Familia Zuccardi Funca Canal Uco Malbec 2021

Product info about Familia Zuccardi Funca Canal Uco Malbec 2021

Familia Zuccardi Finca Canal Uco Malbec 2021 is a red single-vineyard wine from Paraje Altamira in Argentina's Uco Valley, Mendoza. It comes from Finca Canal Uco, at around 1,100 metres above sea level, and is made entirely from Malbec. For Zuccardi, this vineyard carries real meaning: it was the first site the family planted in the Uco Valley, in an area historically irrigated by the Canal Uco.

The vineyard's alluvial soils are central to the wine's identity. Beneath sand and silt lie gravel and large stones coated with calcareous material, a setting reflected in the graphite-like, chalky and mineral details described in tasting notes. The 2021 vintage was cool, with slightly higher rainfall than average, allowing the grapes to ripen gradually while retaining freshness, acidity and firm structure.

Zuccardi kept the winemaking focused and restrained: hand harvesting, bunch selection, gravity filling, fermentation with native yeasts in concrete vats, followed by ageing in concrete. No oak ageing is mentioned, so the wine is not built around wood influence. Its story is more about site expression, dark fruit, tannin and mineral definition.

At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of Argentine Malbec we like to place in front of customers who want to see how serious and site-driven the variety can be. The strong recognition for this vintage, including several ratings around 96 points and a standout mention from Descorchados, adds to its appeal without needing to overshadow the wine itself. While young, decanting or aeration is worthwhile, especially because of its tannic structure. Grilled red meat, lamb, game, braised beef or an asado-style meal are very natural matches.

The aromatic profile is dark and concentrated, centred on blackberry, blueberry, cassis, dark berries and wild berries. Around that fruit sit floral hints, dried leaf, herbs, mountain herbs, mint and cardamom, with earth, undergrowth and dark mushroom adding a more savoury layer.

On the palate it is medium-bodied to concentrated, with real fruit depth and firm yet polished tannins. Fresh, mineral acidity keeps the wine taut, while graphite, chalk, smoke, tar-like nuances, bitter cocoa and a subtle cement note give it a compact, stony finish with notable length.