Zuccardi Poligonos Gualtallary Malbec

Tasting Note Zuccardi Poligonos Gualtallary Malbec

The wine has a deep purplish-red color and opens with a refined aroma of ripe black cherries, plums, and black currants. Behind this, beautiful floral notes of violets and subtle aromas of dried herbs, pepper, and graphite emerge. The calcareous soil of Gualtallary provides a recognizable mineral impression.

On the palate, this Malbec is full and concentrated, yet remarkably fresh and energetic. The dark fruit is supported by lively acidity and fine, almost chalky tannins. As the wine opens, notes of plum, blackberry, black cherry, spices, and fresh herbs come to the fore. The structure is firm but elegant and gives the wine great length.

Wine & Food

Zuccardi Poligonos Gualtallary Malbec is an excellent accompaniment to grilled beef, lamb, Argentinian steak, stews, and strong cheeses. Due to its fresh acidity, this is also a wine that can be excellently paired with somewhat fattier dishes.

Additional information

The name Polígonos refers to the philosophy behind this series. Zuccardi aims with these wines not only to showcase the grape but primarily the identity of a specific place. The different vineyards are, as it were, separate "polygons" on the map of the Uco Valley, each with its own climate, soil, and history.

Gualtallary is located at the foot of the Andes and has a high-altitude, dry climate. There is plenty of sunshine during the day, while nights cool down significantly. This allows the grapes to ripen slowly while retaining their natural acidity.

The soil here is at least as interesting. Beneath a layer of sand are gravel, caliche, and a lot of calcareous material. It is precisely these calcareous soils that contribute to the mineral, energetic style of this Malbec.

Also noteworthy is the way the wine is made: the grapes are fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats and then further aged in concrete. No new oak is used. As a result, the expression of grape and terroir remains central.

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 without irrigation is hardly possible. 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 renowned worldwide for its quality. Zuccardi has been repeatedly named Best Vineyard in South America, and their wines consistently achieve top ratings, with even outliers of 100 Parker points.

Awards/Distinctions

James Suckling - 94 points (2023)
Tim Atkin - 94 points (2023)
James Suckling - 94 points (2022)
Tim Atkin - 94 points (2022)
Descorchados 94 points (2022)
James Suckling - 95 points (2021)
Robert Parker - 94 points (2021)
Wine Spectator - 91 points (2021)
Tim Atkin - 94 points (2020)

Fun fact

This Malbec comes from vineyards at approximately 1,360 meters altitude. That might sound extreme, but it is precisely the combination of intense sun during the day and cold nights that ensures the grapes ripen slowly and retain their freshness. The result is a Malbec that, in addition to power, has a remarkable amount of tension and elegance.