Red Wine Zuccardi Serie A Malbec 2018. The family-run Zuccardi estate had an usual start in life as the experimental project of irrigation engineer Alberto Zuccardi who decided to plant a vineyard in Mendoza in 1963 to show off the efficiency of his system. Although he had never worked in wine before, five years later Alberto built his very own winery in Maipú and began to make bulk wines that were sold on to local bottling plants. It wasn’t until the 1980s that Alberto began to bottle his own wines with the help of his son, José. Over the last few years Zuccardi has made a name for itself with their exceptional Uco Valley vineyards which sit at high altitude in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. This youthful and easy-going Malbec is made from selected estate vineyards across the Uco Valley, including prized sites in Tupungato and Gualtallary. The grapes are fermented in concrete vats and used 500-litre French oak barrels, with 10 months of barrel ageing before bottling. Luscious blueberry, plum and cherry notes immediately burst out of the glass followed by more subtle notes of spice, toasted oak, and dark chocolate. On the palate there’s a generous full body, firm tannins and silky smooth texture ending in a medium-length finish. A great red to serve with charcuterie, hard cheeses, tomato-based pasta dishes or a classic Argentinian steak.
2018
Red Wine Zuccardi Serie A Malbec 2018
Red Wine Zuccardi Serie Q Malbec 2018. The Zuccardi family have been making wine in Mendoza since the 1960s when Alberto Zuccardi decided to plant a vineyard here to show off his irrigation system imported from California. Although an engineer by training with no winemaking expertise, the project was so successful that five years later he broke ground on his very own winery in Maipu. In recent years the running of the estate has been taken over by Alberto’s son, José, and his grandson, Sebastian. Their Zuccardi Q wines highlight Argentina’s great diversity of wine regions, matching each variety to their finest terroirs. When they first started this new project in 1999 they even marked their top vineyards with a Q” for quality, with each plot harvested separately when it has reached optimum ripeness. The grapes used in this fine Malbec come from two vineyards in the prestigious Valle de Uco which both sit at 1100 metres above sea level. The high altitude helps give the wine its unique character thanks to the bright sunny days and cooler nights which preserves plenty of floral notes and freshness. Once in the winery the fruit is fermented with wild yeasts before being aged in oak barrels. It’s a rich, full-bodied wine that’s packed with all the typical Malbec flavours including ripe plums, wild berries, cassis and plenty of toasted oak and spice from the barrel ageing.
2018
Red Wine Zyme Kairos 2018. The striking label design of Kairos reflects the fact that this wine is composed of 15 different varieties including indigenous grapes like Trebbiano, Sangiovese, and Corvina and international favourites such as Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are all sourced from Zyme’s vineyards in the Veneto with the unique terroirs of each plot contributing to the remarkable complexity of the blend. The grapes are harvested by hand as and when each variety reaches optimum ripeness and the must is vinified in steel tanks. The new wine is then matured in oak barrels for 24 months and then aged for an additional year in the bottle before it is deemed ready for release. The result is a multi-layered, intriguing red wine which opens with aromas of wild berries, white blossom, sweet spices, and earthy hints. On the palate there is plenty of rich dark fruit character along with a refreshing acidity, smooth texture and fine tannins. Winemaker Celestino Gaspari comes from a long line of farmers and has a true passion for working in harmony with Mother Nature. After working for a number of years under his future father-in-law, Celestino set out to make his own wine at Zyme which is set in a former sandstone quarry in San Pietro in Cariano in the heart of Valpolicella Classico.
2018