Zuccardi Finca los Membrillos Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting Note Zuccardi Finca los Membrillos Cabernet Sauvignon

In the glass, this Zuccardi Finca los Membrillos displays a deep ruby red color with purple highlights. The nose is intense and refined with aromas of blackcurrant, cassis, violets, graphite, and a hint of mint and cedarwood. On the palate, it is powerful and concentrated, with velvety tannins, a lively freshness, and a long, mineral finish full of elegance and depth.

Food Pairing

This powerful yet elegant Zuccardi Finca los Membrillos deserves dishes with depth and character. It truly comes into its own with grilled red meat such as sirloin, rib-eye, or beef tenderloin, but also with slow-cooked stews or game dishes such as venison, roe deer, and pigeon. The mineral freshness pairs beautifully with truffle risotto, mushroom ragout, or dishes with roasted vegetables and herbs. Aged hard cheeses such as Comté, Manchego, or Parmesan also make for an excellent conclusion.

Additional Information

The Zuccardi Finca Los Membrillos 2018 is an exceptional 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley, Mendoza. The grapes come from a high-altitude vineyard (approx. 1060 meters) with stony, calcareous soils that provide freshness, structure, and a distinct mineral touch. The wine was partially fermented and aged in concrete vats and partially in used French oak barriques, resulting in a perfect balance between pure fruit and subtle complexity.

The name Los Membrillos refers to the quince trees (membrillo in Spanish) that once grew on the property. The wine perfectly reflects the terroir of Altamira: intense, mineral, and full of character, a pure expression of the Andes in a glass.

Fermentation takes place in (conical) concrete vats with native yeasts. Approximately 50% of the wine is aged in French oak (used 500-liter barrels), while the rest remains in concrete.

At the end of the 19th century, the Zuccardi family emigrated from Italy to Argentina. In the 1950s, Alberto V. Zuccardi founded an irrigation company, a logical step in a country where agriculture is barely possible without irrigation. To demonstrate the success of his system, he planted his first vineyards in Maipú in 1963, followed by an expansion near Mendoza.

Since 1985, his son José Alberto Zuccardi has led the family business, which is now globally renowned for its quality. The Zuccardi winery has been named Best Vineyard in South America multiple times, and their wines consistently achieve top ratings, with some even reaching 100 Parker points.

Wine Scores/Awards

Vivino - 4.5
James Suckling - 96 points (2021)
Robert Parker - 95 points (2020)
Robert Parker - 96 points (2019)
James Suckling - 95 points (2019)
Robert Parker - 95 points (2018)
Decanter - 94 points (2018)