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Cream Wine Company
118 N. Peoria St., 3rd Fl
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 421-1900 tel
(312) 421-1977 fax
service@creamwine.com

Home | Producers | BenMarco

BenMarco

www.dominiodelplata.com.ar

Susana Balbo

Country of Origin: Argentina
Location: Agrelo
People: Susana Balbo, Owner & Winemaker
Supplier: www.vineconnections.com

Pedro Marchevsky is one of the most experienced viticulturalists in Argentina today, with educational credentials to match-two degrees in the field of agriculture and enology and currently a professor of Irrigation and Drainage Cuyo University. Teamed up with winemaker, Susana Balbo, it is not surprising that BenMarco wines are stellar. BenMarco means son of Marco in Hebrew, which is a homage to his father who put him on the road to grape growing. Marchevsky's wines are perfect examples of how good the higher reaches of Mendoza can be for grape growing. Tannins are always ripe, smooth, with acidity keeping the palate fresh and finishes that linger. His emphasis is on Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, while his VMS (Vineyard Master Selection) is comprised of his best lots and is a blend of the latter and Bonarda with a tiny amount of Syrah. The wines feature judicious use of new French oak and used American oak barriques. BenMarco is now well-recognized now by mainstream media like the Wine Spectator and is frequently found near the top of the pack in Argentine reviews.

Quick Facts:
-Precision Viticulture creates incredible fruit.
-Winemaking focuses on preserving fruit character.
-Ripe fruit, soft tannins, complexity through blending.

Items

BenMarco 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza	Net Price	Reviews	Downloads	New!
BenMarco 2007 'Expresivo'	Net Price	Reviews	Downloads	New!
BenMarco 2008 Malbec, Mendoza	Net Price	Reviews	Downloads

Reviews

BenMarco 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza
Rating: 89

Ripe and round, with a delicious core of red currant, plum and fig fruit gently laced with sweet spice and licorice notes. The fruit is bright and persistent on the finish. Drink now. 3,000 cases made.

- The Wine Spectator (1/31/2009)

BenMarco 2008 Malbec, Mendoza
Rating: 89

Bright ruby-red. Black fruits, licorice, pepper and sexy spices on the nose. A sweet, supple midweight with a seamless texture, if not quite as nuanced as the cabernet. In a distinctly easygoing style, finishing with very sweet tannins.

- International Wine Cellar (1/30/2010)

BenMarco 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza
Rating: 89

Bright ruby-red. Musky, claret-like aromas of currant, briary tobacco and smoke, plus a whiff of sweet butter. Sweet and lush in the mouth, offering considerable early appeal. The briary berry flavors stand up to the ripe, building tannins. I prefer this to the 2007 version.

- International Wine Cellar (1/30/2010)

BenMarco 2007 'Expresivo' (wooden box)
Rating: 90

Bright ruby-red. Currant, plum, mocha, cola and chocolatey oak on the nose, lifted by a whiff of violet. Penetrating and intense, with juicy acidity restraining the wine's sweetness and nicely lifting its medium-bodied flavors of currant, plum, licorice and fresh herbs. The chocolatey oak component carries through on the palate. Finishes with dusty tannins and a bit of acidity yet to be absorbed.

- International Wine Cellar (1/30/2010)

BenMarco 2007 'Expresivo' (wooden box)
Rating: 92

Very ripe and opulent, this is crammed with blueberry, loganberry and linzer flavors that are laid over dense but polished structure. Lots of sweet spice, dark toast, black tea and licorice hints fill in on the finish. Malbec, Bonarda, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat. Drink now through 2012.

- The Wine Spectator (12/1/2009)

BenMarco 2007 'Expresivo' (wooden box)
Rating: 92

BenMarco is the personal project of renowned viticulturalist Pedro Marchevsky. The 2007 Expresivo is a blend of 50% Malbec, 15% Bonarda, 15% Syrah, and the balance Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat. It was aged for 14 months in new French and American oak before bottling without fining and filtration. Opaque purple-colored, it offers up an alluring bouquet of sandalwood, spice box, incense, black cherry, and blackberry. Medium- to full-bodied, it is already revealing considerable complexity, layered black fruit, plenty of spice notes and enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years. Give this classy effort another 2-3 years of bottle age and drink it from 2011 to 2022.

- The Wine Advocate (8/31/2009)

BenMarco 2008 Malbec, Mendoza
Rating: 90

The 2008 Malbec, which contains 10% Bonarda, spent 11 months in 50% new French oak and 50% first use American oak. Purple-colored, it reveals an expressive nose of wood smoke, cinnamon, incense, and black cherry. Round, ripe, medium-bodied, and savory, this layered effort has a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Enjoy it over the next 5 years. BenMarco is the personal project of renowned viticulturalist Pedro Marchevsky.

- The Wine Advocate (8/31/2009)

BenMarco 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza
Rating: 88

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon contains 10% Merlot and was aged for 8 months in a mix of new French oak and second use American oak. Purple-colored, it reveals an excellent nose of cedar, spice box, cassis, and violets. Medium-bodied, on the palate it has plenty of sweet fruit and ripe tannin but is in need of a bit more depth and concentration. Drink it over the next 6 years. BenMarco is the personal project of renowned viticulturalist Pedro Marchevsky.

- The Wine Advocate (8/31/2009)

BenMarco 2006 'Expresivo' (wooden box)
Rating: 92

The 2006 Expresivo is a blend of 60% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 10% Petit Verdot, and 10% Tannat aged 14 months in 70% new French and 30% new American oak before bottling without fining or filtration. Purple-colored, it delivers a fragrant, complex bouquet of wood smoke, baking spices, black cherry, blackberry, and blueberry. On the palate, notes of chocolate and sandalwood emerge accompanied by a layered, savory wine with tons of fruit, a forward personality, and exceptional depth and concentration. Drink this outstanding effort from 2011 to 2020. BenMarco is the label of Pedro Marchevsky, one of the more prominent viticulturalists in Argentina.

- The Wine Advocate (12/15/2008)

BenMarco 2007 Malbec, Mendoza
Rating: 91

At the suggested price, it is a steal. The 2007 Malbec contains 10% Bonarda. It received the same oak regimen as the Cabernet. Dark ruby/purple-colored, it exhibits a kinky perfume of black cherry, wild black raspberry, earth notes, and leather. On the palate there is plenty of jammy fruit, bright acidity, excellent balance, and a lengthy finish. While it may well evolve for 1-2 years, it can be enjoyed now. It too is a great value. BenMarco is the label of Pedro Marchevsky, one of the more prominent viticulturalists in Argentina.

- The Wine Advocate (12/15/2008)

BenMarco 2005 'Expresivo'
Rating: 92

Very modern style, with polished texture and dense, creamy layers of fig sauce, raspberry ganache, mocha and sweet incense. Long and dense finish but it just glides along. Very enticing. Malbec, Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot.

- The Wine Spectator (6/30/2008)

BenMarco 2006 Malbec, Mendoza
Rating: 90

"Quite ripe and forward, with lots of linzer torte, logan berry, melted licorice and plum cake flavors that glide along a sweet, round texture. Solid length too. Very tasty."

- The Wine Spectator (6/30/2008)

BenMarco 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza
Rating: 88

Good bright red. Aromatic nose offers redcurrant, tobacco and nutty oak. Supple, spicy and fine-grained, with moderate complexity and enticing sweetness to the currant and tobacco flavors. Finishes with firm but sweet tannins.

- International Wine Cellar (2/1/2008)

BenMarco 2006 Malbec, Mendoza
Rating: 90

Good full medium ruby. Primary scents of black fruits, violet and licorice pastille. Sweet and lush on entry, then primary and fruity in the middle, with noteworthy concentration and little obvious oakiness showing. Finishes with compelling sweetness and a suggestion of bitter chocolate. A couple years in bottle should bring more complexity. Both this and the 2005 version include 10% bonarda.

- International Wine Cellar (2/1/2008)

BenMarco 2005 Malbec, Mendoza
Rating: 90

- International Wine Cellar (2/1/2008)

BenMarco 2005 'Expresivo'
Rating: 91

A blend of 50% malbec, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 15% syrah, 10% bonarda and 5% merlot; this bottling was previously called VMS) Good deep red with ruby highlights. Aromas of currant, smoke, musky tobacco and nutty oak. Sweet, lush and fine-grained; this is quite suave and complex, with its creaminess given shape by ripe acidity. The lovely lingering finish shows real life and lift, and the tannins are sweet. Should develop nicely with a few more years in bottle.

- International Wine Cellar (2/1/2008)

BenMarco 2004 'Expresivo'
Rating: 89

Bright ruby-red. Rather tight nose hints at violet, roasted meat and liqueur-like dark fruits. Fat, sweet and thick with dark roasted fruit flavors; as ripe as this is, it can't quite match the 2005 for complexity or finishing thrust. The ripe tannins will not get in the way of enjoying this pleasant, supple wine on the early side for its fruit.

- International Wine Cellar (2/1/2008)

BenMarco 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza
Rating: 90

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (which contains 10% Malbec) spent 10 months in 50% new French oak and 50% 1 year American oak. Deep crimson-colored, it has an attractive bouquet of cedar, coffee, cassis, and black currants. This leads to a medium-bodied, fruit-driven wine with light tannin, silky fruit, and good length. Drink this Bordeaux-styled Cabernet over the next 6 years. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Owner Pedro Marchevsky, the husband of Susana Balbo, is a renowned viticulturist in Mendoza.

- The Wine Advocate (12/21/2007)

BenMarco 2006 Malbec, Mendoza
Rating: 91

The 2006 Malbec (with 10% Bonarda) received 11 months in 50% new French oak and 50% 1 year American oak. Purple-colored, it offers an attractive toasty, smoky nose with notes of earth and black cherry. Medium-bodied and elegant, it is smooth-textured, ripe and concentrated with enough silky tannin to allow several years of development. It should drink well through 2020. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Owner Pedro Marchevsky, the husband of Susana Balbo, is a renowned viticulturist in Mendoza.

- The Wine Advocate (4/16/2008)

BenMarco 2005 'Expresivo'
Rating: 90

The 2005 Expresivo is composed of 55% Malbec, 15% Bonarda, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 10% Syrah aged for 14 months in 50% new French oak and 50% 1 year American oak. A saturated purple, it has a perfume of cedar, spice box, blueberry, and black cherry. On the palate it is medium-bodied, graceful, and complex with plenty of spicy fruit, soft tannin, good balance, and excellent length. Give it 2-3 years and drink it through 2020. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Owner Pedro Marchevsky, the husband of Susana Balbo, is a renowned viticulturist in Mendoza.

- The Wine Advocate (4/16/2008)

BenMarco 2004 Malbec, Mendoza
Rating: 90

- The Wine Spectator (11/30/2006)

BenMarco 2004 Malbec, Mendoza
Rating: 88

Concentrated with lots of raspberry and red current supported by modest toast and mineral notes.

- The Wine Spectator (10/31/2006)

BenMarco 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza
Rating: 87

Has a nice floral hint, with red currant, plum, spice and tobacco notes. Slightly firm, raisiny hint to the finish, but with solid flesh midpalate. Drink now. 1,500 cases made.

- The Wine Spectator (10/15/2006)

BenMarco 2003 Expresivo
Rating: 91

Bright ruby-red. Pure, primary aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, violet and smoke, with a suggestion of of slightly roasted ripeness. Sweet, silky, and lush with black cherry, bitter chocolate and menthol flavors building in exorably on the palate and lingering impressively on the finish, which features aromatic suggestions of leather and sweet oak. The tannins are broad and suave.

- International Wine Cellar (7/6/2006)