Aromas of black berry, damson plum cassis and vanilla. On the palate this is concentrated and full of elegance and finesse. Small blue fruits, especially currants, and nice depth of flavor with fine/silky tannins to support.

WINE INFORMATION

Ben Marco 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 vineyard manager. He has tasted almost every piece of dirt!

Ben Marco 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.”

Gualtallary is one of the coolest climates within the Uco Valley. It could be compared with Burgundy but is regularly situated in the same pattern than higher Bordeaux or Napa (as far as heat summation is concerned). Soils of North West Gualtallary are typically alluvial. Wind erosion has placed 4 inches of natural vegetation on this soil, forming the first layer. Down to a depth of 7 feet, the soil is rocky and gravelly and has medium size alluvial stones coated with calcareous and mixed with calcium carbonate crusts (caliche). The deepest layer sits over a big river bed of alluvial stones and gravels. The soil is extremely poor in organic material and has a very good drainage leading the plant to go deeper underground.

Grapes are hand-harvested and hand-sorted. After destemming the grapes are lightly crushed. After fermentation at relatively warm temperatures the wine is aged for 14 months, in French oak barrels (70% new, 30% second-use).

Duck, Ham, Hearty stew, Lamb, Mexican, Pork, Red Meat, Slow-smoked Barbeque/BBQ Sauce, Wild Game