“The level of precision here is amazing; they might very well be the finest producer in Argentina.” – Wine Advocate

Some wines – the finest wines – go beyond variety, beyond winemaking, transporting you to a specific place and time.

Full-bodied but lithe, juicy yet focused, powerfully complex yet subtle, with double 99-points (and a couple 98’s for good measure), it is a wine reframes the conversation.

And today, wait… WAY under $100?!

Seriously, this is a level of quality RARELY SEEN AT TWICE THIS PRICE (even at Wine Spies…)

And with just a handful of cases to share, only our savviest (and quickest) serious red wine connoisseurs will get a shot at it.

This is expected from Zuccardi.

Named New World Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast in 2022, selected by The World’s Best Vineyards as the Best Vineyard in the World three years in a row (before joining the hall of fame). And they boast more Wine Advocate 100-point scores than any other in Argentina… and we could go on. The awards and praise stacks higher than the Eiffel Tower and they all add up to one simple fact.

Zuccardi is in a league of their own.

There is no shortage of praise for them, but perhaps Vinous sums up their journey best, “The story of Bodega Zuccardi encapsulates the evolution of contemporary Argentine wine. Just 20 years ago, Zuccardi was relatively unknown in the global fine wine market but has since emerged as a producer of some of Argentina’s most intriguing reds… championing soil-focused approaches, exemplified by their exceptional parcel wines. Their Malbec offerings—Concreto, Alluvial, and Fincas—are terroir-driven and embody the house’s signature pure, un-oaked style.”

(If you need more proof, just read the Wine Advocate’s 689-word write-up below! They totally did the homework for us. Just…WOW.)

Currently helmed by the third generation, the dynamic Sebastián Zuccardi, they are OBSESSED with terroir and quality.

The Finca Las Cerrilladas (ser-ree-YAH-das) bottling is one of four reds they produce as an exploration of soil within their vineyard in the Monasterio section of the region of Gualtallary (gwal-tah-YAH-ree) – one of the BEST regarded regions in all of Argentina. The vineyard was painstakingly divided into 30 parcels by soil types, with Las Cerrilladas representing sections of lime-rich sand, gravel, and clay. In the same way limestone is special in helping promote the structure and finesse in the finest Burgundy, the soils here add layers of intricacy and polish to Malbec that are transcendent! And it’s clearly capturing the attention of critics.

Tightly coiled, after some time in a decanter it unwinds to reveal a brooding and complex nose of black plum, crushed berries, fresh violets, delicate wild herbs, and subtle earth. Seamless, tense, muscular, it is a prize-fighter in their prime, presenting an agile grace and unbelievable power that will haunt you as it knocks you off your feet. It could go toe-to-toe with the best in the world… and it’s built to last.

As Wine Advocate says in their glowing 98+-point review, “My score could be viewed as conservative with a few more years in bottle.”

If you’ve seen our Zuccardi offers before, you know… IT ALWAYS SELLS OUT!

At this price, for near perfection?! Grab it before it’s gone.

99 Points – James Suckling – Top 100 Wines of the World “Blackberries, bark, terra cotta and graphite on the nose. Full-bodied with tightness and focus. The crunchy fruit is savory and beautiful, with an orange-peel undertone. Very juicy, focused and polished on the finish. Superb tannins. From the parcels of Zuccardi in this appellation. Wow. Wonderful finish.”

99 Points – Descorchados “Las Cerrilladas was first vinified in 2019, with grapes from vineyards planted four years earlier, and it was the last red to join the Fincas line, a series of wines from specific Zuccardi vineyards in the Uco Valley. This third version is from the excellent 2021 season and has that vintage’s brilliant fresh fruit. The palate is crisp, with firm tannins and vibrant acidity, while the flavors are deep and long. But in the context of Gualtallary, this malbec is especially serious and austere. It’s a selection of three types of soils—two of them rich in caliche (white and pink) and one rocky—found at about 1,300 meters above sea level in Gualtallary, in the northern Uco Valley. The area is one of the most calcareous parts of Gualtallary and usually gives rise to wines with firm, chalk-like textures on the palate.”

98+ Points – Wine Advocate “Within the tremendous scope of Argentine wine, there is perhaps no more impressive or complete transformation than that of Zuccardi. Its story has unfolded across three generations: its founding in 1963 by Alberto “Tito” Zuccardi, who used vineyards as demonstration vessels for a proprietary irrigation system; its rise to global distribution led by José Zuccardi; and its current phase under Sebastián Zuccardi, who joined the family business in 1999. His relentless vision centering around purity and place, along with his wholesale commitment to investing in the Uco Valley, has propelled Zuccardi into the upper echelon of producers in South America. Sebastián’s studies focused on viticulture rather than winemaking, a background that continually influences his viewpoint and defines the transparent aesthetic of the wines. Initially drawn to the Uco Valley in search of a climate suitable for producing sparkling wine, Zuccardi currently owns 350 hectares of vines in the region, primarily concentrated in Paraje Altamira, San Pablo and Gualtallary and overseen by viticulturist Martín di Stefano. Each vineyard site has been meticulously mapped and planned according to soil type, typically featuring a combination of alluvial soils with calcium carbonate content. The overarching vision at Zuccardi centers on representing place, which can easily sound like a series of buzzwords, but at Zuccardi, it becomes palpably evident throughout every aspect of the operation, from the design of the winery and the materials of the fermenters to the layout of the vineyards and the crystalline clarity of the wines themselves. Alongside Sebastián, production is overseen by Head Winemaker Laura Principiano. The cellar concentrates on fermentations in concrete vats, where a labyrinth of vessels was crafted from stones excavated while planting their Uco Valley vineyards. Red wines typically do not undergo cold soaking, and macerations occur over 12 to 15 days. Whole-cluster fermentation varies by vineyard site, with San Pablo often destemmed entirely, Gualtallary typically seeing a healthy amount and Altamira usually fermented entirely whole cluster. White wines are typically not racked and do not undergo malolactic conversion. Sémillon is vinified in foudre, a notable exception to the focus on concrete, as the team strives to encourage oxygen exposure during fermentation and élevage. The portfolio is organized in a hierarchical pyramid, structured similarly to the Burgundian cru system: the Serie A and Q lines are introductory, regional labels focusing on clean, concise expressions of their respective varieties; Polígonos is a corollary to village bottlings representing a specific section of the Uco Valley; wines such as Concreto, José, Tito and Emma Zuccardi fall under the Viticulturist line, which pays homage to family members and historic wine styles; the Paraje range includes Fósil, Botánico and the Aluvional series, each representing a specific subregion defined by soil and climate; the Finca range offers a stunning selection of single-vineyard wines, with the single-parcel bottlings of Piedra Infinita occupying the apex of the range. Regardless of price point, the unifying factor throughout the roster is unwavering clarity, focus and precision. The dramatic shift away from the heavier, oakier and glossy style that defined many Argentine wines in the 1990s and 2000s is nowhere to be found. In the words of Sebastián, “Before, the wines of Argentina were the muscles; now they are the bones.” I believe it is safe to say that Zuccardi’s vision, transformation and success have had quite a bit to do with that in recent years. Vinified entirely in concrete with 40% whole clusters, the 2021 Finca Las Cerrilladas comes from alluvial soils in the Monasterio section of Gualtallary, featuring sand, calcium carbonate and caliche. It opens with an initially introverted, coiled bouquet that gradually reveals the quintessential herbal, spice-driven and elegantly floral profile characteristic of Gualtallary, delivered with delicacy and subtlety. The palate is sleek, racy, tensile and gently enveloping, transitioning seamlessly to a spectacular, complex and multidimensional finish that balances tenacious grip, alluring nuance, vertical lift and weightless density. I found this to be approaching the same league as the reference-point Piedra Infinita bottlings, a feat all the more remarkable as it is only the third iteration produced so far. My score could be viewed as conservative with a few more years in bottle. Drink 2026-2036.”

98 Points – Fallstaff “Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, brightening at the rim. Ripe black cherries, plums, nougat, pleasant minerality, a hint of orange zest underneath. Complex, juicy, elegant, underpinned by fresh acidity, firm tannins, salty, but still needs time; remains somewhat inaccessible.”