Winemaker Notes
Los Chacayes is an extraordinary terroir. Its sandy, rocky loam soil guarantees good permeability, limits the growth of the plant and ensures perfect ripening. BenMarco Malbec is a testimony of Valle de Uco, endowed with aromas of black berries, notes of violets, pronounced acidity, firm tannins and great length.
Pairs well with grilled red meats, sausages, seasoned or roasted pork, hard cheeses and pasta with meat-based sauces.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Dusty red and black cherries with a sulfurous, almost volcanic verve and a hint of spice. Juicy and chalky on the palate with a medium to full body and tightly wound tannins. Fresh, pristine and full of fruit.
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Vinous
The 2022 Malbec BenMarco from Los Chacayes in Uco Valley is a vibrant purple, showcasing violet and cherry notes with a balsamic touch. Juicy and flavorful, it presents expressive fruit, finishing with a hint of sour cherry and the slightly rough tannins characteristic of Los Chacayes.
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Wine Spectator
Generous, with a deep base of violet and berry preserves, adding brambly, herb- and pepper-accented berry flavors at the core. Prominent acidity and minerality offers some dimension, adding subtle cocoa bean and spice details on the finish. Drink now through 2040.
BenMarco is all about viticulture. Having planted more than 3,000 acres of vineyards across Argentina’s diverse terroirs, Edgardo “Edy” Del Popolo, General Manager of Susana Balbo Wines in Mendoza and head winemaker for BenMarco, is Argentina’s most knowledgeable winegrower. He has tasted almost every piece of dirt!
BenMarco wines are made with minimal intervention to allow for the purest interpretation of what’s underground on the extreme sites where the grapes for BenMarco are grown. “I try to avoid adding my influence to BenMarco wines,” Edy says. “What I really like to see is what the vines can do, without any kind of winemaking influence.”
Edy grows three red wines from three distinct, high-elevation sub-zones of Mendoza: a Malbec from Los Chacayes, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Los Árboles, and Expresivo, a red blend from Gualtallary.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
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.