Susanna Balbo Signature Malbec 2015
Susanna Balbo was Argentina’s first female winemaker. She makes impressive wines in the Uco Valley of Mendoza. Currently at Vintages is her Signature Malbec 2015. Opaque purple in colour, it has earthy, black fruits on the nose, which is both spicy and slightly reductive. It’s medium to full-bodied with savoury but fruity plum and black cherry flavours and a mocha chocolate note on a firm finish with lively acidity. It costs $19.95 at Vintages outlets. Serve it with red meat dishes or game. That’s Susanna Balbo Signature Malbec 2015 from Argentina. For Post City Magazines, I’m Tony Aspler, 680 NEWS. ($19.95, Vintages #79798) (89)

Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
The Maipo Valley, the birthplace of Chilean wine, is the closest wine region to the capital, Santiago. There are nearly 3,000 hectares of vines here, more than half of are Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the earliest Maipo wineries, Viña Tarapacá, was established in 1874. Their Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is currently available at Vintages outlets. Dense purple in colour, the wine has a cedary, blackcurrant bouquet with vanilla oak notes; it’s medium to full-bodied, with a richly-extracted blackcurrant flavour, firmly structured with lively acidity and a herb-tinged finish. It costs $17.95 a bottle. Serve it with lamb dishes. That’s Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 from Chile. For Post City Magazines, I’m Tony Aspler 680 NEWS. ($17.95, Vintages #18721) (89)