Osadía de Crear Malbec - Susana Balbo

The Osadía de Crear Malbec - Susana Balbo shines in the glass with a dense ruby red, a violet core and fine purple glints at the rim. As soon as you swirl the glass, an intense aroma rises that immediately captivates. On the nose, there are ripe cherries, juicy prunes and dark berries. A hint of violet joins in, along with fine herbal spice, a touch of black pepper and an elegant note of vanilla from aging in small oak barrels.

The first sip comes across as powerful and at the same time astonishingly precise. On the palate, this Malbec from the cool Uco Valley in Mendoza reveals a dense, fleshy texture with plenty of pressure on the tongue. Ripe cherries, stewed plums, blackberry and a hint of cassis stretch across the mid-palate. Spicy nuances of cocoa, cedarwood, clove and a touch of tobacco add depth. The acidity is clear and fresh, giving the wine vibrant tension and carrying the dark fruit elegantly.

The tannins take hold but feel finely structured and velvety. They are present, yet never harsh. This creates an exciting interplay between opulence and finesse. The wine tastes dry, concentrated and structured, without seeming too heavy. As the wine flows across the palate, it reveals not only fruit but also subtle mineral notes. The terroir of the Uco Valley, with its barren, stony soils and high altitude in the Andes, clearly shapes its style.

On the long finish, cherry, prune and delicate floral violet nuances linger. Notes of dark chocolate, espresso and a touch of smoke join in. The aftertaste is very long and impresses with a harmonious interplay of fruit, spice, oak and tannin. The Osadía de Crear Malbec - Susana Balbo represents a modern Malbec style from cool-climate sites: concentrated yet precise, powerful yet not clumsy.

Typical for Malbec from the Uco Valley, this wine shows:

• dark, ripe fruit such as cherry, plum and blackberry
• floral tones of violet with a slightly perfumed expression
• spicy notes of pepper, cocoa and tobacco leaf
• fine vanilla and cedarwood from aging in barriques
• structured tannins with a dense, fleshy texture

This style is ideal for wine lovers who enjoy intense, powerful yet clearly defined red wines. The wine accompanies long evenings with friends, crackling fireside moments and festive dinner tables. With its clear origin and varietal purity, this Malbec shows how elegant the high-altitude sites of Mendoza can be.

For full enjoyment, here is a brief overview of the wine’s strengths:

1. Characterful Malbec fruit from cool high-altitude sites
2. harmonious use of oak with 225-liter barriques
3. dense, fleshy structure and a very long finish
4. precise, fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins
5. impressive aging potential of up to ten years

The Osadía de Crear Malbec - Susana Balbo thus radiates a rare combination of power, elegance and tension. It is an ideal match for pleasurable moments when a wine with personality sets the tone.

Production of Osadía de Crear Malbec by Susana Balbo

The grapes come from the Uco Valley in Mendoza, one of Argentina’s most exciting regions. The valley lies at the foot of the Andes, with high-altitude vineyards and strong temperature differences between day and night. These conditions give Malbec fresh acidity, deep color and impressive aromatics. The soils consist of gravel, sand, scree and portions of limestone. The result is marked minerality and firm structure.

In these cool high-altitude sites, Malbec shows its full strength. The variety brings dark fruit, richness and deeply colored wines to the glass. In the style of this wine, Malbec presents plenty of fruit core, but also elegant spice and floral notes. The result is a wine with clear varietal identity and a strong sense of terroir.

The grapes are harvested by hand. The team in the vineyard sorts directly on the vine, selecting only the ripest grapes. After hand harvesting, there is another selection on the sorting table. Only intact, perfectly ripe berries make it into the fermentation vessel. Harvesting takes place mostly in the cooler morning hours so that the grapes arrive fresh in the cellar and retain their aromas.

In the cellar, the winery relies on gentle processing. First, the grapes are destemmed. This is followed by gentle crushing of the berries. A short maceration at cool temperatures intensifies color and fruit. Fermentation takes place under temperature control in order to clearly bring out the fine aromas of cherry, prune and violet.

During fermentation, the cellar master regularly submerges the cap in the must. This releases the desired amount of tannin, color and aroma. After the end of alcoholic fermentation, the wine is aged in small oak barrels. It matures for around eight months in 225-liter barriques. Some of the barrels are made of French oak, some of American oak, which contributes vanilla, cedarwood and subtle toast notes.

Extended contact with the fine lees lends the wine additional creaminess and results in a finer texture. As a result, the tannins appear rounder while the wine retains its lively tension. Finally, a gentle filtration ensures that the wine flows clear into the glass while preserving its depth. Every step of production targets a clear style: powerful Malbec with elegance, freshness and precise structure.

Serving recommendations for Osadía de Crear Malbec by Susana Balbo

This Argentine red wine pairs ideally with dark dishes. With juicy grilled beef, ribeye steak, roast beef or lamb chops, the Malbec shows its full strength. The dense, fleshy structure forms a fitting counterpart to the intense roasted aromas from the grill. Game dishes with venison, roe deer or wild boar also harmonize wonderfully, ideally with dark jus, cranberries or robust herb crusts.

The wine also shows great class alongside hearty light-meat dishes. Braised veal cheeks, coq au vin, braised chicken thighs with thyme or a rich lasagna provide an ideal stage. Spicy, piquant dishes with chili, paprika, pimentón or smoked paprika powder are also excellent matches. Argentine empanadas filled with beef, chorizo or black beans likewise pair beautifully.

Vegetarian gourmets should opt for dishes with roasted notes and depth. Grilled vegetables, stuffed peppers, ratatouille or braised eggplant all harmonize very well. Mature hard cheeses such as Manchego, aged Gouda or a robust mountain cheese make for an impressive finale. A risotto with mushrooms, truffle or intense herbs is also a very good match.

As a companion to a barbecue party, this Malbec shines alongside steaks, burgers and grilled vegetables. By the fireplace, it fills the glass with warmth, dark fruit and a hint of smoke. While cooking with friends, it provides a talking point and accompanies the journey from the first sear in the pan to the last plate on the table. At a romantic dinner, its sensual fruit and long finish create a charming highlight.

The ideal serving temperature is between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius. A carafe or decanter is recommended for younger vintages that still need some air. About one hour of aeration opens up the dark fruit aromas and makes the wood and tannins seem more refined. In a large, bulbous red wine glass, the wine fully unfolds its aromatics and texture.

With proper storage in a cool, dark place, this Malbec will mature for around ten years from the vintage. With some time, it develops even more complex notes of leather, tobacco, dried herbs and fine truffle spice. Thus, the wine offers an impressive tasting experience both when enjoyed young and after a few years in the cellar.

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