Zuccardi Polígonos Gualtallary Malbec 2022

Familia Zuccardi built the Polígonos range to bottle the character of individual Uco Valley villages, and this Malbec comes from Gualtallary, one of the highest sites in Mendoza. The vineyards sit on alluvial soils studded with limestone and calcareous fragments, where poor stony ground limits vigour and concentrates the fruit. Altitude brings cold nights and warm days, and that wide diurnal swing holds the natural acidity and fixes deep colour while the grapes ripen slowly. Ageing in untextured concrete is the key cellar decision here. The neutral vessel allows a slow, gentle exchange without adding oak flavour, so the wine keeps its mineral signature and the pure varietal fruit stays in front. The colour is a deep cherry red. The nose leads with plum and ripe cherry over a chalky, almost saline minerality, with a lift of black pepper and dried herb. The palate is structured and savoury, the tannins fine grained and firm, the finish long and stony. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant young to open the aromatics. It suits grilled red meat, roast lamb and mushroom dishes.