Zorzal

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Country of Origin: Argentina
Location: Gualtallary, Uco Valley
People: Juan Pablo Michelini, Winemaker | Noelia Juri, Oenologist
Viticulture: Practicing Organic

Items

Zorzal 2022 'Gran Terroir' Chardonnay, Gualtallary Login In Stock
Zorzal 2022 'Terroir Unico' Rose, Gualtallary Login AG 90 In Stock
Zorzal 2017 'Eggo' Franco (Cabernet Franc), Tupungato Login WA 93 WE 93 In Stock
Zorzal 2019 'Gran Terroir' Cabernet Franc, Tupungato (Gualtallary) Login AG 92 In Stock
Zorzal 2023 'Terroir Unico' Cabernet Franc, Gualtallary Login In Stock
Zorzal 2020 'Gran Terroir' Malbec, Tupungato (Gualtallary) Login AG 92 WS 89 In Stock
Zorzal 2022 'Gran Terroir' Malbec, Tupungato (Gualtallary) Login In Stock
Zorzal 2020 'Terroir Unico' Malbec, Tupungato Login WS 88 WS 91 In Stock
Zorzal 2019 'Gran Terroir' Pinot Noir, Tupungato (Gualtallary) Login WA 91 In Stock
Zorzal 2021 'Terroir Unico' Pinot Noir, Tupungato Login WS 87 <1 Case
Zorzal 2023 'Terroir Unico' Pinot Noir, Tupungato Login On Order



Media Links
Grape Collective: Elevating Malbec: Gerardo Michelini of Zorzal
Quench Magazine: Argentina's Canadian Connection
Around the World in 80 Harvests: A New Style of Wine in Mendoza: Interview with Winemaker Matias Michelini
Amanda Barnes Blog: 10 Argentine Winemaker's to Watch (Matias & Juan Pablo both mentioned)
Dining Out: Zorzal Wines
De Vinos y Vides: Juan Pablo Michelini: Creando Vinos en Huevos de Cemento

Social Media Links
Instagram: @juampimiche, @noeliajuri

Zorzal is a young winery that began in 2007 by the Michelini brothers, Gerardo, Matias, and Juan Pablo (the winemaker) along with a group of Canadian investors, with it’s first vintage being 2008. The winery and vineyards are located in the subregion of the Uco Valley called Gualtallary, outside the town of Tupungato, at approximately 4,500 feet above sea level, which makes it the highest winery in Mendoza. The estate consists of 70 hectares on a unique blend of sand, stones, and limestone and is planted to multiple varietals including Malbec, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, as well as a few others.

The grapes are all harvested by hand, and the vision is to have minimal intervention (or a "light hand") in the winery so as to let the fruit and terroir shine. The winery practices organic methods in the vineyards and uses only indigenous yeast in the winemaking process. Zorzal tends to pick its grapes a little earlier (greener) than most in Mendoza to retain freshness and acidity in their wines instead of the overblown ripeness that is too often seen. They are already considered to be a rising star in Argentina with their focused wines and enticing expression of multiple varietals above and beyond their stunning Malbecs.

Wine Advocate 10/2012
"Their passion and commitment, their spirituality and, for want of a better word, “purity” in terms of doing what they do for the love of it rather than financial reward, bought to mind the Lopez de Heredia sisters in Rioja. If you want cutting edge, meticulously crafted Argentinean wines hot footed from one of the most exciting sub-regions (Gualtallary), then look no further than Zorzal or indeed, Passionate Wines (the solo venture of Matias Michelini)."

Reviews

  • Zorzal 2017 'Eggo' Franco (Cabernet Franc), Tupungato
    The Wine Advocate
    Rating: 93 (6/29/2018)

    The 2017 Eggo Franco is pure Cabernet Franc cropped from seven-year-old vines on alluvial soils high in calcium carbonate. It fermented with 10% full clusters in concrete vats, where it matured with the full lees until bottling at the end of the year. It's very varietal, herbal and spicy, with good structure and body, great balance and power, with fine-grained, chalky tannins.

  • Zorzal 2017 'Eggo' Franco (Cabernet Franc), Tupungato
    Wine Enthusiast
    Rating: 93 (6/11/2020)

    Dusty cherry and berry aromas are earthy and highly natural, with no overripe notes or oak. A full, ripe palate offers fine balance between weight and elegance, while this tastes of clean black fruits prior to a finish with dry tannins. This is fresh and exact, with little of the herbal character that often comes with Cabernet franc. Drink through 2025.
  • Zorzal 2020 'Terroir Unico' Malbec, Tupungato
    The Wine Spectator
    Rating: 88 (7/31/2022)

    A well-defined style, offering roasted herb notes to a plum and blackberry core. Ends with dusty chocolate and spice notes around fine tannins. Drink now.
  • Zorzal 2020 'Gran Terroir' Malbec, Tupungato (Gualtallary)
    Vinous
    Rating: 92 (11/3/2022)

    The 2020 Malbec Gran Terroir from Gualtallary, Uco Valley, was aged for 16 months in used barrels. Purple in hue. The nose offers vivid notes of violet, sour cherry, fresh plum and black tea. In the mouth the freshness is sharp and flows juicy with good, chalky tension and finely grained but voluptuous tannins. An expressive, primary red.
  • Zorzal 2022 'Terroir Unico' Rose, Gualtallary
    Vinous
    Rating: 90 (8/10/2022)

    The 2022 Rose Pinot Noir Terroir Unico from La Arboleda is an off-white copper color. An intense nose presents sweet and sour cherry and rose petal notes. In the mouth, it has a compelling malic freshness and a lovely electric flow thanks to the altitude and decision to harvest early.
  • Zorzal 2019 'Gran Terroir' Cabernet Franc, Tupungato (Gualtallary)
    Vinous
    Rating: 92 (8/10/2020)

    A new release, this Cabernet Franc was aged for nine months in used barrels. Fruity on the nose, with red currant, cherry and herbal notes. Constrained but juicy on the palate; the feel is electric, as the sugary freshness and chalky tannins vie for supremacy. Very interesting.
  • Zorzal 2019 'Gran Terroir' Pinot Noir, Tupungato (Gualtallary)
    The Wine Advocate
    Rating: 91 (3/31/2021)

    The 2019 Gran Terroir Pinot Noir feels a little riper and wider, with darker fruit and some more rusticity. It seems to have more texture and concentration, as it's a wine that was going to be aged in barrel for 12 months. The palate shows more austerity and the chalkiness from Gualtallary. 22,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2020.
  • Zorzal 2020 'Terroir Unico' Malbec, Tupungato
    The Wine Spectator
    Rating: 91 (10/15/2023)

    Complex and engaging, showing citrus peel, mountain herb and mineral notes amid a floral-tinged core of red berries, enlivened by fresh acidity and lingering around slightly chalky tannins. Drink now through 2023.
  • Zorzal 2020 'Gran Terroir' Malbec, Tupungato (Gualtallary)
    The Wine Spectator
    Rating: 89 (10/15/2023)

    Taut, crisp and medium-bodied, showing a linear style of graphite-laden berry flavors, carried by vibrant acidity onto the finish around mineral-tinged tannins. Drink now.
  • Zorzal 2021 'Terroir Unico' Pinot Noir, Tupungato
    The Wine Spectator
    Rating: 87 (11/30/2023)

    This offers a friendly raspberry and red currant core that shows delicate rose petal and spice notes, with stony accents on the finish around fine tannins.