Zuccardi Valles Malbec 2024

Valles is a Malbec from Zuccardi, the Mendoza family who planted their first vines in Maipu in 1963 and have become one of Argentina's leading producers. This wine draws on the Uco Valley, the high-altitude zone south of the city where vineyards climb well above 1,000 metres. Altitude is the key to the style: the thin mountain air and strong sunlight ripen Malbec fully, while cold nights give a wide diurnal range that locks in acidity, colour and aromatic freshness, so the wine stays vibrant rather than heavy. The stony, alluvial and limestone-influenced soils of the Uco lend the wine a savoury, mineral edge that sets it apart from warmer, plusher Malbec. The colour is deep red with violet reflections. The nose shows blackberry, plum and blackcurrant over a herbal, peppery note. The palate is medium to full bodied and direct, with ripe, fine-grained tannin, fresh acidity from the altitude and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 17C, decanting briefly. Good with grilled steak, roast lamb or hard cheese.