosotros lead the trends. Kim Marcus, writer, editor and official taster of Wine Spectator wrote an article about the new direction of wine in Argentina. Some of our favorite excerpts include: Malbec continues to rule as Argentina s signature varietal, but winemakers are now making high-quality wines other than 100 percent expressions of this full-bodied red. These include well-structured and flavorful blends, some based on Malbec and other not, as well as varietal bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Also in the mix are a handful of interesting whites, led by Chardonnay. A shining example in this nascent is a wine called Brioso, made by the nation s premier female winemaker, Susana Balbo, of Dominio del Plata. A single-vineyard bottling from the Agrelo district of Mendoza, this red is well-sculpted and lusciously fruity, a blend of 45 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 percent Malbec, 25 percent Cabernet Franc and 5 percent Petit Verdot. The 2014 version rated 93 points on Wine Spectator s 100 point scale and costs a reasonable $45 a bottle. Balbo says the wine is the result of a search for freshness in her most recent bottlings, which Brioso delivers in spades, offering a mix of raspberry, currant and plum flavors matched to crisp acidity. After being handpicked, destemmed and lightly crushed, the wine was made with an extended maceration of 40 days to extract as much fruit as possible. It was aged 15 months in new French oak barrels. "I like elegance in my wines so people can drink more than one glass", Balbo says, describing her vision for Brioso [...] Since my last report on the country ("Storm Warning," Dec.31, 2016 - Jan.15, 2017), I have tasted 235 Argentine wines in Wine Spectator s offices in Napa. Seventy-six of those scored an outstanding 90 points or higher. Topping the charts overall are two single-vineyard Malbecs that scored a classic 95 points. A late release from 2013 is the Nosotros Single Vineyard Nómade Malbec ($115), powerful and concentrated, with dark fruit and spice flavors that are well-structured. The vineyard is located in the Gualtallary district, and the winemaker Susana Balbo notes that 2013 was the last warm vintage in Argentina until 2017.
December 2017
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