Susana Balbo Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Beautiful dark fruit and raspberry character. Full body, velvety tannins and bright fruit. Pretty and drinkable. A pure and delicious wine. Drink or hold.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Susana Balbo Signature Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from one specific plot from the Finca Brio in Los Árboles in the district of Tunuyán in the Valle de Uco. The objective here is to avoid green aromas, so the grapes have to be picked ripe but at the same time keep acidity. As in most of these wines, there is a small percentage of other varieties, in this case 5% Merlot. It followed a similar process as the whole range, ending with 13 months in French barriques, mostly second use. The oak is imperceptible, the ripeness is almost perfect, with some black olive-like aromas and a balanced, elegant palate with the textbook Cabernet tannins.
Other Vintages
2021-
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Suckling
James
-
Suckling
James
-
Suckling
James
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Spirits
Wine & -
Wong
Wilfred -
Panel
Tasting -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
Susana Balbo graduated from Don Bosco University in Mendoza in 1981 and established herself as Argentina’s first female enologist and, since then, has been considered one of Argentina’s top winemakers. Three times her industry peers elected her to the Presidency of Wines of Argentina because of her work ethic, innovative winemaking techniques and dedication to the worldwide success of Argentine wine.
After working for twenty years as a consulting winemaker, Susana founded her own brand in 2000. In 2001, she broke ground for her winery in Agrelo in the Luján de Cuyo district of Mendoza. There, she makes her Susana Balbo “Signature” line of wines, as well as wines under the Crios, Nosotros and BenMarco labels. Her winemaking approach for the wines that bear her name is to seamlessly apply her human touch and enhance the grape’s innate character.
Over several decades of winemaking in Argentina, Susana has earned a reputation for a pioneering spirit and innovation. She is known for experimenting with various barrel sizes and aging regimens, fermentation of wine in egg-shaped concrete fermenters, and wild yeast fermentations. The Wine Advocate’s Luis Gutierrez dubbed her groundbreaking barrel-fermented Torrontés one of the “10 Argentine Wines to Drink before You Die.”
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.