Susana Balbo Signature White Blend
Country: Argentina Region: Mendoza
Varietal: 40% Torrontés, 30% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon
Category: White Wine Style: Dry
Producer: Susana Balbo
Description:
Susana Balbo is Argentina’s first and best-known female winemaker, establishing her own winery in 1999 on principles of quality, innovation and sustainability. She’s been called the ‘Queen of Torrontés’ for her work creating world-class versions of the grape in the 1980s and pioneering the country’s white-wine scene. She was awarded the International Wine Challenge Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.
The Uco Valley in Mendoza has hosted vineyards for at least a century, but it’s only in recent years that it’s seen a stratospheric rise in reputation. It turns out great whites – Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as Torrontés. All of Susan Balbo’s wineries are high-altitude, in vineyards set more than 1,000 metres above sea level. Torrontés is Argentina's great white grape — aromatic, unique, and utterly captivating when grown at altitude in the Salta region.
This White Blend is a combination of Torrontés, Semillón and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, all sourced from Valle de Uco. It is a fresh and balanced wine with outstanding notes of white flowers and green apples, and an elegant and subtle citrus touch.
The wine critic Tim Akin described it as: “A pioneering, mould-breaking white blend that seems to get better with every vintage”.
Tasting Notes:
The wine reveals a bright straw-yellow hue, adorned with subtle greenish reflections in its youth, gradually evolving towards golden tones with time. Intensely aromatic and remarkably complex, the nose unveils floral notes of honeysuckle and rose brought by the Torrontés. It then opens onto aromas of citrus fruits (lemongrass, pink grapefruit, orange) and fresh herbs, rounded out by hints of white fruits such as peach and melon. Barrel ageing enriches this bouquet with delicate nuances of vanilla and sweet spices. On the palate, this wine seduces with its perfect balance between vibrant tension and a delicately creamy texture. The refreshing acidity blends harmoniously with the substance, without any bitterness. The long, lingering finish stands out for its beautiful mineral imprint.
Food Pairings:
This great white wine pairs wonderfully with grilled fish, seafood such as ceviche or sushi, as well as white meats like rabbit. It also perfectly complements Asian cuisine, particularly dishes with sweet-and-sour or subtly spiced flavours.
