Susana Balbo
Brioso Agrelo Red Blend
Agrelo, Mendoza, Cuyo, Argentina
No new-ish notes tonight, except that at ~2 years since our prior bottle, the alcohol heat has considerably subsided, also chocolate+fig+cigar box now in the nose. Decanted 3h.
Paired to Allen Bros. tenderloin tails, grilled to a beautiful 130°F (55°C), smashed new potatoes from our garden and local, mid-season sweet corn (it's the best time of the year to enjoy corn).
I now suggest this wine (2013) can hold, in proper storage, until 2028-33 until a very good drinking window.
Prior notes:
45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Franc & 5% Petit Verdot
Color is deep plum, like totally opaque, but a beautiful semi-translucent blackberry color at the edge of the glass.
Nose is liquor of cassis, some noticable heat from the alcohol (14.5%), plum juice, light oak.
Palate is very smooth, dusty plum, blackberry, blueberry skin, mocha, coffee bean; tannins are still grippy, finish is about 45s.
Generally a very nice bottle, we bought this in March '18, just getting to it tonight finally. Very impressed by this effort, light years ahead of the entry level Balbo wines. We only ever came across this once, $35 was a solid buy, and hands down my favorite Balbo wine to date.
No new-ish notes tonight, except that at ~2 years since our prior bottle, the alcohol heat has considerably subsided, also chocolate+fig+cigar box now in the nose. Decanted 3h.
Paired to Allen Bros. tenderloin tails, grilled to a beautiful 130°F (55°C), smashed new potatoes from our garden and local, mid-season sweet corn (it's the best time of the year to enjoy corn).
I now suggest this wine (2013) can hold, in proper storage, until 2028-33 until a very good drinking window.
Prior notes:
45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Franc & 5% Petit Verdot
Color is deep plum, like totally opaque, but a beautiful semi-translucent blackberry color at the edge of the glass.
Nose is liquor of cassis, some noticable heat from the alcohol (14.5%), plum juice, light oak.
Palate is very smooth, dusty plum, blackberry, blueberry skin, mocha, coffee bean; tannins are still grippy, finish is about 45s.
Generally a very nice bottle, we bought this in March '18, just getting to it tonight finally. Very impressed by this effort, light years ahead of the entry level Balbo wines. We only ever came across this once, $35 was a solid buy, and hands down my favorite Balbo wine to date.
Vintage 2016 / it seems infanticide... closed in smell, a lot of power and length
Vintage 2016 / it seems infanticide... closed in smell, a lot of power and length
Nov 12th, 2019
Lots of fleshy blue fruit character, very spicy with a touch of mocha.
Lots of fleshy blue fruit character, very spicy with a touch of mocha.
Mar 22nd, 2019Blackberry, raspberry, dark chocolate, licorice, dried sage and oak. Great structure and big, chewy tannins.
Blackberry, raspberry, dark chocolate, licorice, dried sage and oak. Great structure and big, chewy tannins.
Dec 16th, 201845% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Franc & 5% Petit Verdot
Color is deep plum, like totally opaque, but a beautiful semi-translucent blackberry color at the edge of the glass.
Nose is liquor of cassis, some noticable heat from the alcohol (14.5%), plum juice, light oak.
Palate is very smooth, dusty plum, blackberry, blueberry skin, mocha, coffee bean; tannins are still grippy, finish is about 45s. Decanted about 2hrs.
Generally a very nice bottle, we bought this in March '18, just getting to it tonight finally. Very impressed by this effort, light years ahead of the entry level Balbo wines. We only ever came across this once, $35 was a solid buy, and hands down my favorite Balbo wine to date. I think this has years to go, my guess is this is peaking around 2022-2025.
24hr Update: Alcohol on the nose has dissipated, palate is a little muted today, but still can identify the same traits as yesterday.
45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Franc & 5% Petit Verdot
Color is deep plum, like totally opaque, but a beautiful semi-translucent blackberry color at the edge of the glass.
Nose is liquor of cassis, some noticable heat from the alcohol (14.5%), plum juice, light oak.
Palate is very smooth, dusty plum, blackberry, blueberry skin, mocha, coffee bean; tannins are still grippy, finish is about 45s. Decanted about 2hrs.
Generally a very nice bottle, we bought this in March '18, just getting to it tonight finally. Very impressed by this effort, light years ahead of the entry level Balbo wines. We only ever came across this once, $35 was a solid buy, and hands down my favorite Balbo wine to date. I think this has years to go, my guess is this is peaking around 2022-2025.
24hr Update: Alcohol on the nose has dissipated, palate is a little muted today, but still can identify the same traits as yesterday.
No note. I just remember it being very good, lifted, and juicy wine. But then again, Balbo always does a very good job.
No note. I just remember it being very good, lifted, and juicy wine. But then again, Balbo always does a very good job.
Oct 4th, 2017Great wine. Had it at a tasting of that vineyard. Worth the price
Great wine. Had it at a tasting of that vineyard. Worth the price
1 person found it helpfulJan 16th, 2020Feeling lucky to be tasting this wine tonight. Cab, Malbec, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot. High altitude. Fine showing from Balbo's Argentina.
Feeling lucky to be tasting this wine tonight. Cab, Malbec, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot. High altitude. Fine showing from Balbo's Argentina.
Aug 2nd, 2015
Bold without being brazen. Chalky tannins, middling but supporting acidity. Needs a few to five years to really show its stuff.
Bold without being brazen. Chalky tannins, middling but supporting acidity. Needs a few to five years to really show its stuff.
Jun 30th, 2015
Powerful wine. Rich & bold. Black cherry, blackcurrant, tobacco, spice. 2012 vintage
Powerful wine. Rich & bold. Black cherry, blackcurrant, tobacco, spice. 2012 vintage
Jun 12th, 2015