Zuccardi Jose Zuccardi Malbec 2020
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James
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Enthusiast - Vinous
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Intense red black Complex nose that highlights ripe black and red fruit aromas; subtle spicy notes. Firm and mature tannins that give structure to the wine. Fresh and elegant due to great acidity. Long finish.
José Zuccardi is a Malbec from the mountain, from vineyards in Uco Valley with a high concentration of stones and calcium carbonate in the soils. It is fermented in concrete tanks without epoxy and aged in large oak barrels (foudres).
Blend: 95% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A more savory and expressive malbec from Zuccardi with a touch of sweet spice to the blackberries and graphite. The fruit here is riper in comparison to the other wines from Zuccardi. The tannins are really fine with a juicy finish. A wine that honors Jose Zuccardi. Drink or hold.
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Decanter
Expressive notes of wild herbs, fragrant violets, dark cherries and plums. Well structured with dusty tannins and an emphasis on freshness. An enjoyable, well-balanced style with a taut finish.
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Wine Spectator
There's a lovely floral thyme and roasted plum note to the polished graphite- and berry-laced core that shows twinges of licorice, orange peel and peppercorn as it works its way to the lengthy finish around well-integrated tannins. Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2035
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Wine Enthusiast
Aged in large foudres, this aromatic Malbec shows balance amid the warm vintage. Notes of violets and berry jam shape the nose. Solid tannins and lifting acidity support flavors of ripe black fruit and rosemary on the smooth palate. It offers rich notes of plums in the finish.
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Vinous
The 2020 Malbec José Zuccardi, sourced from Paraje Altamira and Gualtallary, spent two years in foudres. This deep purple-hued Malbec unveils aromas of currant, sun-kissed fruit and marmalade, with subtle notes of cinnamon and cedar from the oak. The finish brings out hints of thyme and chalky tannins, leaving a compact aftertaste. The ripe character of this 2020 vintage complements its aging, making it a more approachable yet savory take on a Malbec.
Other Vintages
2019-
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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.