Saturday, December 06, 2008

In "Better Homes and Gardens" this month...

Crios de Susana Balbo

Second label wines often have somewhat poetic names—Bordeaux’s Fleur de Fonplégade comes to mind, as does Crios by Susana Balbo.

Argentine winemaker Susana Balbo chose the word crios (which means offspring) to express the idea that these wines are not quite as “grown up” as her first label wines. While Crios wines may not exhibit the same level of maturity as Balbo’s more renown (and expensive) Signature wines, Balbo assures wine-lovers that Crios wines have received the same loving care and attention throughout the winemaking process.

Bottles to look for include:

  • Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes ($15) A fascinating wine—floral, feminine, and a bit racy, it’s a like a cross between Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. It’s made from the Torrontes grape, the most widely planted white wine grape in Argentina.
  • Crios de Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon ($15): Tastes like an expensive Cab—but at a moderate price. Find classic Cab flavors of black currant and cedar in a rich, ripe package.
  • Crios de Susan Balbo Malbec ($18): Ruby-garnet in color, this is a classic Argentine Malbec, exhibiting dark-red fruits, pronounced tannins, and toasty-oak. Like many Malbecs, it’s dry—a good companion for a juicy steak or burger.

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