2019 Zuccardi Malbec ‘Concreto’ Mendoza Argentina

JS95 Lots of blackberry and blueberry character with stone and dried mint. It’s fermented with skins in concrete and aged there for eight months. This no-wood red is a joy. Drink now.
VIN94 Concreto is a declaration of intent: “This wine encourages me to accelerate the process we’re already committed to,” said Sebastián Zuccardi. Unaged, this Malbec from Paraje Altamira was fermented in whole bunches and has become appreciably more precise in recent years. Intense purple in color. The nose offers raspberry, blackberry, fresh plum and black olive with hints of violet. The tightly packed, restrained, chalky palate offers firm tannic bones and energy. Bloody and elemental; the concentration is somehow maintained even though the wine feels light and flavorful on the tongue.

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.