PRODUCT OVERVIEW/REVIEWS:
The Zuccardi Winery is the crown jewel of an Argentinian family dynasty that started with the establishment of the Santa Julia Winery in Mendoza in 1963 by Alberto Zuccardi. Santa Julia based its enormous success on the production of the highest quality wines made in harmony with the environment and with reverence for the rich terroir of Mendoza.
Third-generation owner and winemaker Sebastián Zuccardi, dubbed a "terroir-ist" by Wine Advocate, spearheaded the construction of the winery bearing the family name in the Uco Valley; it is here that he has built upon the family tradition and crafted some of the most prolific wines that have come out of Mendoza. How? He knows not to interfere with the gifts that nature has bestowed on his vineyards. He takes a non-interventionist approach to his craft, creating wines that are decadent reflections of this sun-drenched land.
Today's wine is a spectacularly opulent yet elegant tribute to the viticultural gifts of the Uco Valley. It is sourced entirely from the Finca (Vineyard) Piedra Infinita in Paraje Altamira, La Consulta, which sits at an altitude of 3600 feet and has soil comprised of alluvial deposits, gravel, and calcium carbonate. Sebastián Zuccardi eschews oak barrels in favor of egg-shaped concrete vats for fermentation and aging so that the beautiful interplay between grape and terroir takes center stage in the finished wine.
Check out the press!
95 points, James Suckling:
“Lots of blackberry and blueberry character with stone and dried mint. It’s fermented with skins in concrete and aged there for eight months. This no-wood red is a joy. ” (2/9/20)
95 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
“The 2019 Concreto Malbec was produced with a selection of very stony soils. Altamira is the "paraje" or zone/quarter within the village, something larger than a vineyard, They ferment with 100% full clusters but avoid the carbonic maceration, looking for the expression of very early-harvested grapes and looking for texture. This is very precise and balanced, pure, not overripe but textured. It's austere and serious. They do a short maceration to avoid extraction and to show the (mineral) backbone of the wine. 45,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2020.” (3/31/21)
94 points, Vinous:
“Concreto is a declaration of intent: “This wine encourages me to accelerate the process we’re already committed to,” said Sebastián Zuccardi. Unaged, this malbec from Paraje Altamira was fermented in whole bunches and has become appreciably more precise in recent years. Intense purple in color. The nose offers raspberry, blackberry, fresh plum, and black olive with hints of violet. The tightly packed, restrained, chalky palate offers firm tannic bones and energy. Bloody and elemental; the concentration is somehow maintained even though the wine feels light and flavorful on the tongue.” (10/20)
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Producer Name: Zuccardi
Old/New World: New World
Country of Origin: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Sub-Region: Uco Valley
Appellation: Paraje Altamira
Village/Vineyard/Climat: Finca Piedra Infinita
Grape Varietals: Malbec
Vintage: 2019
Product Type: Wine
Wine Style: Fuller Body Red
Winemaker: Sebastián Zuccardi
ABV: 14%
Pack/Size: 6/750 ml
Container Type: Dark Green Burgundy Style Bottle
Closure Style: Natural Cork
ORDER 3+ BOTTLES; DISCOUNT TABULATES AUTOMATICALLY TO $26.66/BTL.