2013 BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon Los Arboles 750 ml

Napa Cabernet Aficionados’ Case Buy

Clear skies, towering peaks, and an altitude of 3,500 feet characterize Los Árboles, one of the premier subregions in the Uco Valley for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. Mountainous terrain, well-draining soils and little rainfall yields beautifully structured and immensely concentrated red — none more so than the 2013 BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon. Given its $16.99 price tag and 91 points from Tim Atkin MW, this tastes as good, if not better, than some Napa Cabernets we’ve tasted recently. Under the watchful eye of pioneering female viticulturalist Susana Balbo — her meticulous approach is derived from time spent the world over, consulting in Spain, Italy, Australia and California — BenMarco has emerged as a bastion of value in Argentina. The Wine Advocate called the 2013 BenMarco “long and easy to drink,” with “nice freshness” and “good varietal character.” Our recommendation is to lock this one up by the case.

If you know what to look for, Argentina can outmatch just about any viticultural area in the world in terms of value. Take for instance, the Cabernet Sauvignon wines under $20 coming from Los Arboles, one of the Uco Valley’s premier sub-appellations. The growing season seems to stretch on forever — 250 days on average — which allows slow, steady ripening of grapes and a beautiful, elegant balance of acids and sugars.

Cabernets and Malbecs produced by BenMarco Proprietor, Susana Balbo, possess the kind of boldness, freshness, and seductive florality usually reserved for bottlings with much greater price tags. The first woman in Argentina to receive an enology degree, and winemaker Edy Del Populo is one of the most respected in the country. Together, they’ve raised the bar in Argentina without raising the cost.