Zuccardi : José Malbec 2016

The Argentine estate, Zuccardi, reveals an elegant and aromatic wine from Mendoza

The estate

Located in Mendoza, the Zuccardi estate is reputed as an estate which produces great wines in Argentina. Sebastián Zuccardi represents the third generation of winegrowers on this family estate, whose history began in 1963 when his grandfather planted the first hectares of vines in Maipú. Since January 2000, Sebastián Zuccardi has been at the head of a vineyard covering more than 200 hectares at the foot of the Andes Mountains, which wines reflect the richness of the terroirs in the Uco Valley wine region.

Carrying on the legacy of a visionary and future-facing family, in 2008, Sebastián Zuccardi introduced a Research & Development department, dedicated to improving vineyard practices. In 2016, he inaugurated a new cellar, outfitted with vats and amphorae of different shapes and sizes. The latter were introduced after many long years of research aimed at determining ways to limit human intervention, to preserve and amplify the unique natural characteristics of each vineyard.

Reputed as one of the best winegrowers in South America, Sebastián Zuccardi produces wines that are adored by connoisseurs and highly praised by critics.

The Zuccardi family estate was voted as the "Best Vineyard in South America" in 2019 and 2020, as well as "World’s Best Vineyard" in 2020.

The wine

The great Argentin ewine bears the name of Sebastián Zuccardi’s father. A pioneer who loved challenges, José Zuccardi has been working on the production of the estate’s greatest wine since the 2000s, an exceptional wine which expresses all of the potential of great, high-altitude terroirs in Argentina with finesse and sophistication. Although the wine was initially named Zeta since its first harvest in 2002, Sebastián Zuccardi change dits name in 2013, as well as its blend, replacing Tempranillo with Cabernet Sauvignon.

José Malbec 2016 by Zuccardi is made from grapes issued from high-altitude vineyards in Altamira, upon a soil composed of sand, gravel and limestone as well as from Gualtallary, an area known for its heterogeneous soils made up of sand, gravel and calcium carbonate deposits.

The vintage

The year 2016 was particularly humid and rainy, highlighting high-altitude terroirs which, thanks to the wind and their draining, stony soils, made all of the difference. These special conditions gave rise to wines marked by a lower alcohol content than the other vintages, as well as a higher level of acidity which blended great finesse with an intense aromatic expression and great elegance.

Winemaking and ageing

Fermentation is carried out in concrete vats with indigenous yeasts, followed by ageing in casks and barrels.

Blend

José Malbec 2016 by the Zuccardi family is made from a blend of 95% Malbec and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.