Zorzal - Gran Terroir Malbec 2018
Price: $22.99
3+ Price: $17.99 / btl
6+ Price: $16.99 / btl
Mendoza is a massive region, every time I travel there I’m always struck by the sheer scale of the place. The province is over 57,000 square miles, that’s considerably bigger than North Carolina! It’s a high-desert with only 6-8 inches of rainfall per year, and even the low-lands are about 3000 ft in elevation. The Andes Mountains with peaks over 20,000 ft tower over the region to the west, and it’s the meltwater from these that is used to irrigate the vineyards. Without the hard work of the indigenous Huarpe population digging irrigational canals centuries ago pretty much nothing would grow here. The desert is hot, really hot, the low-lands where the bulk of Malbec comes from get very little break from the heat. For the great stuff you have to go to the mountains! It’s here in the foothills of the Andes, in sub-regions like La Consulta, Vista Flores, and Gualtallary that the serious wines are produced.
Zorzal’s Gran Terroir Malbec comes from vineyards in the Gualtallary of the Uco Valley. The Michelini brothers Gerardo, Juan Pablo, and Matias established vineyards here in 2007. Their vines are planted at 4800 ft in elevation and are farmed organically. The diurnal effect at this height is important, good swings between the hot days and cooler nights produces grapes with thicker skins, more even ripeness and better acidity. The unique blend of sand, stones, and granitic limestone in the soils gives great minerality. Its no wonder that top wineries like Catena Zapata and Familia Zuccardi are now produce some of their highest rated and priciest wines here. Zorzal’s Gran Terroir 2018 is 100% Malbec aged for 15 months in used French oak barrels. It bursts from the glass with blueberry, black cherry, chocolate, vanilla, and delicate notes of wild grasses and flowers adding setting an elegant tone. Full and lush on the tongue, with more dark berries and plum, dark chocolate, smooth tannins and a long seamless finish that’s fresh with minerals bringing you back for more. Bring on the carne asada, throw some burgers on the grill. Now this is why we all love Malbec!
James Suckling: 93 Points
“Very youthful, spicy black cherries and damsons, as well as a lifted, violet note. Very complete palate with healthy concentration, framed in a bountiful yet polished tannin structure. Well done!” - JS
Wine Advocate: 92 Points
“There is no oak now in the 2018 Gran Terroir Malbec, but it matured in well-seasoned French oak barrels for 12 to 15 months. This is a great example of the minerality of Gualtallary, a texture, a chalky mouthfeel that makes the wine tasty, long and serious, which is something very difficult to find at this price level and in this volume. Great work. 40,000 bottles produced.” – WA
Vinous Media: 91 Points
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