Het groeiseizoen van 2017 in Paraje Altamira was warm en droog, en de Zonda-winden zorgden ervoor dat er in een groot deel van de Uco-vallei vroeg geoogst kon worden. Voor de wijngaard Finca Piedra Infinita van Zuccardi betekende dit kleine bessen en geconcentreerd fruit, afkomstig van een kalkrijke, steenachtige alluviale wijngaard op een hoogte van ongeveer 1.100 meter. Het resultaat is voller dan de koelere jaargang van 2016, maar met de ziltige spanning die kenmerkend is voor deze Malbec van één enkele wijngaard.
Robert Parker (98)
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.
James Suckling (97)
This is very intense with blackberry and blueberry character, as well as hot stones and granite. Full body. Chewy tannins fan out across the palate. A serious, powerful wine. Needs at least four or five years to soften. Impressive.
BOW (8.75)
