Zuccardi Jose Zuccardi Malbec 2013
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Winemaker Notes
Sebastian Zuccardi made this wine in honor of his father, José Alberto Zuccardi. Created in a more traditional style, the wine symbolizes Jose’s passion for his family, his workers, and his commitment to showcasing the quality of mountain wines from Mendoza. Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon from the calcareous soils of Paraje Altamira & Gualtallary vineyards in the Uco Valley. After careful grape selection the wine was vinified in concrete vats filled by gravity and fermented with indigenous (wild) yeasts. Macerated for 20 days with daily submerging of the layer of grape stems, seeds and skins during fermentation to gently extract color, tannins, flavor and aromas from the grape solids. The wine was aged in oak barrels and concrete vessels. Bottled unfiltered.
Intense red black color with aromas and flavors of ripe blackberry and red plum underscored by subtle spicy notes. The firm tannins and bright acidity give structure and freshness to the wine while enhancing the long, smooth finish.
Blend: 90% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A serious red with layers of blackberry, wet earth and stone character. Flowers too. Full body, silky tannins and a fresh finish. Black pepper and spice on the finish. Drink.
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Wine Spectator
Suave and finely textured, with an engaging minerality to the dark plum, red currant and dried blackberry flavors, supported by firm tannins and acidity. The savory finish has hints of pepper and plenty of cedary spice accents. Drink now through 2024.
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Wine & Spirits
José Zuccardi, the son of the winery’s founder, helped to develop the international market for his family’s wines. José’s son, Sebastián, is now in charge of winemaking and makes this malbec in homage to his father. He selects fruit from a vineyard in Altamira with chalk soils, offering a wine with distinctive tannins, firm and sharp, sustaining flavors of black cherries and spice. It’s generous rather than concentrated, with floral notes in a refreshing finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
A crisp, focused nose consisting of lemon peel, cedar, dried cheese, blackberry and cassis aromas is encouraging. This Malbec (with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon) is mouth-filling and tight, with firm tannins. Pointed salty flavors of black plum and berry fruits finish with integrated spice and cocoa notes. Drink now through 2024—the longer this sits, the less aggressive and choppy it'll be.
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A few years before 1950, Ing. Alberto Zuccardi reaches Mendoza from his homeland in Tucuman where their great-grandparents had settled upon arriving in the Italian region of AveIino. In 1963, Alberto implanted a vineyard in the region of Maipu not knowing that it would begin the great passion of his life, the wine industry. In 1990, his son, Jose Alberto Zuccardi, assumed the General Director of the company.
In 2005, Sebastian Zuccardi, third generation of the family, lead the development of the new stage of the wines of the winery expansion into the Uco Valley. On his initiative, since 2008 the winery has an area of Research and Development dedicated to the study of the terroir and the different variables that affect wine production. In 2013 the construction of the new Zuccardi winery in the Uco Valley began. It opened in March 2016 with the premise of producing wines with identity, through the continuous exploration of the different terroirs of the Uco Valley.
The Zuccardi family’s approach to sustainability starts with the environment and people before any product. They’re dedicated to producing the highest quality wines through sustainable practices such as a focus on nurturing biodiversity, organic farming, efficient irrigation practices, composting, water treatment, comprehensive waste and recycling efforts, and the use of solar energy. The winery itself is designed to be naturally energy efficient by maximizing natural light and minimizing electricity consumption. Its concrete walls fulfill the function of a thermal insulator, the movements of liquid are caused by gravity and the concrete-designed vessels allow for a natural control of the temperature of the wine. As a third generation family-owned winery, the Zuccardi’s take seriously their responsibility to protect the environment, support the land, the farmers and uplift the local community. Through building schools, offering free education, fostering equality, banning child labor, and subsidizing health care, they’re not only elevating their wines and the Uco Valley as a world class wine region, but also giving the people who have contributed to their success a path forward and upward mobility for their own families.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.