ArgentinaMalbec, Cabernet Sauvignon
75cl * 14.5% * Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Zuccardi is a family business, founded in 1963 Alberto 'Tito' Zuccardi and now made and run by the third generation, Alberto's grandson, Sebastián Zuccardi. This is the first of the Zuccardi wines to bear the family name, and Sebastián pays homage to his father, José, who has been a driving force in introducing high-quality Argentinian wine to the world.
This is an intriguing wine, not just because the experience of drinking it draws you back for another taste but also because it is a considered wine, from the very sites of vineyard selection to the winemaking and even its name and label design.
The vineyards are selected because they provide the best microclimate for growing high quality Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Both are in the Uco Valley but at either end, one Paraje Altamira, is on a high-altitude plain, cool temperatures and granite gravel soils temper the grapes and assist in producing high quality grapes. The other site, Gualtallary, is in the high foothills of the Andes, truly a high-altitude desert area. Here the temperatures assist again and the mineral soils give good nutrients to the struggling vines, helping to produce concentrated fruit.
2019 was an exceptional vintage for Zuccardi. The climactic conditions were perfect giving the wine good natural acidity, well-structured tannins, excellent fruit flavours and no over ripeness. The blend is 95% Malbec and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and the wine was fermented in concrete vessels before being aged for 24-months in oak foudres (2,500-litres).
When you come to drink this wine it is a joy from start to finish. The notes that greet you are of violet, wet stone and rick black berries. There is also something a little green, perhaps the high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon coming through. On the palate, you are greeted with blackberry, blueberry and blackcurrant along with some delicate spice notes. There is delicious aged quality to with some dried fruit and stewed fruit notes. The finish is long and decadent. Truly a delicious wine and when we tasted it, the Taurus wine team loved this wine.
When you pair with food channel the Argentinian style and fire up some wood and get the grill out. Particularly good with grilled pork ribs!
Drink now-2029