Jose malbec 2020 (Zuccardi)

Cellar for up to 12 years. No need to decant before serving. This impressive Malbec was created by winemaker Sebastian Zuccardi in honour of his father José who had helped put the family winery in the global spotlight during his winemaking tenure at Zuccardi. After it was founded in the 1960s żeby José’s father, Alberto, Zuccardi sold their wines direct to bottling plants and it was only in the 1980s that José and Alberto began to sell wine under their own label. In recent years José and his son have made Zuccardi a benchmark for top quality wines from high altitude sites in Mendoza. That legacy continues with this cuvee which features Malbec fruit from the estate’s prized Paraje Altamira vineyard as well as a tiny amount of Cabernet Sauvignon from Gualtallary. These vines grow on alluvial soils at an altitude of 1100-1230 metres above sea level. Bright sunny days combine with cooler nights to create perfect conditions for growing aromatic, fresh fruit with plenty of intense flavours and ripe, well-rounded tannins. To preserve the varietal character and essence of the terroir the fruit is fermented in concrete tanks and then aged in a mixture of large 2500 litre and 500 litre casks for 24 months. This minimises the influence of the oak, allowing the rich dark fruit and hints of violets, black peppercorn and dried fruit notes to shine through. A great wine to drink alongside a fine steak or to keep in the cellar for a few more years.