Familia Zuccardi Malbec Finca Canal Uco Paraje Altamira 2021 750ml

You certainly don’t need oak to produce a truly fine wine of great ageing potential. As seen here, in this vibrant expression of Malbec, fermented and aged in concrete, whose crunchy cranberry, red cherry and plum fruit is outlined by chalky, fine tannins. There’s a zesty tension throughout, with pink grapefruit zest, red apple peel and tomato leaf adding freshness and nuance. Thick, fleshy minerality defined a lean muscularity – as Sebastián Zuccardi eloquently described it ‘this is a marathon runner rather than a bodybuilder’.

• Country: Argentina
• Region: Cuyo
• Appellation: Mendoza
• Sub Appellation: Uco Valley
• Size: 750ml
• Color: Red

Varietal

Malbec

The purple Malbec variety grapes which now grow all over the Old and New Worlds had their origins in France, where they are one of the few grape varieties allowed to be used in the highly esteemed blended wines of Bordeaux. However, it is perhaps the New World Malbec wines which have attracted the most attention in recent years, as they thrive in hot southern climates in ways they cannot in their native country, where the damp conditions leave them highly vulnerable to rot. Malbec grapes are renowned for their high tannin content, resulting in full-bodied red wines packed with ripe, plummy flavors and held in their characteristically dark, garnet colored liquid. In many countries, Malbec is still used primarily as a varietal for blending, as it adds a great level of richness and density to other, lighter and thinner varietals. However, single variety Malbec wines have been greatly on the rise in recent years, with some fantastic results and big, juicy flavors marking them out as a great wine for matching with a wide range of foods.