The "new wave" of Argentinian wines continue to deliver on the promise of their extreme, high-altitude regions. Some of the most exciting bottles come from the Altamira district, which lies at the foot of the Andes Mountains at a dramatic 3,500ft above sea level. The bold landscape makes its impression on these wines with their combination of aromatic intensity, mineral sensations, and purity of expression with a suave and sleek, ripe-fruited base.
In the hands of the best, like Sebastian Zuccardi of the family-run Zuccardi winery, this combination reaches a resonating harmony. He's a third-generation winemaker, and the driving force that helped earn the family a New World Winery of the Year award from Wine Enthusiast, a prominent spot in Tim Atkin's list of Top 10 South American Winemakers for Decanter Magazine, and several 100-point scores from Wine Advocate!
This wine comes from Zuccardi's Uco Canal vineyard, named for the bordering channel that brings in fresh mountain water from the Tunuyán River. It's the ancient flow of that river, in fact, that deposited the mix of sand and stones that help make this an ideal spot for great wine. Zuccardi's 2020 Finca Canal Uco Malbec is more intense and driven than the norm, with stony, floral-tinged aromas, a saturated palate driven by savory-edged red and blue fruits, and a softly 'mineral' structure of fine, gravelly tannins and vibrant, saline acidity. This is already a pleasure to drink now with some breathing time in the decanter, but it'll evolve beautifully over the coming years. Argentina is famous for its grilled meats, and we can't think of a better pairing!
JAMES SUCKLING 99 POINTS - "Pristine and fresh but also complex and deep. Tile [terracotta], wild herbs and lots of blueberries and flowers on the nose. The ultra-fine, immaculate tannins are fully dissolved on the full-bodied palate. A great malbec that is so smooth on the palate. Super polished but intellectual. A baby now."
In the hands of the best, like Sebastian Zuccardi of the family-run Zuccardi winery, this combination reaches a resonating harmony. He's a third-generation winemaker, and the driving force that helped earn the family a New World Winery of the Year award from Wine Enthusiast, a prominent spot in Tim Atkin's list of Top 10 South American Winemakers for Decanter Magazine, and several 100-point scores from Wine Advocate!
This wine comes from Zuccardi's Uco Canal vineyard, named for the bordering channel that brings in fresh mountain water from the Tunuyán River. It's the ancient flow of that river, in fact, that deposited the mix of sand and stones that help make this an ideal spot for great wine. Zuccardi's 2020 Finca Canal Uco Malbec is more intense and driven than the norm, with stony, floral-tinged aromas, a saturated palate driven by savory-edged red and blue fruits, and a softly 'mineral' structure of fine, gravelly tannins and vibrant, saline acidity. This is already a pleasure to drink now with some breathing time in the decanter, but it'll evolve beautifully over the coming years. Argentina is famous for its grilled meats, and we can't think of a better pairing!
JAMES SUCKLING 99 POINTS - "Pristine and fresh but also complex and deep. Tile [terracotta], wild herbs and lots of blueberries and flowers on the nose. The ultra-fine, immaculate tannins are fully dissolved on the full-bodied palate. A great malbec that is so smooth on the palate. Super polished but intellectual. A baby now."
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