The 2020 Familia Zuccardi Finca Canal Uco Malbec is a distinguished wine hailing from the Altamira appellation in the Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina. Produced by Familia Zuccardi, this red wine showcases a remarkable balance of fruit, minerality, and texture, making it a standout in its category.
The wine has garnered high praise from multiple reviewers. Decanter awarded it a score of 96, noting its "alluring nose full of blackcurrants and softly fragrant plums" and describing it as "soft, smooth, succulent and sumptuous." The wine's high-altitude origin, at 1,100 meters with alluvial and calcareous soils, contributes to its complexity and precision. Decanter's review highlights its "plentiful and pure fruit, salinity, chalkiness, and juiciness," calling it "seductive and moreish."
James Suckling gave an even higher score of 99, praising its "pristine and fresh but also complex and deep" character. He noted an enticing aroma of "tile, wild herbs, and lots of blueberries and flowers." Suckling emphasized the wine's "ultra-fine, immaculate tannins" and described it as "super polished but intellectual." He recommended cellaring it until 2026 for optimal enjoyment.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also rated this Malbec highly with a score of 96. The review highlighted the wine's origins from the historical part of Altamira, where the soils are slightly deeper and less limestone-rich. The 2020 vintage, a warm and dry year, produced a "perfumed and clean" wine with "floral notes." The wine is described as "juicy" but without any trace of sweetness, featuring "contained ripeness" and a "medium-bodied palate."
Vinous provided a score of 95, noting its "floral nose" with "notes of violets, ripe plum, blueberry, herbs, and sage." The review described the palate as "dry, juicy, and taut," with "finely-grained, chalky tannins" and "measured acidity," resulting in a "rich but compact mouthfeel."
Wine Spectator awarded it a 94, highlighting a "wet stone note" that paves the way for "concentrated violet and blueberry notes." The review mentioned layers of "spiced plum and fresh herbs" with a finish lingering on "smooth tannins and cocoa bean details."
Overall, the 2020 Familia Zuccardi Finca Canal Uco Malbec is a celebrated wine that combines high-altitude terroir with meticulous winemaking, resulting in a complex, balanced, and highly drinkable red.