Zuccardi Serie A Malbec 2021 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious Malbec from Argentina. While this particular vintage was featured as a Food & Drink Discovery wine that arrived in VINTAGES back in June of last year and is long sold-out, the 2022 vintage landed on VINTAGES shelves last month in the October 5 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is widely available for purchase now.

It is produced by the internationally-acclaimed Zuccardi Valle de Uco, a winery that was established by Engineer Alberto Zuccardi in 1963 in Maipú, Mendoza. As one of the pioneers of Argentine wine, Alberto planted his first vineyard in the Mendoza desert in order to demonstrate his new, innovative, and efficient irrigation system, which led him to discover his passion for viticulture and pave the way for future generations of the family. In 1985, José Alberto, son of Alberto, assumed responsibility for the management of the family business and, like his father, had an innovative and visionary spirit which made him one of Argentina's most enthusiastic wine ambassadors, while also elevating their winery and the Argentine wine industry to global recognition.

Today, the winery is run by the third generation of the Zuccardi family with viticulturist Sebastián Zuccardi the current director. Sebastián joined the family business in 2007 and led the development of the high mountain region of the Uco Valley. He planted the family's first vineyard in the Uco Valley and in 2009 he established a Research & Development department within the company to study the soils and terroir of the Uco Valley to gain a deeper understanding of how they are expressed in the wines. This research has led Zuccardi to produce wines with an identity that expresses, with transparency and precision, the place where they come from. After three years of construction, Zuccardi inaugurated their new winery - Zuccardi Valle de Uco - in 2016 in the Paraje Altamira area of the Uco Valley. This modern winery is a tribute to the mountains of Mendoza. To this day, Sebastián and the team continue to create, innovate, and push the boundaries to develop the unique personality of Argentine wines.

Zuccardi has several lines of wines in their portfolio, with this particular Malbec coming from their "Serie A", or "Argentina Series", line which highlights the richness and diversity of Argentina's terroirs. Wines in the Serie A line express the most representative grape varieties from the best regions for each grape, and from selected vineyards at the foothills of the Andes Mountains.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Malbec. The grapes were hand-picked from several vineyards in the Uco Valley and placed in plastic boxes during the second week of April. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes were destemmed and crushed, followed by undergoing a cold maceration for 5-7 days, and then classic vinification with native yeasts and fermentation at 25-27°C. It then underwent maceration for 20 days, with periodic pumping over and délestage. A portion of the wine was aged in French oak barrels.

The growing season in 2021 produced a great vintage in the Uco Valley. The cool and humid climate allowed the clusters to reach phenolic maturity with a perfect balance of sugar and acidity, as well as great tannic structure. Zuccardi's meticulous work on separating plots and types of soil for harvesting (work which has been going for more than a decade) allowed them to harvest every corner of their vineyards at the perfect time, thus showcasing the great diversity that characterizes the Uco Valley. Let's see how this 2021 Malbec from Argentina compares with the 2016 Zuccardi Serie A Malbec that I enjoyed many years ago...

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI SERIE A MALBEC 2021 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#167619) (XD) - $17.00
The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose is savoury and slightly reductive with dark fruited, blackberry, plum, mocha chocolate, and oak aromas surrounding an earthy core. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it is spicy with savoury, ripe, and dark fruited replays of blackberry, oak spice, earth, and black plum flavours flecked with violet and stony mineral notes adding interest. It is well-structured with crisp and juicy acidity, along with well-integrated, gently textured tannins. Savoury with stony mineral notes, plus some dried herbs linger on the long-lasting, slightly grippy finish. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next 2-3 years. Score: 88+ pts

Other fine wines by Zuccardi Valle de Uco can be found at the LCBO, or through their Agent - Bacchus Fréchette Wine & Spirits.

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Zuccardi Q Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, sustainably-crafted Cabernet Sauvignon from the Uco Valley in Argentina that arrived at the LCBO last year in the April 15, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. While a few bottles of this vintage still seem to be available at the LCBO, the latest 2021 vintage will be arriving at LCBO outlets as part of the upcoming Feb. 3, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Zuccardi Wines, an internationally acclaimed winery that was established by Alberto Zuccardi in 1963 in Maipú, Mendoza. He planted his first vineyard in the desert of Mendoza to demonstrate his new, innovative, and efficient irrigation system, which led him to discover his passion for viticulture and pave the way for future generations of the family. In 1985, José Alberto, son of Alberto, assumed responsibility for the management of the family business and, like his father, José Alberto had an innovative and visionary spirit which made him one of Argentina's most enthusiastic wine ambassadors.

Today, the Zuccardi family is considered a key figure in the history and future of viticulture in Argentina. The winery is in the hands of the third generation of the family, viticulturist Sebastián Zuccardi. He joined the family winery in 2007 and led the development of the high mountain region of the Uco Valley, including planting the family's first vineyard in the Uco Valley. In 2009, Sebastián established a Research & Development department to study the soils and terroir of the Uco Valley to gain a deeper understanding and how it's expressed in the wines. This research has led to Zuccardi producing wines that are a true reflection of the place. In 2013, Zuccardi began the construction of a new winery in the Paraje Altamira area of the Uco Valley, with the inauguration taking place in 2016. Named Zuccardi Valle de Uco, the modern building is a tribute to the mountains of Mendoza.

This red wine is part of the Zuccardi Q range of wines that was launched in 1999 and were the first wines to bear the family name. It is named "Q" because the fruit for these wines comes from their best vineyards and plots that were marked with the letter "Q" for Quality. These specially designated vineyards and plots are given extra care and attention during the growing and vinification process in order to produce wines of exceptional quality. All wines in the Zuccardi Q range are regional wines with fruit from across Mendoza, with each plot harvested and vinified separately in order to achieve the best expression of each varietal.

Crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the grapes for this red wine were grown in two regions of the Uco Valley - La Consulta within the San Carlos district, and the high-altitude Gualtallary wine region in Tupungato. The vineyard in La Consulta is situated at 990 metres above sea level, while the Gualtallary vineyard is situated at 1,400 metres above sea level. The soil profile is alluvial and gravel covered with calcium carbonate at shallow depth, and calcareous sands. To vinify this wine, the bunches of grapes were selected and then filled into tanks by gravity. It was fermented using indigenous yeasts with gentle extraction using delestage and pigeage techniques. It underwent maceration on the pomace for 25 days, malolactic fermentation, and finally aged in oak barrels.

The growing season in 2019 produced grapes of exceptional quality. This was in part due to the climatic conditions that allowed Zuccardi to harvest each region, variety, and type of soil at the time they expected. Spring was generally wet, while temperatures throughout the season were cool-to-moderate, and always below average. Yields were marginally smaller, while a cool autumn allowed for a longer ripening period. The wines of 2019 are characterized by modest alcohol and fresh acidity.

The only other time I recall tasting this wine was back in 2016, when I opened up the 2006 Zuccardi Q Cabernet Sauvignon that was probably past its prime drinking window. Let's see how this 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI Q CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Sustainable, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#28078) (XD) - $19.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from La Consulta and Gualtallary. The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose reveals reductive aromas of plummy dark berry, black currant, blackberry, mineral, and touches of cassis. It's medium to medium-full bodied on the dry, ripe, and gently spicy palate with delicious plummy dark berry, cassis, black currant, and blackberry flavours joined by savoury mineral and spice notes. Fresh acidity is juicy and succulent, while the tannins are smooth and refined with a supple grip. It's nicely balanced with dark berry, mineral, and spice notes lingering on the finish, with very good length. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next 4-5 years. Score: 89 pts

Other fine wines by Zuccardi are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - The Bacchus Group.

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Zuccardi Q Malbec 2020 (Argentina) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2019 Zuccardi Q Malbec last summer, tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this consistently well-made Malbec that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the March 19 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Zuccardi Wines was founded by Alberto Zuccardi in 1963 in Maipú, Mendoza, with a strong visionary and innovative spirit. With winemaker Sebastián Zuccardi, the third generation of the family continues its strong tradition and lead the development of the new stage of the winery, including a dedicated area within the winery for Research and Development to study of the terroir and the different variables that affect wine production. Today, Sebastián is globally recognized as an ambassador for Argentina's unique terroirs, most notably in the high elevation Uco Valley in Southern Mendoza. The goal is to produce wines with identity through the different terroirs in a sustainable manner. Zuccardi Valle de Uco has been named Best Vineyard in the World for the last three consecutive years.

This Malbec is from Zuccardi's "Q" range of regional wines that began as a project in 1999 when they marked the best vineyards and plots with the letter "Q" for Quality. These designated vineyards and plots are given extra care and attention during growing and vinification process in order to produce wines of exceptional quality.

Once again, this 100% Malbec is comprised of grapes grown in the IG Paraje Altamira (San Carlos) at 1,100 metres (3,600 feet) above sea level, and in IG Los Chacayes (Tunuyán) at at 1,000 metres (3,200 feet) above sea level. Both of these regions are situated in the Uco Valley, and although the percentage of grapes from each IG was not specified, Paraje Altamira grapes typically dominate the blend.

In Paraje Altamira, the very heterogeneous soils originated in the alluvial fan of the Tunuyán river, in its upper zone. The sandy loam surface has medium and large gravels and at variable depths, with abundant calcareous material throughout. In Los Chacayes, the soils originated in a series of super-imposed alluvial fans from the middle of the Uco Valley. The very heterogeneous soils are normally sandy loam with moderately eroded strata of small stones, with occasional coverage of calcium carbonate or gypsum.

The exceptional 2020 vintage was characterized by limited yields and the surprisingly high speed of maturity. Combined with the pandemic, this really fast vintage was one of their most challenging ever. However, the grapes arrived at the winery healthy and in high quality, generally showing excellent aromatic complexity and a lot of juiciness, texture and structure in the mouth. The grapes were selected by cluster, filled by gravity, and fermented in concrete vessels using native yeasts. Like previous vintages, it was aged in a combination of concrete and used 500 L unroasted French oak barrels. Let's see how this Uco Valley Malbec is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI Q MALBEC 2020 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#723478) (XD) - $20.95
From grapes grown at high-altitudes in Paraje Altamira (San Carlos) and Los Chacayes (Tunuyán), this 100% Malbec has a fragrant, medium-high intensity nose that is stony with dark berry, and purple fruit aromas with subtle dark cherry, dried herb, and spice. The lovely stony notes continue on the dry, medium+ bodied palate with dark berry, purple fruit, spice, and plum flavours, all of which are supported by fresh, well-balanced acidity and refined, dusty textured tannins. Stony notes linger on the long, crisp, and balanced finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

There are many fine Zuccardi wines available at the LCBO, including the 2021 Zuccardi Serie A Torrontés I enjoyed last the weekend, while other wines not found at the LCBO can be ordered through their Agent - The Bacchus Group.

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Zuccardi Serie A Torrontés 2021 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is this lovely Torrontés from the very high-altitude province of Salta in northern Argentina. A frequent visitor here in Ontario. this latest vintage arrived on shelves today as part of the March 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Familia Zuccardi and led today by the third generation of the family, winemaker Sebastian Zuccardi. Founded in 1963 when Sebastian's grandfather planted his first vines in Maipú, Mendoza, the Zuccardi family has kept growing and developing to become a leader in Argentine production. Sebastian inherited his father's determination and desire to strive for excellence and is globally recognized as an ambassador for Argentina's unique terroirs, most notably in the high elevation Uco Valley in southern Mendoza. The family's premium winery - Zuccardi Valle de Uco - has been named Best Vineyard in the World for three consecutive years - 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Zuccardi has several ranges of wines and this white wine is from their entry-level Serie A collection that features single varietal and distinct blends from selected vineyards located in the best parts of Mendoza and across Argentina. The Zuccardi Serie A range highlights the richness and diversity of the different micro-climates and soils of Argentina. The name "Serie A" comes from "Argentina Series" and is a way of expressing the most representative varieties from the best regions for each varietal and from selected vineyards along the Andes Mountains. In the winery, each batch is harvested separately at different times with the goal of achieving elegance and excellence in each wine.

Torrontés is Argentina's most widely planted white variety with more than 24,000 acres planted, representing 27% of all white wine varietals. Although most Torrontés is grown in Mendoza, a significant percentage (and the most interesting examples) are grown in the remote, northern province of Salta. Native to Argentina, DNA analysis shows that Torrontés formed after the spontaneous crossing of varietals Listán Prieto and Moscatel de Alexandria in Mendoza in the middle of the 18th century. Today, Torrontés Riojano is the most cultivated of the three varieties of Torrontés as it expresses the best qualities for fine wine production. Although it's original home is in Mendoza, Torrontés has found its true home to the north in the valleys of Rioja and Salta. Torrontés takes a long time to develop and ripen, thus benefitting from the long, northern summer, while the blazing sun at altitudes between 1,500 and 1,900 metres helps it develop concentration. Grown in rich clay soils, Torrontés tends to take longer to ripen, but preserves its volume and acidity, whereas Torrontés grown in sandier soils ripens faster and achieves good aromatic expression.

According to the tech sheet, the grapes for this Torrontés were grown in Cafayate, within the province of Salta, at the very high altitude of 1,800 metres (5900 feet) above sea level. The grapes were manually harvested and selected, followed by de-stemming and pressing. It was fermented with native yeasts and aged on its lees for 6 months.

Although the print edition of the VINTAGES catalogue specifies the 2020 vintage, it is, in fact, the 2021 vintage that arrived in stores. Let's see how this 2021 Torrontés is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI SERIE A TORRONTÉS 2021 - IP Salta, Argentina (#389262) (XD) - $17.95
Screw cap. The perfumed nose offers medium-high intensity aromatics of muscat characters with lychee, ripe lemon citrus, and floral notes joining the fray. The impressively concentrated, medium-full bodied palate is dry with ripe lemon citrus, muscat, floral, and leesy flavours with touches of herbal. Nicely textured mouthfeel with juicy acidity. Leesy mineral with lemon citrus notes linger on the long finish. Chill well and enjoy this recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Zuccardi are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - The Bacchus Group.

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Zuccardi Q Malbec 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

I enjoyed the 2018 Zuccardi Q Malbec earlier this year, and for tonight's wine review I am delighted to try the 2019 edition as it returned to the LCBO last weekend as part of the July 10 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Zuccardi Wines was founded with a strong visionary and innovative spirit in Maipú, Mendoza in 1963. In 2005, Sebastián Zuccardi, the grandson of founder Alberto Zuccardi, becomes the third generation of the family to continue the strong family tradition and lead the development of the new stage of the winery. Starting in 2008, Sebastián dedicated an area of the winery to Research and Development to study of the terroir and the different variables that affect wine production. In 2016, Zuccardi Wines opened their new winery with the goal of producing wines with identity through the different terroirs of the Uco Valley, while also crafting their wines using sustainable practices.

This Malbec is from Zuccardi's "Q" range of regional wines, a project that began in 1999 when they marked the best vineyards and plots with the letter "Q" - which stands for Quality. During the growing and vinification process, these grapes are given extra care and attention in order to produce wines of exceptional quality.

Like the previous vintage, this Malbec is composed of fruit from the Uco Valley, specifically from IG Paraje Altamira (San Carlos) grown at 1,100 metres (3,600 feet) elevation, and IG Los Chacayes (Tunuyán) that was grown at 1,000 metres (3,200 feet) elevation. The soils in Altamira, which is located on the southern side of the Tunuyán river, originated from in the alluvial fan of the Tunuyán river, in its upper zone. The soils are very heterogeneous (diverse) with sandy loam on the surface and medium and large gravels at various depths, along with an abundance of calcareous material. In Los Chacayes, which is located at the foot of the Andes, the soils originated in a series of superimposed alluvial fans, in the middle zone of the Uco Valley. Again, the soils are heterogeneous with a mix of mostly sandy loam with strata of moderately eroded small stones, with occasional coverage of calcium carbonate or gypsum.

The exceptional harvest in 2019 was fresh and dry, with temperatures below average and great thermal amplitude (diurnal temperatures). The result was very good natural acidity, tannin structure, and excellent, ripe (but not over-ripe) fruit. Let's see how this 2019 Malbec is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI Q MALBEC 2019 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#723478) (XD) - $19.95
This 100% Malbec from Altamira (70%) and Los Chacayes (30%) was fermented in concrete vessels using native yeasts, followed by ageing 70% in concrete and 30% in used 500 L untoasted French oak barrels. The intense, bright, and spicy nose offers aromas of dark berry, purple fruit, stony mineral, and dried herbs. The chewy, medium+ bodied palate has lovely spicy, dark berry, and purple fruited flavours with stony mineral notes adding interest. It's framed by fresh, lively acidity and refined, supple tannins that have a slightly dusty/grippy texture, leading to a nicely balanced, juicy, spicy, and savoury finish, with very good length. A perennial recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

There are many fine Zuccardi wines available at the LCBO, while other wines not found at the LCBO can be ordered through their Agent - The Bacchus Group.

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Zuccardi Q Chardonnay 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is the first in a series of wines from Argentina that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month as part of the March 6, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release that featured the wines of Argentina - The Land of Extremes.

Sebastián Zuccardi of Zuccardi Wines crafted this fine Chardonnay. He is the third generation of a winemaking family that's had a strong visionary and innovative spirit that began in 1963 when Sebastián's grandfather planted his first hectares of grapevines in Maipú, Mendoza. Sebastián inherited his father's determination and desire to constantly strive for excellence to help make Zuccardi Wines a leader in Argentina wine production.

Like the 2018 Zuccardi Q Malbec that I enjoyed back in January, this lovely white wine is also a frequent visitor to Ontario and comes from Zuccardi's Regional collection of Mountain Wines. The 2019 vintage of this lovely Chardonnay comes from selected vineyard lots in Gualtallary that was grown at 1,250 metres above sea-level, and in El Peral at 1,150 metres altitude. Gualtallary and El Peral are actually neighbouring wine regions in Tupungato that stretch from the base of the Andes Mountains down into the Uco Valley. Gualtallary is one of the most exciting wine regions in South America due to the combination of its most diverse climate and soils. The soil profile of this Chardonnay is alluvial, with gravel covered with calcium carbonate at a shallow depth, and caliche and calcareous sands. With the 2019 vintage considered to be exceptional, I fully expect this consistently delicious Chardonnay from a quality producer to also be exceptional. Let's see how it's tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI Q CHARDONNAY 2019 - Tupungato, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#232702) (XD) - $19.95
100% Chardonnay from Gualtallary and El Peral that was fermented using native yeasts in concrete and used oak barrels, and aged "sur lie". The medium-high intensity aromatics are ripe with stone fruit, pear, apple, and citrus with hints of pineapple and banana. It's medium-full bodied on the ripe, fruit forward palate with stone fruit, apple, and pear flavours along with a touch of vanilla in a slightly honeyed profile. Acids are crisp and fresh, while leesy mineral notes come through on the long, slightly spicy, chalky textured finish. Lovely! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Zuccardi are available at LCBO, while the full portfolio can be ordered via their Agent - The Bacchus Group.

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Zuccardi Q Malbec 2018 (Argentina) - Wine Review

For my first wine of 2021, tonight's wine review is a lovely Malbec that is a frequent visitor to the LCBO as a VINTAGES listing and most recently arrived on shelves across Ontario as part of the June 13, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release. While a few bottles of the 2018 may still be available throughout the province, the 2019 will be arriving aplenty as part of the January 9, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Viticulturist Sebastián Zuccardi grew up in a winegrowing family that had a strong visionary and innovative spirit which began with Sebastián's grandfather in prior to 1963 and passed down to his father. Sebastián studied at the Agricultural School, becoming a winemaker and continued his studies as an Agricultural Engineer.

Today, Sebastián is the third generation of the winegrowing family and leads a young agricultural and winemaking team with the goal of crafting wines that express the place and region through the continuous exploration of the different terroirs in the Uco Valley. Since 2008, under Sebastián's initiative, Zuccardi established an area of research and development dedicated to the study of the terroir and the many variables that affect the production of the wine.

I've tasted and enjoyed many Zuccardi wines over the years, including several from the Zuccardi Q line that was launched in 1999, but this is the first time I've profiled the Q Malbec. The "Q" stands for Quality, and the project was a great yearning for Sebastián Zuccardi's dad as he did the work in the vineyards that were started by Sebastián's grandfather in 1963. The Zuccardi Q line of wines is special for the family as they were the first wines to bear the Zuccardi name.

In the vineyard, the best plots of each vineyard are marked with a "Q", denoting that these vines require special attention to achieve grapes of exceptional quality. which in turn help to produce exceptional wines. Zuccardi also employed the farm workers with better skills to work these particular plots. The Zuccardi Q Malbec is a regional wine, using specially selected grapes from specially selected vineyards in the micro-regions of Paraje Altamira (San Carlos) and Los Chacayes (Tunuyán), the two main sub-regions within the Uco Valley in Mendoza. Los Chacayes is a distinct area that previously used to be part of the broader Vista Flores region, hence the labelling on the bottle.

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI Q MALBEC 2018 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#723478) (XD) - $19.95
100% Malbec from Paraje Altamira (San Carlos) at 1,100 metres elevation and Los Chacayes (Tunuyán) at 1,000 metres elevation. It was vinified using gravity-flow, native yeasts, and underwent malolactic fermentation. It was also aged in a combination of concrete and oak. The medium-high intensity nose has a savoury core surrounded by ripe blackberry, smoky mineral, and spice accented with violet florals. The palate is medium-bodied with more ripe blackberry flavours followed by spice, violet, and smoky mineral notes. There's some warmth on the mid-palate, along with fresh, lively acidity and smooth, fine-grained tannins that are nicely textured. Finishes with smoky mineral notes and some chalkiness on the long, satisfying finish. Score: 89 pts

There are many fine Zuccardi wines available at the LCBO, while other wines not found at the LCBO can be ordered through their Agent - The Bacchus Group.

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Zuccardi Apelación Vista Flores Malbec 2017 (Argentina) - Wine Review

For Valentine's Day celebrations, tonight's wine review is this lovely, brand new Malbec from Zuccardi Wines that will arrive in LCBO VINTAGES on February 22nd. It is also featured as the Wine of the Month in this Release and will be widely available at LCBO outlets throughout Ontario.

Zuccardi is one of the leaders and most well-known names in Argentine winemaking. Current winemaker Sebastián Zuccardi grew up in a family that had a strong visionary and innovative spirit. Since 1963, when his grandfather planted the first hectares of grapevines in Maipú, Mendoza, the Zuccardi family has not stopped growing and developing.

Sebastien handcrafted this Malbec with fruit from their Vista Flores Estate which is located in the district of Tunuyan in the central-western part of the Uco Valley, which itself is located in the Mendoza wine region.

The 55 hectares of meticulously worked vineyards at the Vista Flores Estate are located 3215 feet (980 metres) above sea level and planted to mainly Malbec, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. For vine training, both the vertical conduction system and the Parral Zuccardi conduction system are used. The Zuccardi vine training system elevates the the vineyards to create an arched green web that allows the process of photosynthesis to develop in the perfect conditions. Additionally, it also protects the grapes from the hours of highest sun radiation by having the right density of leaves and cluster distribution, and also facilitates protection against frosts.

This particular Malbec was carefully harvested in bunches and gravity-fed into tanks, followed by fermentation with indigenous yeasts. After fermentation, skin maceration took place for 20 days. Lastly, after undergoing complete malolactic fermentation, it was aged in concrete tanks and oak barrels.

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI APELACIÓN VISTA FLORES MALBEC 2017 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#011770) (XD) - $24.95
Medium+ intensity nose has a lovely dark berry, blackberry and black cherry core surrounded by stony mineral and black pepper spice aromas. It is medium-full bodied on the palate with more succulent dark berry and pepper spice flavours flecked with stony minerals and hints of purple fruits. Spicy on the mid-palate with fresh and vibrant acids, while the tannins are gritty and a bit tight at the moment. Juicy and long on the finish with with stony mineral, dark berry, and violet notes. A lovely Malbec that should improve in 2 years and enjoyed over the next 5-6 years. Score: 91 pts

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Zuccardi Serie A Malbec 2016 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a red wine that came through VINTAGES earlier this year (and sold out), but will be returning to shelves as part of the upcoming September 1st LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Zuccardi Wines, a winemaking family going on three generations. It was founded in 1963 by engineer, Alberto Zuccardi, when he planted his first acre of vines in Maipú, Mendoza, Zuccardi has continued to develop and grow, while positioning itself as an important benchmark for Argentina's winemaking industry.

Today, Sebastian Zuccardi represents the third generation of the family and heads up a young agricultural and winemaking team responsible for producing quality wines from the Uco Valley. In 2008, the winery created an area for Research & Development to study terroir and the different variables that affect wine quality. The aim is to produce wines that express the place and region.

The "Serie A" (or Argentina Series) wines seek to reveal the richness of Argentina's soils and micro-climates through wines that express each grape variety. Malbec, such as tonight's wine, shows best in the Uco Valley.

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI SERIE A MALBEC 2016 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#167619) (XD) - $16.95
Fermented and aged mostly in concrete, with 10% aged in used French barrels. Plummy with black and red cherry aromas from the cork. The medium+ intensity nose is pretty and ripe with blackberry and black plum aromas, with touches of floral, mineral, tea leaf, and herbs. It is medium-full bodied and clean with nice aroma replays and very good fruit expression on the palate. Ripe tannins are smooth and well-integrated. Nicely textured with some chalkiness. It has good acidity and a juicy mid-palate. Very good finish length. Drink over the next 1-2 years. Score: 88 pts

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Zuccardi Q Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Argentina) - Wine Review

This savoury, earthy red wine was purchased more than 6 years ago from the November 7, 2009 LCBO VINTAGES Release, well before I starting blogging about wine. It's unfortunate that after the 2006 vintage there were only two vintages that were released through VINTAGES at the LCBO.

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI Q CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 - Mendoza, Argentina (#140855) (XD) - $19.95
Destroyed the cork, so had to decant/filter. Perfumed, oxidative nose of old wood, damp earth, black fruit, dark plum, dried herb, and a hint of white pepper. On the palate, it is medium-to-full bodied with black currant, cassis, dried herb, earth and wood notes. It has juicy, balanced acids, but fruit is starting to fade, leaving behind tannins that are very much chalky. Savoury long and earthy finish. Drink now as this won't improve with further ageing. Will be enjoyed with Chicken Korma. Score: 88 pts

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2008 Zuccardi Q Tempranillo (Argentina) - Wine Review

Last night's wine was purchased from the June 25 Vintages Release, which had a major focus on wines from Argentina.

ZUCCARDI Q TEMPRANILLO 2008 - Santa Rosa Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina (#973503) - $19.95

Tasting Note:
Made with grapes from 40 year-old vines. Aromas of red berries, blackberry join the flavour profile with lots of pepper/spice, and a touch of cola. Letting the wine breathe in glass relieves some of the spiciness. Chewy tannins will reward ageing another 1-2 years. This is definitely a good wine for the BBQ. I enjoyed this wine with chicken shish kebabs and wings prepared over a charcoal BBQ.

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Review: Fuzion Alta Torrontes Pinot Grigio 2010 - Mendoza, Argentina

This is the 2nd bottle (the other being the Fuzion Alta Malbec Reserva 2009, reviewed on Jan 6) that was given as a part of a 2-bottle gift set during the holidays.

Review:
Stone, lemon peel aromas. Lemon, citrus, grapefruit, mineral, herbs on the palate. Spritzy start and finishes dry. It's quite nice, made in a dry-style and I do enjoy this much more than the Malbec. Can't go wrong for $8.95! It should pair well with the Chicken Quesadilla's we're having tonight.

Cheers!

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Fuzion Alta Malbec Reserva 2009 - Mendoza, Argentina

I opened the Fuzion Alta Malbec Reserva 2009 (#135475) from the Zuccardi Family of wines last night and did not really enjoy it. It was lacking some complexity and seemed shallow.

Blackberry, dark fruit aromas. Inky, blackberry, iodine, cocoa flavours. Medium-long finish.

It was a Christmas gift from someone. For $9.95, it wasn't bad, I suppose.

There is a white Fuzion also waiting to be opened. *crossing fingers*

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