Zuccardi: some more affordable wines from this top Argentine producer
Familia Zuccardi make a wide range of wines, from super high-end to more affordable. Here’s a collection of some of the Zuccardi wines in mainstream distribution in the UK.
Tesco Finest Chenin Blanc Torrontés 2024 Mendoza, Argentina
12.5% alcohol. This has a rich grapey nose typical of Torrentes with some attractive pear and yellow plum fruit. In the mouth this has really nice depth of flavour, with pithy, grapey notes and a bright citrus component. It even strays into exotic tropical fruits, but all the time keeps freshness and focus. For a supermarket own-label wine this really delivers in terms of personality. 90/100 (£9 Tesco)
Zuccardi Valles Torrontés 2021 Salta Valley, Argentina
14% alcohol. Pergola-grown Torrontes from super-high altitude (1800 metres). Fresh, lemony, intense and grapey on the nose. There’s a hint of mint, too, adding to the bright personality. Supple and fruity on the palate with a nice delicacy. This isn’t at all heavy, but shows off the more delicate herby quality of Torrontes, finishing open with citrus and canteloup melon characters. Intriguing. 91/100 (£16 Hic Wine Merchants, Hop Cellar, Latitude Wines)
Zuccardi Q Chardonnay 2023 Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina
13.5% alcohol. The grapes for this come from Gualtallary (1350 metres) and El Peral (1200 metres), so it’s very high altitude. Taut and focused on the nose with honey, wet stones and some pear and peach fruit. In the mouth there’s a subtle toasty quality as well as some spice, and then compact, pithy fruit. It’s juicy and energetic with some depth, too. Concentrated and refined, and with the potential for further development. 93/100 (£16 Tesco)
Zuccardi Q Malbec 2022 Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
14% alcohol. Brooding, brambly nose with some pepper and dried herbs as well as floral cherry and raspberry fruit. The palate is crunchy and vibrant with slightly raw tannins adding a frame to the supple, sweet fruit. This treads the nice line between being sweet and accessible, and also offering some gastronomic potential. Ripe but balanced with openness and drinkability. Great balance. 91/100 (£14.99 Majestic, Ocado, John Lewis)
Zuccardi Serie A Malbec 2023 Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina
14% alcohol. Nicely defined aromatics of sweet strawberry and cherry fruit with hints of pepper and dry herbs. The palate is bright with sweet fruit, but also suppleness and freshness, with a fine green undertow to the plush berry fruits. Some olive and cured meat notes. This is a really nice mid-weight and quite elegant expression of Malbec, offering pleasure and also a hint of seriousness. 91/100 (£14 Tesco)
Zuccardi Los Olivos Mabec 2024 Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
14% alcohol. Fresh, lively blackcurrant and cherry fruit on the nose with a nice green edge. The palate is fresh and well defined, with some grainy tannins, some green notes, and a bit of spiciness framing the sleek black fruits. Juicy and drinakable with a herb-laced, chalky finish. Great balance and drinkability here. 90/100 (£13 Cambridge Wine Merchants, Cheers, Farm Vintners)
Definition by Majestic Malbec 2022 Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
14% alcohol. Supple and sweetly aromatic with some stewed plums, dried herbs and then plush black cherry fruit. Midweight and very drinkable with a sweet core to the berry and black fruits, as well as some supple green hints. There’s a touch of sweet and sour here. Shows great drinkability. 90/100 (£13.99 Majestic, £10.99 mix six price)
Zuccardi Apelación Paraje Altamira Cabernet Franc 2020 Uco Valley, Argentina
14% alcohol. This is brooding and gravelly with ripe, sleek black cherry and blackberry fruit, with freshness, structure and texture. This is a very stylish, varietally true Cabernet Franc with digestibility and deliciousness. Grainy and with some savoury detail, as well as sweet fruit. This sits nicely between the new world and the old in terms of style. 93/100 (£19.99 Oxford Wine Company, Noble Grape, Latitude Wine, Harvey Nichols)
