REVIEW - Across the Andres with Zuccardi and Caliterra Wines
It’s like taking a two week holiday; where you bare more skin than you’d ever do in Scotland, swop scarves and gloves for sundresses and shorts, spend many an hour soaking up the sunshine, visiting vineyards and drinking copious amounts of wine, eating far too much cheese and just enjoying all that life has to offer.
We may not be able to hop on that plane to dream wine destinations but with Wine Events Scotland and the power of Zoom, you can be transported to these wonderful wineries with two clicks of a button. With your wines in hand, you’re joined by master crafts people from the chosen winery who’ll impart their knowledge and expertise as they lead you on a private tour.
Recently I hopped on board the Wine Events Scotland jet and paid a visit to the Andes, to two countries that share the Andres Mountain Range, namely Argentina and Chile. Both of these wineries benefit from the cold mountain breeze that comes off the Andes but although their wines share similar characteristics they are very different! Delicious but different.
WINE REVIEW - Zuccardi and Caliterra wines from Argentina and Chile
Zuccardi Wines, Argentina
This winery looks like its just stepped right out of a futuristic movie set. It’s constructed from all natural materials, stones from the land: round, white and chalky. The building is concrete and rises like a space age settlement nestled amongst some of the finest vineyards in the world. Their Vineyards and Winery are at the cutting edge of wine making; investing heavily in research and development and working closely with young professionals, they’ve developed tapered and amphora shapes vessels built using epoxy-free concrete as this is thought to be the ideal shape in which they can work with the natural grape juice and wine! Its no wonder they have won Best Winery in the World for the last two years!
They have a team of agricultural engineers and enologists, who are in charge of producing the highest quality wines in the Uco Valley who are dedicated to studying the terroir and the diverse variables that affect wine quality.
Zuccardi have six vineyards in the Uco Valley, at the food of the Andes in Mendoza. This is the highest-elevation cultivated valley in the region where the wines benefit from a cool and dry climate and wide range of temperatures.
On this tour, we were privileged to be joined by Zuccardi’s Sommelier and Brand Ambassador, Laura Soleto.
We start high on the slopes amongst the olive trees. Zuccardi grow their own olives as they are well suited to the cooler higher ground. Of course this produces award winning olive oil and hence the name of our first wine - a nod to the award winning olive trees of Zuccardi.
Los Olivos Chardonnay, Uco Valley, Mendoza 2019 (£11.00)
The vineyards are located in the Tupungato region of the Uco Valley. This region is cooler allowing for more acidity to linger in the Chardonnay grapes resulting in a very dry white wine.
40% of the wine in matured for 6 months in French oak barrels with the remaining maturing in stainless steel which for me is the key, as the wine is well balanced with some fruitiness coming through (results of the oak barrels); I picked up pineapple and pear but it’s also very fresh on the palate with a more mineralilty than a creaminess or butteriness. Crisp and clean and would pair very well with white fish or chicken.
Valles Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza, 2018 (£13.00)
An absolute stunner of a Malbec. There is so much colour in this bottle with deep purple leading your nose to pick up the aromas of pure red fruits, big, ripe and mature. There’s dark juicy plums in there and hints of violet flowers which gives it a hint of spice. This is an elegant wine with a very attractive nose.
Made from 100% pure Malbec grapes, once picked and destemmed, these grapes underwent cold maceration before being fermented at a constant 77 degree Fahrenheit and then partially fermented in French oak barrels.
These grapes give their all to produce a wine of such intensity and character. The tannins are fairly sweet but it doesn’t result in a sweet wine; acidity is there but it’s not too sharp. This wine is well integrated and an absolute stand out for me!
Apelacion Paraje Altamira Cabernet Franc, Uco Valley, Mendoza 2018 (£15.50)
I have to admit, I am holding onto this bottle and haven’t opened it yet and probably wont for a few years as it will age beautifully!
This Cabernet Franc is a pure breed, no blends here. Many Cabernet Francs that you will come across are a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. Unfortunately, Cabernet Franc is not a popular red wine in the UK, but I’d keep my eyes peeled for a come back!
Zuccardi Tasting Notes describe the wine as ruby red in colour with wonderful ripe fruit aromas of blueberry and raspberry, hints of savoury leather and fresh herbs. Delicious, lush balancing acidity. Firm tannins with good structure leading to a long, satisfying finish.
Reading that description, I might have to change my mind and open it asap!
Vina Caliterra Wines, Chile
On the other side of the Andes, we have Chile and we pay a visit to Caliterra Wines with their Chief Winemaker, Rodrigo Zamorano. Caliterra Wines are all about paying a tribute to nature resulting in a fusion between "quality" and "land", as well as the passionate friendship between the pure nature of their terroir, a sustainable winemaking philosophy, their Chilean roots and the traditions of the Colchagua Valley.
If you visit Caliterra winery, you might see herds of wild horses and alpacas running free through their forests and grasslands - they act as natural weed control; and you’ll also see a large selection of local fauna and flora which under their Sustainability Philosophy is just as important as growing great wine.
Chile is a long narrow country with varied climates and soil. Climate is a huge factor here as there are three areas of coolness that the country has to deal with. Firstly, the cold breeze from the Humboldt (Antartic) current, the morning fog from the coast and the cold mountain breeze from the Andes. Luckily Caliterra Winery lies in the Colchagua valley or the Valley of Light; which means that due to the location of the valley and the slopes, the vines are exposed to prolonged hours of sunshine in a Mediterranean climate; long dry hot Summers and cool, wet Winters. A natural haven in which grapes can thrive.
Caliterra have six wine categories and we tasted three of them.
Tributo Single Vineyard Chardonnay, Casablanca Valley, 2019 (£12.00)
A wine from their core range and from their Casablanca Estate made from 100% Chardonnay grapes and matured for 9 months in used French oak barrels. It’s a very lively colour, a golden yellow but plays with hints of green reminding me of a mixture of honey coloured hay and freshly mown green grass.
It’s fresh and minerally but fruity too as flavours of pineapple, passionfruit and citrus wrap themselves around you mouth. There’s a delicacy there too, some white peach coming through and perhaps some almonds. Although an easy drinker, this wine is quite rich tasting. A brilliant discovery! Loved this!
Petreo Carmenere Colchagua Valley 2018 (£13.00)
These grapes come from the highest and coolest part of the vineyard; the temperature falls considerably at night forcing the grapes to produce more colour and more intensity of flavour which in turn means more fruitiness and colour in the wine.
This bottle of red is lively and packed full of rich fruit aromas that you want when you pop open a red. It bursts forth with blackberries, blueberries, red plums and possibly some cranberries but take a sip, and you’ll warm up with the soft spices of cinnamon and black pepper.
It lingers on the finish but is well balanced and a rather lovely glass of red!
Edicon Limitada ‘B’ Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc Colchagua Valley 2017 (£15.50)
Part of a limited edition series; B, M and A, these wines are blends of exceptional quality. The composition of this wine is made up of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc and 29% Petit Verdot, a classic Bordeaux grape variety mix.
I found this quite a complex wine, with aromatic layer after layer. On the nose, I picked up wood, lead and some oakiness but on a deeper breath I picked up berries - perhaps blackberries, cherry and even raspberries. Tasting notes also mention roasted tomatoes, but I didn’t smell this at all.
Drinking wise, this is a smooth elegant wine with a nice finish and subtle fruity notes. It does better after aeration and I’d decant it for at least an hour before drinking. Enjoy this with a big fat juicy steak and you’ll not go wrong.
After two weeks zooming around the Andes from the comfort of my couch (of course), I’m left with only one dilemma, what’s gonna be in my glass tonight.
A massive thank you to Wine Events Scotland for another fantastic wine tasting and to Laura and Rodrigo, for welcoming us and taking us on tour! I only wish I could be there in person.
For more Wine Event Scotland online tastings and to purchase any of these bottles of wine, visit www.wineeventsscotland.co.uk