Zuccardi Aluvional Paraje Altamira 2020

This structured and 'aristocratic' red wine originates from Argentina, within the prestigious Paraje Altamira sub-appellation of the Uco Valley in Mendoza. Produced by Zuccardi Valle de Uco a pioneering family estate led by visionary winemaker Sebastián Zuccardi and named 'World’s Best Vineyard' three consecutive years this single-terroir bottling represents a benchmark for high-altitude, limestone-driven Malbec. Sourced from choice estate vineyard blocks situated at an elevation of 1,100 meters (3,600 feet) above sea level, the vines thrive in complex alluvial soils composed of large granite stones heavily encrusted with white calcium carbonate (chalk/limestone). Paraje Altamira’s extreme mountain desert microclimate features intense UV daylight balanced by cold winds descending off the Andes, enabling Malbec grapes to achieve complete phenolic maturity while preserving an electric, age-worthy natural acidity and intense chalky minerality.

Wine Description

Zuccardi Aluvional Paraje Altamira presents an opaque, deep black-purple color in the glass with vivid violet and magenta highlights along the rim. Its sensory profile is exceptionally fresh, high-toned, and complex, delivering an energetic, precise, and chalk-driven portrait of high-altitude Uco Valley terroir. The bouquet opens with a soaring display of fresh blueberries, dark plum compote, and wild blackberries, seamlessly layered with complex underlays of fresh violets, dried lavender, mountain thyme, crushed chalk, graphite, and a distinct line of iron-stone minerality, virtually untouched by sweet oak influence. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, athletic, and linear, showcasing a succulent core of dark berries, blood orange peel, and savory spices. It is characterized by its outstanding inner energy and an incisive, mouthwatering backbone of natural acidity that effortlessly elevates its mid-palate fruit density. The mouthfeel is broad, velvety, and weightless, framed by fine-grained, chalky tannins that glide into an extraordinarily long, dry, and mineral-driven finish accented by persistent notes of crushed stone, black pepper, and dark cocoa.