Zuccardi Aluvional Altamira Malbec 2018
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Robert
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James
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Wilfred
Wong
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I loved the 2018 Aluvional Paraje Altamira at first sight. There's a bit more of everything, more aromatic complexity, more flavor and definitely a lot more minerality in the texture and more finesse. They have removed the fat in the Aluvional range; the wines reflect the soils, and in vintages like 2018, there is a jump in precision and expression. There is texture, salinity, austerity and a long-lasting finish, something not easy to achieve with Malbec. Some 70% of the volume matured in concrete and the rest in used 500-liter oak barrels. This is superb.
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Wine Spectator
This focused red is filled with savory zest to the concentrated dark currant, pomegranate and cherry flavors that are well-knit, showing fresh acidity and tannins. There's minerally power on the finish, with dried thyme and saline hints. Drink now through 2027.
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James Suckling
This shows lots of structure with tannins and stones that buttress rather shy and austere character. The fruit comes through at the end, in the form of blackberries, black olives and minerals. Long, structured finish.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Zuccardi Aluvional Altamira Malbec is expressive, stylish, and well balanced. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of earthy notes, dried spices, black cherries, and chalkiness. Serve it with grilled skirt steak accented with freshly-crushed black peppercorns and squeezed citrus. (Tasted: January 31, 2023, South San Francisco, CA)
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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.