We open up a blend today from one of the top producers in Argentina, Susana Balbo. She has different lines of wines and the one I try on this episode is from the line called Ben Marco. It’s a blend of 85% Malbec and 15% Cabernet Franc.
One of the things I love about this brand is that they honor the terroir by low intervention winemaking to reveal their true essence and character. Low intervention winemaking is when the use of additives and artificial flavors in the winemaking process are minimized and ultimately the winemakers let the wine develop it’s natural character to really showcase the unique qualities of the vineyard, grapes and climate.
I get into all the details of low intervention winemaking and why it’s my all-time favorite style of winemaking while touching on the importance of certain things you may have to add or adjust during the winemaking process (ex. adding in SO2). Allowing the wine to do it’s thing naturally for the most part is the way to go but it doesn’t hurt to help it thrive by giving it an SO2 boost. Tune in now to get the 411 on this producer, low intervention winemaking and taste this delicious Argentinian blend with me.
1:30 - Introduction to today’s producer
2:30 - Red blend
2:50 - What is a viticulturist?
3:33 - Low intervention winemaking
4:20 - My favorite style of winemaking
5:00 - Adding sulfur to support the process
6:15 - White & Rose wines have more sulfur
7:18 - Red wine usually has less sulfur
9:15 - Open the bottle
10:20 - Visual & Olfactory analysis
11:05 - Tasting notes
12:03 - Rating of the wine
Today’s wine: Ben Marco Expressivo 2020 $30
GET WINE HERE ($38 on this website)
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