93 points

2005 Charles Heidsieck Millésimé Vintage Brut

Nick Stock, James Suckling, January 2022

“This has terrific composure, among the fresher and better-presented of the vintage in terms of aromas. It's toasty with grilled hazelnuts, chalky and flinty. Aromas are in the pithy grapefruit and dried peach spectrum, with lemon too. The palate's seamless, powerful and quite deeply flavored. It climbs high and wide, then focuses neatly through the finish as acidity chimes in as well as some cherry flavor that steadies and balances. Great drinking now.”

91 points

2005 Charles Heidsieck Millésimé Vintage Brut

Joshua Greene, Wine & Spirits, January 2022

“Plump and rich, this fits clearly within the house style, its flavors broadened by scents of marzipan and spicebox complexity. It's potent and dense, almost gamey in its power, with a slightly green edge to the acidity that should mellow as the wine ages further.”

92 points

2005 Charles Heidsieck Millésimé Vintage Brut

Joshua Greene, Wine & Spirits, January 2022

“This transforms the sweet ripeness of the 2000 vintage into ornate flavor, matching the intensity of its white chalk minerality with broad apricot notes. It’s a round wine with the stamina to carry those complex flavors through a long finish.”

91 points

2005 Charles Heidsieck Millésimé Vintage Brut

Joshua Greene, Wine & Spirits, January 2022

“A zaftig 2000, this feels voluminous and heady with toasty scents and mature complexity. The golden color and creamy integration of the bubbles suggest enjoying it now, with foie gras.”

95 points

2005 Charles Heidsieck Millésimé Vintage Brut

Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast, January 2022

“Still very young, this holds great potential. Rich, full-bodied and densely structured, it is a wine first, sparkling second. Ripe apple and peach flavors partner with a strongly mineral texture. It needs to age more in bottle, so drink from 2016.”

92 points

2016 Susana Balbo Signature Rosé

Patricio Tapia, Descorchados, October 2016

“Best Rosé”

93 points

2014 Susana Balbo Signature Barrel Fermented Torrontés

Luis Gutiérrez, January 2022

“The 2014 Susana Balbo Signature Torrontés Barrel Fermented comes from the Altamira zone in the Uco Valley (but outside the boundaries of the newly-defined Altamira IP, indication de procedencia), from a vineyard Susana Balbo planted in 2005 with vegetal material from Cafayate in Salta. The whole clusters are pressed after a short maceration in the press and the must is clarified to obtain a very clear juice that ferments in used oak barrels where the wine was kept in contact with the fine lees with some bâttonage. The oak is perfectly integrated, in fact the nose is very fruit and flower-driven, even a little piquant, with faint spices and lots of freshness. The palate is very intense, with penetrating flavors, great freshness and minerality, ending almost salty. The oak is really imperceptible. The first vintage of this wine was only 2012, and in its third year it is already a benchmark Torrontés. If you want to oak a Torrontés, this is the way to do it. The next step is to investigate the evolution in bottle, as I have the feeling Torrontés can develop in bottle for longer than most people think, especially if you go for a spicy, fresh and not so phenolic style. 12,000 bottles produced.”

91 points

2014 Susana Balbo Signature Barrel Fermented Torrontés

James Suckling, James Suckling, June 2015

“A fresh and bright torrontés with yogurt, dried apples and pears. Full-bodied, round and savory. Intense finish. Barrel fermented and three months in barrels with lees. Drink now. Screw cap.”

89 points

2014 Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon

James Laube, Wine Spectator, January 2022

“Offers immediate charm, with a ripe, juicy core of zesty wild berry and blackberry fruit, shaded by light cedary oak and joined by dusty, loamy earth accents. Pleasant finish. Drink now through 2028. 68,000 cases made.”

91 points

2014 Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon

James Suckling, James Suckling, January 2022

“A slightly old-school cab with lots of ripe fruit, soft tannins and a savory finish. Shows some tension and energy at the end. Fun. Drink now or hold.”

86 points

2013 Oberon Merlot

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, January 2022

“The two Bordeaux reds from Oberon are competent and above-average quality wines that are reasonably priced, especially coming from Napa Valley. A blend of nearly 86% Merlot and the rest Syrah and other varietals, the 2013 Merlot offers coffee bean, red currant and sweet cherry notes, dusty loamy soil undertones, medium body and soft tannin.”

86 points

2013 Oberon Merlot

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, January 2022

“The two Bordeaux reds from Oberon are competent and above-average quality wines that are reasonably priced, especially coming from Napa Valley. A blend of nearly 86% Merlot and the rest Syrah and other varietals, the 2013 Merlot offers coffee bean, red currant and sweet cherry notes, dusty loamy soil undertones, medium body and soft tannin.”

88 points

2014 Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon

Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast, January 2022

“To be released”

90 points

2013 Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon

Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast, January 2022

“From Michael Mondavi’s portfolio, this affordable Cabernet is concentrated in red berry and savory leather, a nod to the small amounts of Syrah and Petite Sirah that are included in the blend. French oak provides a hint of vanilla and cardamom, while the medium-bodied palate and attractive finish is washed in coffee.”

86 points

2013 Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, January 2022

“The two Bordeaux reds from Oberon are competent and above-average quality wines that are reasonably priced, especially coming from Napa Valley. The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa is aged 14 months in about 45% new French oak and is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot, Merlot and touch of Syrah and Petite Sirah. This well-made wine reveals a deep ruby/plum color and a sweet nose of black and red currants, licorice and tobacco leaf. It is medium-bodied and best drunk over the next 2-3 years.”

90+ points

2016 Susana Balbo Signature Rosé

Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, December 2016

“There is also a 2016 Susana Balbo Rosé following the style of the wines from Provence, harvesting early, with a light pressing to obtain a pale must and using grapes from the Valle de Uco. 2016 broke all the rules about vintages in Mendoza, and it resulted in a very light and fresh rosé produced as a blend of Malbec with 40% Pinot Noir with the faintest trace of sugar and very good acidity and freshness. Its profile reminded me more of a white than a rosé, and it certainly has nothing to do with your average rosé. This is a serious rosé, with clean aromas and a sharp, fresh and very dry palate. This is one of the most impressive rosés I remember from Argentina. 24,000 bottles produced.”

93 points

2012 Susana Balbo Signature Malbec

Patricio Tapia, Wine & Spirits, January 2022

“This is mostly malbec (92 percent), the balance cabernet sauvignon, grown in the heights of the Uco Valley.  Its scents of black cherries, raspberries and violets make this a crystalline example of malbec, the influence of oak finely integrated into mild scents of smoke and spice that ride on waves of fruit flavor.  Give this time in the glass and an earthy note brings complexity, offering an exceptional red for the price.”

93 points

2012 Susana Balbo Signature Malbec

James Suckling, James Suckling, January 2022

“A fresh, balanced and harmonious red with cherries, berries and hints of nutmeg character. Full and super integrated with fine tannins and a long, flavorful finish.”

91 points

2013 Susana Balbo Signature Malbec

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, January 2022

“Bright ruby-red. Pure, vibrant aromas of blackberry, blueberry and mint. A smooth, densely packed midweight with noteworthy inner-mouth tension and lift to the flavors of dark berries and violet. There's something a bit Syrah-like about this very fresh, juicy, long Malbec. Has the strength of character to evolve slowly but this is already easy to appreciate.”

90 points

2013 Susana Balbo Signature Malbec

Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, January 2022

“The 2013 Susana Balbo Signature Malbec is from Altamira, from the same vineyard where the Torrontés is grown. The wine ferments in a combination of rolling barriques, egg-shaped cement vats, oak vat and open barrels before being blended and put in barrels where the wine matures for 11 months. Some of the barrels have a higher toast level and it gives the wine a little bit of dark chocolate aromas that are quite popular, but to me standardizes the nose a little bit. But there is a nice core of violets and cherries, perfectly ripe, keeping the freshness, while the spice notes of cinnamon and vanilla are quite sweet and complimented by hints of smoke and licorice. The palate is very tasty, with pungent, penetrating flavors, fine-grained tannins and supple flavors. 2013 feels like a very nice vintage. Hold it for one more year to finish integrating those oak aromas. 100,000 bottles produced.”