Susana Balbo Brioso 2022
A flagship Bordeaux-style blend from one of Argentina’s most celebrated winemakers, combining Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot into a wine of remarkable depth, elegance, and ageing potential.
Susana Balbo Brioso 2022 is one of the signature wines of Argentina’s most influential female winemaker. Often referred to as the "Queen of Torrontés," Susana Balbo has played a pivotal role in shaping modern Argentine wine and was the first woman to graduate as an oenologist in Argentina. Over several decades, she has built an international reputation for producing wines that combine New World fruit expression with European structure and finesse.
Brioso sits at the pinnacle of the Signature range and represents Balbo’s interpretation of a world-class Bordeaux blend using Mendoza fruit. The wine is sourced primarily from estate vineyards in Agrelo and the Uco Valley, where high-altitude vineyards benefit from intense sunlight, cool nights, and low disease pressure. These conditions allow grapes to achieve exceptional ripeness while retaining freshness and aromatic definition.
For those seeking a premium Argentine red capable of competing with leading Bordeaux blends from around the world, Brioso 2022 represents one of Mendoza’s standout wines.
Argentina
Mendoza
Blend
750ml
14.50%
2022The 2022 blend consists of approximately 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Petit Verdot. Each variety contributes a specific role within the final wine. Cabernet Sauvignon provides backbone and structure, Malbec contributes richness and dark fruit, Cabernet Franc adds aromatic lift and finesse, while Petit Verdot brings colour, spice, and additional ageing potential.
The wine is matured for approximately 15 months in French oak barrels, many of them new, creating additional layers of complexity without overwhelming the fruit. The result is a wine that feels polished and sophisticated rather than overtly oaky. The oak supports the wine's texture and longevity while allowing the purity of the fruit to remain centre stage.
The 2022 vintage produced a Brioso that is both powerful and remarkably balanced. Critical reviews highlighted its structure, concentration, and complexity, while noting its ability to evolve over many years in bottle. Although approachable in youth with decanting, the wine possesses the depth and framework to reward long-term cellaring.
A dry, full-bodied red wine with concentrated black fruit, polished tannins, vibrant acidity, and exceptional balance. The wine combines the richness associated with premium Mendoza reds with a level of structure and restraint more commonly associated with top Bordeaux blends.
Unlike heavily extracted or overtly ripe New World reds, Brioso maintains freshness and precision throughout. The blend is layered and complex rather than simply powerful, allowing the individual grape varieties to contribute harmony and nuance.
In simple terms: a serious, premium Argentine red packed with dark fruit, spice, and elegance - powerful enough for collectors but polished enough to enjoy today.
- Appearance: Deep ruby-purple with exceptional concentration.
- Nose: Cassis, blackberry, violet, cedar, cocoa, and graphite.
- Palate: Rich dark fruit supported by freshness, fine tannins, and integrated oak.
- Texture: Full-bodied, polished, and beautifully layered.
- Finish: Long, elegant, savoury, and remarkably persistent.
- Grilled Ribeye Steak – The wine’s structure and concentration make it an outstanding match for premium beef.
- Roast Lamb – Rich enough to complement slow-roasted lamb and herb crusts.
- Venison – Excellent with game dishes and berry reductions.
- Braised Short Ribs – The wine’s depth works beautifully with slow-cooked meats.
- Aged Hard Cheeses – Particularly strong with Manchego, Comté, and mature Cheddar.
- Serve at 16–18°C.
- Decant for approximately 60–90 minutes while young.
- Use a large Bordeaux-style glass.
- Drink now with decanting or cellar comfortably through 2040 and beyond.
