Winemaker Notes
A golden colored Torrontés with bright reflections. The nose is fragrant and complex, with hints of tropical fruits (especially lychee), citrus notes (such as lemon peel) and delicate floral aromas. The mouth is harmonious, with a balanced acidity that goes with some intense fruit flavors. It has a good, round body and a silky texture.
Fish, shellfish and spicy, aromatic dishes from Indian, Chinese and Thai cuisines all pair well with this wine.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Aromas of pineapple, peaches and orange blossoms. The palate is transparent and luminous, yet delivers impressive concentration. Dense and textured, with a saline edge and rich, layered fruit. As its name suggests, it’s fermented and aged in barrels.
-
Vinous
The 2024 Torrontés Barrel Fermented Susana Balbo Signature comes from Paraje Altamira. Fermented in new French oak barrels, it opens with notes of basil and subtle oak, followed by moderate floral hints. Bright and crisp, the palate offers a gentle creaminess and a touch of nutmeg from the barrel aging.
-
Wine Spectator
Presents a floral mix of marigold and jasmine, but without dominating the style. The palate is juicy and succulent in feel, with concentrated peach and citrus flavors that linger on the finish. Drink now. 2,200 cases made, 250 cases imported.
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."
Unapologetically fun and distinctively fragrant, Torrontés is regarded as the signature white grape of Argentina. In many ways it bears a striking resemblance to Muscat (and in fact is an offspring of Muscat of Alexandria). Sommelier Secret—If you’re in search of a new summer sipper, look no further than Torrontés. These wines are always inexpensive, delightfully refreshing and are best enjoyed in the sunny outdoors at a picnic, poolside or on the porch.
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.