Argentina is best known for its red wines, especially its flagship variety, Malbec. Outside of Malbec, other red grapes are finding success in the country’s numerous microclimates. This week’s Tasting Highlights showcases several Malbecs, including wines from top producers such as Familia Zuccardi and Bodega Catena Zapata, as well as fine examples of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, with scores up to 92 points.
Familia Zuccardi’s portfolio is a pyramid, with the larger-volume, lower-priced wines at the bottom giving a broader look at Mendoza. In contrast, the wines at the peak show off the potential of single-vineyard or single-parcel bottlings. Still, Sebastian Zuccardi believes the regional wines should speak the same language as the parcel wines, and as such, he keeps vinification similar so there’s no disconnect. The ripe and youthful Malbec Q is a regional blend of Uco Valley vineyards and ages in a mix of concrete and used oak.
Moving up, Poligonos is a “village” wine, showcasing the identity of Paraje Altamira, known for its velvety texture and distinctive minerality. Next on the rung is what Zuccardi calls “viticulturist” wines, which showcase unique expressions of a particular region or variety. Concreto is the winery’s pure communication of Paraje Altamira: a Malbec fermented and aged in concrete, resulting in a fresh, floral and spicy style, with mineral-tinged tannins.
Cabernet Franc, in particular, has shown itself to be a worthy companion for blending with Malbec; it also shines when bottled as a standalone variety. The refined and elegant Corazon del Sol bottling comes from a single block of the winery’s estate vineyard at an elevation of 3,800 feet in the Los Chacayes district. The deep alluvial soils here often lend an unmistakable chalky note, which shows on this wine’s finish.
Among the best values on the list is Grupo Peñaflor’s The Icon Rock Cabernet Sauvignon. This label explores how the “mother rock”—the primary rock from which all other types of rocks originate—influences a wine’s profile through different soil types in New Zealand, Chile and Argentina. This Cabernet Sauvignon, hailing from Mendoza vineyards, undergoes 12 months of aging in French oak barrels and is savory and structured.
Read on to get our expert scores and full tasting notes!
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