THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO UCO VALLEY - Susana Balbo Wines
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T H E E SS E N T I A L G U I D E TO
U C O VA L L E Y
TINA
EN
G
R
ZA-A
VA L
DO
LE
N
E D
E
UCO - M
to salta / cafayate
(847 mi)
M END OZ A P RO V I N C E
Río
Region, vineyard mt. aconcagua
Me
elev. 22,800’
& wine key MENDOZA
nd
MAIPÚ
oz
Elev 2,300’
Max Elev 2,600’
a
LUJÁN
ARGENTINA
DE CUYO
MAIPÚ
Max Elev 3,200’
San Juan
Province
LUJÁN DE CUYO
Perdriel
SAN MARTÍN
Mendoza 7 E. MENDOZA
City San Luis Agrelo Max Elev 2,400’ 7
Province
Elev 3250´
CHILE Ugarteche JUNIN
MENDOZA
Buenos PROVINCE
Aires
Santa Rosa
TUPUNGATO RIVADAVIA
La Pampa
Province Elev 3,900’
Neuquén mt. tupungato
y án
Province
elev. 21,500’ 3 Gualtallary nu
Elev 4,200’ 40 Tu
o
Rí
to buenos aires
UCO VALLEY (648 mi)
Los Árboles Max Elev 4,700’
2 Elev 3,800´
1- LOS CHACAYES TUNUYÁN MENDOZA MAP KEY
BenMarco Malbec 1 Los Chacayes
Elev. 3,600’
CHILE Capital
Altamira
2- LOS ÁRBOLES
BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon
4 Elev 3,600
City
Large Town
3- GUALTALLARY Small Town
SAN CARLOS
BenMarco Expresivo
Elev 3,200’ Geographical Indications
4- ALTAMIRA Winery/Bodega
BenMarco Cabernet Franc 40
Vineyard
to neuquén / n.patagonia Highway
(513 mi) River
INTR O D UC I N G
Edy Del Pópolo
BenMarco
Viticulturist
EDY DEL PÓPOLO
Edgardo Del Pópolo is an Argentinean wine industry veteran and one of the most respected
and consulted Argentine viticulturists, where he has worked since 1992. He studied Enology
and Agronomy at the UNC in Mendoza, Argentina. Possessing a free spirit and an independent
attitude, he has travelled the wine world visiting Old and New World wine regions and the
most important wine markets. A skilled taster, he has been designated as a judge at many
international wine competitions. At the beginning of 2013, he was appointed General
Manager at Susana Balbo Wines and has made BenMarco wines according to his vision.
WHEN AND HOW DID WINE BECOME A BIG PART OF HIS LIFE?
“A long time ago, before going to University. Mendoza vineyards taught me how to enjoy
life at a good rhythm: not slow, not fast. Wine is a beautiful way to be connected to the
earth – this is the way of life I like and not only for me. If I can pass it on to my future
generations I will be very proud and happy”.
1 TRUE EXPERIENCE COMES FROM REAL VINES
BenMarco is all about viticulture: having planted more than 3,000 acres of vineyards across
Argentina's terroirs, Edy is the person with the most experience in the Argentine viticulture
B ENM A RC O
scene. He has tasted almost every piece of dirt!
5 Must know
facts WHAT MATTERS IS WHAT’S UNDERGROUND
2
BenMarco wines allow us to go higher in elevation and work in extreme sites never explored
before. Our complex alluvial soils display huge differences and our wines are the purest
interpretation that what really matters is what´s underground, in our lively soils.
3 NEW EXCITING APPELLATIONS
If there are high quality, recently discovered sites for viticulture in the Uco Valley, then
Los Chacayes, Los Arboles, Altamira and Gualtallary are the top notch ones!
4 "NON-INTERVENTION WINEMAKING IS A GAME OF DETAILS"
“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”.
5 WHAT MAKES HIS WINES OVERDELIVER?
When we think we know all about terroirs, vines and wines, we realize there are still many
things to discover in viticulture. This is our food for thought. The day we stop believing in
this is the day we start to die.U C O V A L L EY
Region, vineyard
& wine key
UCO VALLEY
SOUTH UCO VALLEY 89
Los Arboles LAS TUNA S RIVER
TUPUNGATO
Los Chacayes 94 Gualtallary
1- LOS CHACAYES CA BER N ET
BenMarco Malbec FR A N C 92
M A LBEC CA BERNET
Altamira SA UV IGNON NORTH UCO VALLEY
2- LOS ÁRBOLES TUNUYÁN
SAN CARLOS
BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon
40
EXPRESIV O
3- GUALTALLARY Mal bec LUJÁN DE CUYO
BenMarco Expresivo w i t h a smal l perc ent age
of Cabernet Franc
4- ALTAMIRA TUNUYÁN RIVER
BenMarco Cabernet FrancBENM A RC O
The soil
connection
BENMARCO MALBEC BENMARCO CABERNET SAUVIGNON
LOS CHACAYES
SOIL PROFILE Los Chacayes Terroir is translated in purity of Los Árboles Terroir is translated in bright,
fruit with bright acidity, firm tannins and great persistent flavors with juicy acidity.
length.
LOS ÁRBOLES SOIL PROFILE
LOS CHACAYES SOIL PROFILE
High altitude terroir based on Tunuyán, closest
Its heat summation is situated slightly above neighbour GI to Gualtallary.
other GI´s like Gualtallary and Altamira. The main soils in Los Árboles are alluvial loam
This a colluvium-alluvium soil, with a sandy loam with strong rounded stones presence making it
frame in the first 10 inches that confers excellent a very particular terroir for Cabernet Sauvignon.
drainage. The first layer of soil is a 12-inch layer of a
LOS ÁRBOLES The second layer is formed by a large amount sandy-loam matrix.
SOIL PROFILE
of calcareous incrustations and white colored There is a mix of medium and large alluvial
stones down until 6 feet. A layer of black caliche rocks filling the whole profile down for 5 feet.
splits the last layer leaving a sandy loam bed The deepest layer of 8 feet is formed by gravel.
underneath.BENM A RC O
The soil
connection
BENMARCO EXPRESIVO BENMARCO CABERNET FRANC
GUALTALLARY
SOIL PROFILE Gualtallary Terroir is translated in wines with mineral Altamira Terroir is translated in wines with deep
notes, firm fine-grained tannins and great length. colors, medium-grained tannins, high levels
of acidity and notes of violets and dark fruit,
GUALTALLARY SOIL PROFILE and persistence in the mouth.
One of the coolest climates GI´s within the Uco ALTAMIRA SOIL PROFILE
Valley. It could be compared to Burgundy but
regularly can be situated in the same pattern as The soil is sandy-loam and has calcium carbonate
higher Bordeaux or Napa (as far as heat summation encrustations and colluvial stones to a depth
is concerned). of 1.30 m (almost 4.3 ft).
Down to a depth of 7 feet, the soil is rocky and It is situated on a sandy soil with bigger colluvial
ALTAMIRA gravelly and has medium size alluvial stones stones until 6 feet of depth. This profile is very
SOIL PROFILE
coated with calcareous and mixed with calcium poor and has great drainage, which allows for
carbonate crusts (caliche). high density plantations.
The deepest layer sits over a big river bed of
alluvial stones and gravel.
The soil is extremely poor in organic material
and has a very good drainage leading the plant
to go deeper underground.B ENM A RC O
Sin Limites
Sin Limites is the literal translation of our open mind to discover what the most interesting soil and climate
combinations can deliver under our humble interpretation, where there are no limits for the exploration
to reveal wines with a real sense of place. Our aim is to show the different expressions of a collection of vineyards
planted among the most interesting, often extreme terroirs of Argentina.
BENMARCO BENMARCO BENMARCO
SIN LÍMITES SIN LÍMITES SIN LÍMITES GUALTALLARY
GUALTALLARY MALBEC PEDERNAL MALBEC CHARDONNAY
A pure Malbec that embodies An herbal, spicy Malbec, with a This is a pure expression of the
the spirit of Gualtallary´s chalky very fragrant nose of potpourri-like varietal: citric, floral and with
soils. Pink peppercorn and drying herbs such as thyme, delicate herbs, plus earthy and
RELEASED FOR
chalky notes are predominant coriander and lavender. In mouth mineral notes due to the alluvial
THE FIRST
in the nose whereas its austerity it is a silky wine, with a soft and calcareous soils of Gualtallary.
TIME IN 2018,
SIN LIMITES WINES and grainy texture are the main beautiful texture and a persistent It is an austere and vibrant wine
ARE AVAILABLE characteristics of this wine aftertaste. in the mouth, with an expressive
IN VERY LIMITED in mouth. Incomparable length palate. Sharp acidity and a tense
QUANTITY. and great definition. finish.B ENM A RC O
Press
Quotes
Benmarco Malbec Benmarco Cabernet Sauvignon Benmarco Expresivo
“Floral, spicy, aromatic, showy “A beautifully floral, refined “Floral, ethereal, fresh and complex,
and expressive, with great fresh- expression of the grape which and it's still very young and lively
ness and lots of aromatic herbs, displays its high altitude source. in a way that I really like…
black pepper and flowers. This has Harmony, nuance and freshness, with all the wild herbs and flowers
both good ripeness and freshness, with nuanced oak, filigree tannins from Gualtallary”
with very fine tannins.” and graphite aromas” Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate
Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate
Benmarco Sin Limites Benmarco Sin Limites
Gualtallary Malbec Valle de Pedernal Malbec
“New to the Susana Balbo range “This is light-years removed from
in 2017 and making quite an impact conventional bold and fruity malbec!
on its first outing… Very dense and expressive.
Fresh, intense and perfumed, and Crystallized violets and just a hint
a chalky, refreshing finish. Bravo!” of graphite. First vintage of this
revolutionary wine. ”"In the latest reviews BenMarco has received scores of 92+ from major wine publications".
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