Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The second vintage of this unoaked, groundbreaking Malbec, the 2015 Concreto Malbec was produced with grapes from Paraje Altamira that fermented in cement vats with indigenous yeasts (a constant in Zuccardi nowadays) and matured in concrete vats--hence the name--until it was bottled in December 2015. Here they use grapes that only come from parts of their vineyards that have less than 20 centimeters of soil and the calcium carbonate content is the highest they have, as they want this to be pure expression of chalk. The nose is a little reticent, not explosive, a little backward, transmitting a sense of seriousness and harmony. But, the palate is electric, you really feel like you're licking the limestone-covered stones that you have in the vineyards. The nose comes back slowly after time in the glass, with a cocktail of flowers and wild herbs, what you smell when you walk the countryside, especially after it has rained. This is a noteworthy follow up to the groundbreaking first vintage of this wine, possibly with one extra degree of precision and clarity, ending with a dry, dusty sensation, avoiding sweetness at all cost. This is all texture and salinity. Maybe not for all, but I loved it. 20,000 bottles were produced.
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James Suckling
Bright and fruity nose with blackberry and blueberry character. Very intense. Full body, delicate tannins and beautiful blood orange undertones. A more fruity expression of malbec. A wine made from calcareous parcels in Altamira fermented and aged in concrete vats.
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.