Winemaker Notes
This Malbec is a wine of an excellent aging potential that displays aromas of cassis and blueberries and a hint of floral notes. It has an outstanding structure, with medium grain, extremely long tannins. It exhibits excellent freshness due to its natural acidity and it has an outstanding aging potential.
Pair with grilled, roasted or smoked preparations. All sorts of meats, mostly red or pork. Hard and smoked cheeses. Spicy or hot preparations, especially those with pepper. Grilled vegetables and fungi.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A racy and refined Nosotros with blackcurrant, raspberry, blueberry, crushed stone, lavender and sandalwood aromas that follow through to a medium to full body. A very racy palate of ultra-fine tannins and a fresh and crunchy finish. Complex and full of energy.
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Vinous
Sourced from Los Chacayes in the Uco Valley, the 2021 Malbec Nosotros displays an intense purple hue. Fermented in tanks and aged in barrels for up to a year, it reveals balsamic and black fruit notes-including just- crushed plum with no trace of marmalade-alongside hints of cedar and mountain herbs. The palate is juicy and agile, yet full-bodied, with a long, delicate finish balanced by fine chalky tannins.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The highlight of the Susana Balbo roster is the 2021 Nosotros Single Vineyard Nómade Malbec, a bottling that perennially represents the most favored Malbec barrels in the cellar. This iteration hails from Los Chacayes and was fermented in predominantly 3,000-liter foudre and 6,000-liter cask before maturing for 16 months in 80% new French oak. It is powerful and assertive yet understated throughout, opening with a purple- and blue-fruited nose lifted with floral, minty and cardamom accents delivered with a focused, lively core. The palate is effortlessly rich and slow-moving, culminating in a swelling, saturated finish with persistent power and remarkable vibrancy.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2021 Susana Balbo NOSOTROS Single Vineyard Nómade MALBEC VALLE DE UCO – MENDOZA shows a saturated ruby/purple color; licorice and bold black fruit aromas with striking concentration; full bodied, thick, layered and beautifully balanced on the palate, delivering generous black fruit flavors with refined, seamlessly integrated oak; exceptional depth and precision; long, lacy and persistent through the finish; a natural match for a classic Argentine asado, especially slow-grilled short ribs (tira de asado) with chimichurri, where the wine’s richness and structure meet the deep, smoky flavors of the meat while its balance keeps everything seamless, bold, and unforgettable. (Tasted: March 28, 2026, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
Aromatically engaging for its anise hyssop, pandan and olive notes, which fold over onto the palate, where dried berry, damson plum and cassis accents swirl in. Its tremendous minerally vibrancy lends freshness without imparting aggressive tannins to the finish, where the core flavors play out. Distinctive. Malbec. Drink now through 2040. 830 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."
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.