Zuccardi Malbec Paraje Altamira Finca Canal Uco 2019

98 points James Suckling: "What a nose, garnering complexity and depth. A wide spectrum of aromas that range from blackberries and blueberries to graphite, tree bark and wet earth. A medium-to full-bodied red, showing so much fleshy fruit and powerful, chalky tannins. But never imposing nor flattering. Impeccable poise, with a long, tight finish. This is the kind of wine that you can drink now or lay down for two decades. Better from 2025. (8/9/22)"

97 points Joaquín Hidalgo (Vinous): "The 2019 Malbec Finca Canal Uco hails from Uco Valley and was made in concrete vats. Intense purple in hue. The nose, initially shy, grows increasingly nuanced and intense with time in the glass. It presents notes of cherry, plum, thyme and hints of bay leaf, violet, lavender and other herbs accompanied by an unusual whiff of pink grapefruit. Pristine and elemental in style, this is a textured red in which the fine-grained tannins deliver plenty of chalk, as well as crisp, juicy freshness. More intense and layered than other wines from the house, the formidable fruit flavors are part of a raw, unfiltered expression of the terroir. Drink 2025-2035. (Nov 2021)"

96+ points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "[$150 list] The 2019 Finca Canal Uco comes from the historical part of Altamira only across the street from their Piedra Infinita vineyard, where the soils are slightly deeper and with a little less limestone and the grapes achieve more ripeness and deliver slightly more generous wines. They planted this vineyard 12 years ago—it was previously planted to apple trees. They have subdivided this 50-hectare vineyard into 40 different plots. The soils are heterogeneous, and they don't use the stonier soil and also avoid the deeper soils; so, they do a selection, ferment with some stems by plot and then do the blend of some 15 different parts of the vineyard. In Sebastian Zuccardi's words, they deconstruct the vineyard and then build the wines from the block. This has a combination of the characteristics that are juicier and make you salivate and the limestone, trying to take the best from both worlds. It has some flowers and also iron and blood and is medium to full-bodied, with good ripeness and the house style of seriousness, balance and elegance within the natural power and intensity of the place. This also matured exclusively in concrete without epoxy coating, raw concrete. 11,900 bottles were filled in June 2020. Drink: 2023-2030. (11/30/22)"

96 points Patricio Tapia (Descorchados): "This is a selection of the first vineyards that Zuccardi planted in Altamira, the result of massal selections from its original vineyards in Maipú in 2007. They are vineyards at an altitude of 1,100 meters, planted on deep, sandy, silty soils that produce wines that are generous, succulent, and very ripe, but very well moderated by the acidity and the tannic structure, which is very present here. One of those great wines meant for aging. This malbec was fermented and aged for a year in concrete vessels."

94 points Georgina Hindle (Decanter): "This is the first wine from Zuccardi that will be sold through the Place de Bordeaux this year. A 100% Malbec coming from the distinctive high-altitude Finca Canal Uco, 1,100m high with alluvial and calcareous soils in Paraja Altamira. It has a beautifully fragrant nose, smells so seductive with ripe blackcurrant fruits and soft floral touches. Gorgeous texture and intensity here, slightly chalky and salty tannins support the rich and concentrated fruits. There is power and richness but also finesse and such striking energy, it's a bold wine with lots to say. Clearly confident but I love the drive and the fresh finish. There is a clarity and definition here that is quite compelling and a lingering minerality that is appealing. Aged in concrete tanks so the wine sees no oak. Drinking Window: 2022-2034. (Aug 2022)"