95 points

2016 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso

James Suckling, James Suckling, March 2018

“Brambleberries, blackcurrants, boysenberries, oyster shell, creme de cassis and herbal liqueur but also freshly-cut rosemary, thyme and pepper. Very linear and vibrant on the palate with tightly-wound tannins and very fresh acidity that remains in balance all the way to the long finish. The freshness is really what leaves the final impression. Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot. Try after 2021.”

94 points

2016 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso

Patricio Tapia, Descorchados, October 2018

93 points

2016 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso

Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, July 2018

“More austere in the palate but nicely aromatic, the 2016 Brioso shows quite open, with a mixture of violets and sweet spices. The blend this year is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Malbec, 24% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot, and as always, it matured in brand new French oak barrels for 15 months. 20,000 bottles produced.”

91 points

2016 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, August 2018

“Bright dark ruby. Inviting scents of blackberry, violet and bitter chocolate. At once creamy, juicy and precise, conveying lovely floral lift and precision to its dark fruit and bitter chocolate flavors. This rather delicate wine boasts excellent lift in the mouth. Finishes with nicely buffered, ripe tannins and slowly rising length. Should make a very elegant dinner-table wine. Balbo shortened this wine's time in 100% new oak from 15 to 12 months in 2016. (Incidentally, she sold much of her 2015 Brioso red to Chile's national airline, LAN.)”

95 points

2015 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso

Patricio Tapia, Descorchados, September 2017

“N/A”

92 points

2015 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso

James Suckling, James Suckling, June 2018

“Aromas of blueberry, hot stone and berry follow through to a medium body, lightly chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. A little lean in the center palate. Drink or hold.”

91 points

2015 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso

Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator, October 2018

“A fresh-tasting red, with concentrated flavors of cherry, raspberry and damson plum that feature some tobacco leaf notes. The vibrant finish offers engaging minerality, green olive accents and firm tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2022. 40 cases imported. ”

91 points

2015 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso

Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, July 2018

“As with other wines, I tasted both the 2015 and 2016 vintages of the Brioso blend, and the 2015 Brioso showed the slightly riper and more generous character of the year. This wine is always produced with the grapes planted around the vineyard, but the blend varies slightly with the year. In 2015, it is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. The palate is round and polished, with moderate acidity. 18,000 bottles were filled in September 2016.”

90 points

2015 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso

International Wine Review, October 2017

“Medium dark red. This blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot offers a lot of drinking pleasure in an inexpensive package. The nose recalls red plum and black raspberry with light herbal notes. There’s good density on the palate with a continuation of bright fruit with an earthy edge and some bright uplifting red fruit notes.”

95 points

2014 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso

Patricio Tapia, Descorchados, January 2017

“The chosen from Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo”

95 points

2014 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso

James Suckling, James Suckling, May 2016

“A powerful and structured red with balance and harmony. Full body, fine and silky tannins and a chocolate, tile and currant undertone. 45% cabernet sauvignon, 25% malbec, 25% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot.”

93 points

2014 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso

Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator, December 2017

“A well-sculpted and lusciously fruity red, with a complex mix of raspberry, currant and plum flavors that are matched to fresh acidity. Minerally midpalate with a long finish that echoes notes of slate, dried herb and pepper. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2022. 834 cases made.”

92 points

2014 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso

Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, December 2016

“Susana Balbo's 2014 Brioso also belongs to the Signature range, and it's a selection of the best plots from their vineyard in Agrelo, the coolest part of Luján de Cuyo. The blend varies with the year, and in 2014 it was 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% each Malbec and Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The Malbec fermented in a 6,500-liter tank and the rest in open top barrels, all with indigenous yeasts. This is still aged in 100% new French oak barrels for some 15 months. It has a 1990s profile, with plenty of oak-related aromas, sweet spices, smoke, dark chocolate and espresso coffee. There is a little less toast in the barrels used in this 2014. The palate shows abundant, slightly dusty tannins and classical proportions, elegant within the powerful style. They are progressively reducing the influence of the barrels in the wine, but this is still for fans of oaky wines. The notes from the élevage should integrate with more time in bottle. 14,000 bottles produced.”

91 points

2014 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, July 2017

“Bright red-ruby. Very ripe, inviting aromas of kirsch, blackberry, licorice, violet, mint and nutty new oak. A fairly concentrated, sweet midweight with a slightly reductive quality to its black cherry, berry and licorice flavors. Offers lovely verve and balance without any excesses, with sound acidity giving shape to the wine. Finishes with substantial tongue-dusting tannins and a hint of youthful dryness. This is excellent.”

94 points

2015 Susana Balbo Signature Barrel Fermented Torrontés

Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, December 2016

“The nose of the 2015 Susana Balbo Signature Torrontés Barrel Fermented is completely different from any other Torrontés I've ever encountered. It has notes of gunpowder and silex, tremendously mineral and austere. It comes from Altamira in Valle de Uco Valley where the soils are rich in limestone. It was sourced from a vineyard Susana Balbo planted in 2005 with vegetal material selected from Cafayate in Salta. The whole clusters were pressed and the must was put to ferment in second use oak barrels where the wine was kept in contact with the fine lees with some bâtonnage for four months. This is only 12.5% alcohol and has 7.6 grams of acidity (measured in tartaric acid), which are good parameters that indicate a light, sharp and fresh white. If the nose is surprising, the palate is simply unbelievable, sharp, austere, mineral and long, without any bitterness or exotic flavors. White flowers emerge with time in the glass. 15,000 bottles were filled in late September 2015.”

93 points

2015 Susana Balbo Signature Barrel Fermented Torrontés

James Suckling, James Suckling, May 2016

“A white with plenty of oyster shell and dried fruit character plus hints of new oak. Full body, bright limey acidity. Fantastic barrel fermented white. Screw cap. Drink now.”

92 points

2015 Susana Balbo Signature Barrel Fermented Torrontés

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, March 2016

“(100% barrel-fermented in all-new French oak; spent three months on its lees): Pale, bright silver-yellow. Sexy reduction to the slightly funky aromas of ginger and lees. Quite Burgundian in the mouth, offering rich, sexy flavors of white peach, ginger, quinine and charred oak. Very juicy but also rich, tactile and suave; plusher than the White Blend. Very dry but Susana Balbo notes that her use of oak barrels toasted by convection supplies some polysaccharides, which give this wine a touch of sweetness. Finishes with a touch of phenolic firmness but also lovely lingering sweetness. Great sex appeal.”

91 points

2014 Susana Balbo Signature Barrel Fermented Torrontés

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, February 2015

“Bright silver-yellow. Lemon, lime, honey and vanilla on the nose, complicated by a musky leesy quality and a chalky nuance. Ripe and glyceral in the mouth, with harmonious acidity framing the complex flavors of peach, citrus fruits and lees. Only 25% of this pliant, layered Torrontés went through malolactic fermentation. Susana Balbo describes this as Torrontés Riojano (the best clone of this variety) in its purest expression, noting that the plantings came from Cafayate.”

95 points

2013 Vall Llach Vi de Finca Mas de la Rosa

Thomas Matthews, Wine Spectator, September 2018

“This powerful red shows depth and harmony. The thick texture is supported by well-integrated tannins, delivering cassis, kirsch, menthol and cola flavors. Herbal and meaty notes add a savory element. You might call this Priorat on steroids, but this remains balanced and fresh. Drink now through 2033. 30 cases imported.”

88 points

2016 Idus de Vall Llach

James Suckling, James Suckling, August 2018

“The super intense and ripe black-cherry character is almost too much and, on the palate, the wine is powerful and quite sweet. Plenty of soft tannins and good length, but a bit simple. Drink now or in 2019.”