Zuccardi "Concreto" Paraje Altamira Mendoza Malbec 2020

Vinous - Joaquin Hidalgo : 94 Points

(11/2021) The 2020 Malbec Concreto from Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley was fermented in whole bunches and aged in concrete. A bright, rich purple in the glass. The initially reductive nose delivers pure fruit flavors of ripe plum and blackberry before opening out into sweet and sour cherry with hints of herbs. Makes a broad entrance before the mild flow and juicy freshness, while the variety's sweet tannins join forces with the gentle chalk to produce a pleasant, compact feel. The warm year accounts for a good measure of the structure and volume, resulting in a long-lasting, juicy and flavorful wine. Drinking window: 2021 – 2034.

Decanter : 94 Points

(6/27/2021) Vibrant aromas of plums, black cherries, violets and hints of herbal notes. Fresh and juicy with a chalky texture and spicy notes on the finish. Drinking Window: 2021 - 2029.

James Suckling : 95 Points

(8/18/2023) Lots of purple fruit with blackberry and blueberry aromas, as well as cement and stone. Floral undertones, such as poppies. Medium to full body with firm tannins and a savory finish. Hints of dried, clove-like spice. No wood here. Drink now or hold.

Wine Advocate : 94+ Points

(11/30/2022) The 2020 Concreto Malbec also impressed me, because it comes from the warmest and most challenging vintage of recent years, yet the wine keeps its poise and depth. This is a selection from shallow, stony and calcareous soils from Altamira, so the vines are quite sensitive to heat. If you encounter it on its own, it will feel fresh and superb; the problem is tasting it next to the 2021, which is what I did, because there is an extra degree of freshness, precision and clarity in the 2021, one of the finest vintages for this wine so far. This fermented with full clusters that were foot trodden to prevent carbonic maceration and had a short maceration to get a fine-boned and elegant wine, with an even shorter maceration in warmer years. This is a wine that always transcends the price point. Drink Date: 2022 - 2029.