2019 Crios de Susana Balbo Malbec

Community Tasting Notes (6) Avg Score: 88.9 points

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  2/12/2024 - Dozhdbog Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Prior note applies overall. Changes are: the tannins have loosened their grip somewhat, it is smoother overall, some secondary notes of smoked meat and black olives have arisen. Bing cherry has dropped whereas the blueberry seems more prominent now.
  Overall a really great value and I think could handle at least another year of cellar time, probably 2. But where it's at right now I like very much.
  
  Edit:
  It began to fall apart slightly after 7 hours. This is best drunk within that timeframe. It's good to go right from the uncorking.

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  6/15/2023 - chrisk525 Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Inky, dark, color. Licorice, anise, concentrated black berries. Fine polished tannins, smooth, moderate finish. Vick's or Nyquil type aromas.
  
  Not what I expeced...smoother than i thought, more licorice and cough syrup than I thought. I don't love it but I think I like it. I might really like it, but not a love. I'll try again in a few days.
  
  UPDATE: After a few more glasses, I appreciate this more. Still not a love, but it's a simple daily sippable malbec with good concentration and intensity. Bit linear without much development and a bit too menthol and anise licorice, but still tasty.

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  3/20/2023 - Dozhdbog Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Inky purple in the glass with a garnet meniscus that tinges slightly orange with time.
  A lovely nose of candied violets, blueberries, and thyme.
  The palate extends those aromatic notes along a deep vein of mocha and ripe bing cherry. The tannins are integrating nicely and holding the structure up to a fine acidic top note.
  It's not a powerhouse wine, but it is elegant, smooth, and well balanced with a moderately long finish of allspice and supple leather.
  Still a touch young for my taste but showing well nonetheless.

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  9/30/2021 - Hi.its.Don.4.Wine Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Lighting Does Strike Twice
  
  Just over a year ago I reviewed the previous vintage of today’s wine with results that can only be called a case of lightning striking twice! It’s no wonder given the meticulous efforts that Susana Balbo goes to in producing their wines. Her “Crios” line is a testament that you can make wonderful wines at a very reasonable price. The lightning this time:
  
  Susana Balbo "Crios" Malbec Mendoza 2019
  
  The Crios line of wines was born out of Susana Balbo’s love for her children and desire to forge a legacy for her family. Together with her dedication to sustainability in the fields and eco-friendly approaches in every part of the winery and tourism operations, it is a model for others to replicate.
  
  From the higher reaches (3,600‘) of Valle de Uco in Mendoza Argentina, the grapes are hand-harvested and aged in neutral French Oak for 8 months to help retain the wine's freshness and fruit. Starting with lighter red fruit combined with a hint of plum, the wine’s tannins are softer in style allowing for that freshness and nice acidity to bloom and trail on through a spice-filled finish that’s so enjoyable and at a price right around $10. How do you beat that?
  
  In both this and last year’s vintage, my initial interest came from 92- and 91-point scores respectfully. Seems to bear out the title of this post; “Lightning does strike twice.”
  
  Cheers

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  4/21/2021 - kostaslonis wrote: 88 Points

  Susane Balbo wine tasting (Oinoscent): 40% used oak 3rd & 4th use, for 8 months, vineyard at 1100m
  The wine shows density, pure blue and black fruit.
  The wine shows freshness in the palate, vegetal notes, tannins and acidity, minerality, medium finish.
  A nice everyday wine

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