When Argentina decided to up its game a few decades ago, their first important female wine maker was at the head of the movement. Hugh checks out the latest offerings from Susan Balbo.

Price key: $=less than $20 $$= $20-40 $$$=$40-60 $$$$=above $60

Quality key: * = decent wine ** = very good wine *** = superb wine ****= elite

VALUE = exceptional quality for the money

Susan Balbo Crios Malbec, Mendoza ’24 ** $ VALUE

(Clean and fresh, textbook malbec, cherry, spice and violets throughout)

Susan Balbo Crios Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza ’22 **1/2 $ VALUE

(Classic Argentine cab sauv, sweet oak and cherry flavors, approachable and drinkable)

WINE OF THE WEEK

Susan Balbo Crios Torrontes, Mendoza ‘24 **1/2 $ VALUE

(Argentina’s best white wine, dry, aromatic with spice and floral notes, balanced)

All of these wines can be purchased at Wells Discount Liquors.

Founded by an immigrant Frenchman in 1990, the original intent was to produce Malbecs with high quality and finesse. Fabre-Montmayou continues to turn out some of the best Argentine reds at affordable prices, including superb cabernet sauvignon. Check out this week's recommended wines on WYPR.org.

Not quite as well known as its neighbor Rioja, Ribera del Duero nevertheless is one of Spain’s most esteemed appellations. Big powerful reds with considerable complexity, these wines deserve a much bigger audience.

It’s taken a while for South African Pinotage to catch on, but they’ve really made some impressive strides lately. Hugh gives us an update on this intriguing red wine.

If you’ve spent any time in Barcelona, you would have discovered their passion for the fortified wine called Vermouth. Produced both as a red and white, they hold a unique and important position in the world of wine. It’s the “botanical” flavors that matter.

Piedmont may be the home of Barolo and Barbaresco, but it’s also home to a number of super tasty whites. Hugh conducts a survey course of these tantalizing wines.

Carrying on last week’s theme of lighter reds, Hugh talks about the King of them all, the super popular Valpolicello Ripassos from the Veneto.

With the winter-time in the rear-view mirror, we can be forgiven for wanting to lighten up our red wine selections. Al looks at a group of light reds from Italy.

It’s never the wrong season for rosé wine, as its year-round popularity attests. Al takes a look at three superb examples produced in different styles.

Once terribly obscure, Albariño has become a staple in our white wine arsenal. This Spanish Superstar has found a dedicated following here in the States.