Zuccardi Finca Piedra Infinita Malbec 2017

“They use some specific soils for the 2017 Finca Piedra Infinita, up to eight different plots, but not all plots contribute to the wine every vintage; in general, the zones with 20 to 60 centimeters of soil and then large stones with calcium carbonate are reflected in the wines. So, they deconstruct the vineyard, and then they build the blend with the plots they like for each wine, up to eight here but only a specific one for the Supercal and Gravascal. There’s a little more ripeness and exuberance here within the general austerity of the whole Piedra Infinita range, especially when compared with the 2018s. They harvested 15 to 20 days earlier than in 2018 (or in 2016) and they had to run, but the separation they have by soil helped them to harvest earlier the earlier-ripening parts of the vineyard. That gave them a great advantage and they produced very good 2017s, but the condition of the year, a shorter cycle and a more hurried year was what it was. This 2017 is not as long as the 2018, and there is a strong chalkiness in the finish. 7,300 bottles were filled in August 2018. Drink: 2021-2028. 98 points

Aluvional is Zuccardi’s village range, Altamira is the “paraje” or zone/quarter within the village, something larger than a vineyard, and then there is the single-vineyard range, being more precise in the origin of the grape as you go up in the hierarchy, a little in the Burgundy style. But in the single-vineyard Finca Piedra Infinita, they also have plots, Supercal and Gravascal, like the lieux-dits in a crus. They even use “lugar dicho,” which is the Spanish translation for “lieu-dit.”

2017 was a warmer year and they harvested very quickly and were guided by the soil differentiation. Some wines can be as fresh as in 2018! 2018 is closed, a young vintage with a sharp and austere profile.“

Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate (03/21)