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Mendoza, Argentina backed by the Andes Mountains          YOU LOVE MALBEC!  I FOUND A SERIOUS ONE!   08 SUSANA BALBO        Argentine Malbec from the Mendoza region can produce world class wines.  One only needs to try the best low yield, high elevation efforts of Achaval Ferrer, Vina Cobos (Paul Hobbs), and Bodegas Catena Zapata, to realize Malbec is king in Mendoza, like Cabernet Sauvignon is to Bordeaux or Napa Valley.  Uno problemo!  $$$!  On the otherhand, I am exasperated at the sea of overpriced, insipid, tank raised- innerstaven-oak flavor enhanced, Malbec flooding the US market, to fool the unknowing consumer.  So, when I do find a serious, examplary Mendoza Malbec at an affordable price, I am very eager to share it with you!      Susana Balbo has been making wine since she earned her enology degree in 1981. She has made wine in Australia, California, Chile, France, Italy, South Africa, and Spain, and she spends a month each year in a different wine region of the world studying with local winemakers and growers.  Susana Balbo is easily recognized as one of Mendoza's finest, and most reputable winemakers, but do not confuse this 08 Malbec with her very good, but more standard everyday value Malbec from her "Crios" series of wine.   Susana's Signature wines, like this 08 Malbec, are the ultimate expression of her skill and artistry. Top barrel selections from her overall production are complex and powerful, yet with an elegance and finesse that only Susana can achieve quite so perfectly.  This wine was aged for 13 months in 80% new French oak and 20% second used American oak barrels.  This 100% Malbec was sourced from 30+ year old vineyards situated in two of Mendoza's finest regions (Lujan de Cuyo & Alto Agrelo) at an average elevation of 3200 feet.    On Tuesday when I sampled the 08 Susana Balbo Malbec, all I could say was HOLY MACKEREL!  Simply put, it KNOCKED ME OUT!       My thoughts-   Beautiful deep redish-blue color with exploding aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and violets framed by wisps of oak and mint. The wonderful aromas are mirrored on the palate, and joined by ripe dark blue plum fruit with a hint of grilled bread, vanilla, bittersweet chocolate, and again a touch of mint on the finish. A ripe, rich, focused style of wine, but with a sense of restraint that only gains more style points on the long finish.  Perfect with the traditional Argentine beef asado, but the 08 Susana Balbo will pair well with a wide range of foods from pork, kid goat (a favorite of mine since our visit to Argentina and Chile), to game birds or even meat-based pastas. This is what REAL Malbec is all about.  Should drink splendidly for the next 2-3 years, then enjoy the sublime as it begins to mellow down.     91 Points, Wine Spectator "Creamy and pure, with gorgeous spice and black tea aromas leading the way for lush, velvety raspberry, cassis and boysenberry fruit. It all sails through the full-bodied, supple finish. Drink now through 2011." JM    91 Points, Wine Advocate, Robert Parker "Purple-colored, the nose offers up toasty oak, cinnamon, allspice, and black cherry. Medium- to full-bodied, it has excellent depth and grip, savory flavors, and enough fine-grained tannin to evolve for 2-3 years. It can be enjoyed from 2011 to 2017." PRICE!     2008 SUSANA BALBO MALBEC - MENDOZA, ARGENTINA   SHOULD BE $28.50 A BOTTLE!    NOW $25.50   3 bottles at $23.95 6 bottles at $21.95   GO FOR THE GUSTO! 12 or more bottles at $19.95   ORDER BY REPLYING DIRECTLY TO THIS EMAIL!       SATURDAY'S TASTING BAR LINEUP!       NEW ARRIVALS!        Eric Stumpf  Renee Kroeger  8039 Greenback Lane Citrus Heights, CA  95610 (916) 721-WINE (9463) wwwTheWineConsultant.com

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