Wine & Spirits - June 2018 - 63

YEAR'S BEST ARGENTINE MALBECS
Our blind panels tasted 171 new-release Argentine malbecs over the past 12 months.
Patricio Tapia, our critic for Argentina, rated 12 as exceptional (90+) and 5 as Best Buys.
Find a complete list of wines tasted and all reviews at wineandspiritsmagazine.com.

122014

95 | Zuccardi

$91

2014 Paraje Altamira Aluvional ^ Altamira
had been a coveted region for vineyards in
the Uco Valley for more than a century when
Zuccardi and several other producers set out
to define its boundaries as an appellation.
They gained approval in 2014 and now label
their wines Paraje Altamira. This one comes
from vines planted ten to 15 years ago, those
young vines producing a fierce, monolithic
malbec with the clarity of tart black fruit that
defines this high-altitude zone. The acidity is
lively, and the tannins are dense, enveloping
the violet-scented fruit. This should age well. §
Winesellers, Niles, IL
122474

94 | Teho

$79

2015 Mendoza El Corte Tomal Vineyard ^
Planted in 1940, the Tomal vineyard is mostly
malbec, with some tempranillo, bonarda,
cabernet and garnacha. Teho purchased the
site in 2010; for this vintage, winemaker Alejandro Sejanovich decided to coferment the
grapes as a field blend. The result is initially
tannic, the structure wrapping around the
juicy blue and red fruits, all very fresh and
crunchy. As the wine opens with air, earthy
and herbal notes emerge, adding to its complexity and suggesting this has many facets
yet to show. § Vino del Sol, Corralitos, CA

122470

94 | Zaha

$35

2015 Mendoza Toko Vineyard Malbec ^
Zaha planted this vineyard in 2000, on
chalky soils that give a malbec with tension
in the structure. That tension generates a
delicious effect between the firm tannins,
the scents of violets and black cherries and
the energetic acidity. It feels youthful, nearly
vibrating with freshness, and will require a
few years of age to gain in complexity, but

its fruit flavors today are hard to resist. § Vino
del Sol, Corralitos, CA
122019

94 | Zuccardi

$91

2014 Tupungato Alta Aluvional Gualta ^
With the Aluvional line, Zuccardi aims to
demonstrate the character that malbec
acquires in the varied high-altitude districts
of the Uco Valley, all focused on alluvial soils.
This grows at a vineyard rising to elevations
of 4,608 feet in Gualtallary, one of the highest spots in Uco, and shows the personality
of the variety in that mountainous area: It's
powerfully aromatic, driven by scents of violets, sour red cherries and herbal details. The
wine feels plump and vigorous, full of brilliant acidity and firm yet gentle tannins, an
excellent companion for rosemary-roasted
turkey. § Winesellers, Niles, IL
122607

92 | Susana Balbo

$24

92 | Zuccardi

$45

2015 Uco Valley Signature Malbec ^ The
stony soils of Altamira, high into the Andes,
often produce austere wines, as if imbued
with a cold mountain breeze. This malbec
demonstrates that austerity, the flavors
walled off by monolithic tannins. Little by
little, the wine shows its notes of violets and
red cherries, as well as a delicious layer of
spices and herbs. Still very young, it needs
five years in the bottle. § Folio Fine Wine Partners, Napa, CA
122012
2013 Uco Valley José Malbec ^ José Zuccardi, the son of the winery's founder, helped
to develop the international market for his
family's wines. José's son, Sebastián, is now
in charge of winemaking and makes this malbec in homage to his father. He selects fruit
from a vineyard in Altamira with chalk soils,
offering a wine with distinctive tannins, firm
and sharp, sustaining flavors of black cherries and spice. It's generous rather than concentrated, with floral notes in a refreshing
finish. § Winesellers, Niles, IL
122476

91 | Finca El Origen

$22

2015 Uco Valley Gran Reserva Single
Vineyard Vista Flores Malbec (Best Buy) ^
The wines of Vista Flores tend to offer Uco's

most succulent malbecs, grown in the district's stony clay soils. This wine's tannins feel
voluptuous, their texture the central focus,
leaving the liqueur-like fruit in the background, even as its juiciness fills everything
in its path. § Carolina Wine Brands, Charleston, SC
122334

91 | Bodega Toneles

$18

90 | Catena Zapata

$24

2016 Mendoza Tonel 46 Reserve Malbec
(Best Buy) ^ This wine is centered on malbec
from the Chacayes area, in the heart of the
Uco Valley. Its high-altitude origin is apparent in the nerve of its acidity, clearly delineating the contours of the fruit, bringing
freshness to the dark cherry and blackberry
flavors. Roasted game will take on the tannic
structure and allow the flavors to expand. § TriVin Imports, Mount Vernon, NY
122401
2017 Mendoza High Mountain Vines
Malbec ^ Marked by herbal notes and violet
aromas, this has the stamp of Uco Valley in
its fresh flavors of black cherries. Its acidity is tense, balanced by the ripe flavors in
an enchanting finish, lasting on the scent of
flowers. § The Winebow Group, NY

121945

90 | Doña Paula

$40

2014 Mendoza Selección de Bodega Malbec ^ A pure expression of malbec, this wine
delivers all the ingredients in their proper
measure: notes of violets, cherries and herbs
in a delightfully soft body, with ample acidity. It's a juicy red to serve lightly chilled with
Argentine empanadas, stuffed with meat
and dipped in chimichurri. § Trinchero Family
Estates, St. Helena, CA

WINE & SPIRITS

JUNE 2018

63
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wine & Spirits - June 2018
