Description
BenMarco is all about viticulture. Having planted more than 3,000 acres of vineyards across Argentina’s diverse terroirs, Edgardo “Edy” Del Popolo, General Manager of Susana Balbo Wines in Mendoza and head winemaker for BenMarco, is Argentina’s most knowledgeable winegrower. He has tasted almost every piece of dirt. BenMarco wines are made with minimal intervention to allow for the purest interpretation of what’s underground on the extreme sites where the grapes for BenMarco are grown. “I try to avoid adding my influence to BenMarco wines,” Edy says. “What I really like to see is what the vines can do, without any kind of winemaking influence.” Edy grows three red wines from three distinct, high-elevation sub-zones of Mendoza: a Malbec from Los Chacayes, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Los Árboles, and Expresivo, a red blend from Gualtallary.
Winemaker notes:
Gualtallary is well-known for its chalky alluvial soils which allow adequate water drainage. The result in BenMarco Expresivo, is a wine with deep, bright ruby color. It has chalk, earthy, floral, peppercorn tree fruits notes. It is a vertical wine with ultra-fine grained tannins, long after taste and great aging potential.Blend: 80% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Franc. Pair with grilled meats, veal, medium-strong cheeses and spicy sauces.
Critics note:
93RP. Even if 2017 and 2018 were both warmer years after the very cold 2016, the difference in ripeness was quite obvious when tasting the 2017 BenMarco Expresivo next to other 2018s, as 2017 was low yielding and there was more natural concentration in the wines. It’s a ripe and expressive (pun intended) blend of 80% Malbec with 20% Cabernet Franc from Gualtallary produced in a traditional way and with an élevage in new barriques for 14 months, despite which, the oak feels quite integrated, as the wine has a lot of power and energy. The medium-bodied palate reveals abundant dusty tannins and some herbs, with flower, berry and spicy flavors. 22,000 bottles produced.
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