SuperUco Calcareo Malbec 2015
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Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Calcáreo Granito de Gualta (depending on the market it can be labelled as Calcareo Granito de Tupungato) is from a two-hectare plot in Tupungato Winelands in Gualtallary. None of the wines in the Calcáreo line have any extraction. The amphora shaped cement vats where it fermented are filled to the top with full clusters and they have a long maceration but without pumping over or punching down. I always find the Gualtallary wines somehow wild and more mineral, with contained ripeness in 2015. It's very tasty and pure, with fresh flavors and chalky tannins.
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James Suckling
A wine with berries and orange peel with hints of spices. Medium body and juicy fruit. Medium finish. Mineral and spice undertones.
The Michelini brothers, also winemakers at Mendoza’s renowned Zorzal and Passionate wineries, planted and built their biodynamic winery in the Los Chacayes subregion of the Uco Valley in Argentina in 2012. SuperUco was originally inspired with the intent to showcase three unique calcareous soil types from some of the most highly regarded subregions of the Uco Valley. They produce wines under the Calcareo and SuperUco labels. The dodecahedron shaped winery consists of egg-shaped concrete amphoras, foudres, barrels, and concrete eggs. The two hectare farm is planted in concentric circles so that the vines have 360 degrees of exposure to the sun. The different varietals are planted from the center outward, as its vegetative cycle dictates. This boutique, biodynamic winery produces very limited bottlings of top quality, terroir driven wines.
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.