Raffy - Familia Zanchetta
Pardus Malbec
A deep, dark, brilliant purple color. On the nose it is pure and modern, with finely integrated oak and notes of ripe black fruit, cassis and blackberry, complemented by fine tobacco and sweet spices.
On the palate it is dense, with an already rounded texture, fine-grained tannins and flavors of bitter cocoa. It has an underlying freshness that keeps it fluid and full of nuances, with a persistent, highly elegant finish.
Category: Pardus
Label: Malbec
This is how the Best Sommelier of the World rates our Pardus Malbec.
Technical Sheet
Line: Dionisios
Identity and Origin
Vineyard: 20 years old, Gualtallary massal selection. Planting: "pie franco" (ungrafted vines) system. Farming: no pesticides or agrochemicals, with innovative bioenergetic techniques (sound therapy and plant homeopathy). Water quality: sourced from Andean snowmelt. Irrigation: sustainable drip irrigation system. Harvest: hand-picked into 12 kg crates, staggered by block. Country: Argentina. Region: Valle Alto de Uco, Mendoza (1250 masl). Denomination of Origin: IG Gualtallary. Terroir: alluvial, sandy soils. Plot: sandy Block C2. Quality certifications: ISO 9001, organic (certification in progress).
Analytical Profile (may vary by vintage)
Variety: 100% Malbec (still red wine). Color: dark purple. Alcohol: 14.5%. pH / Acidity: pH 3.8. Total acidity: 5.10 g/l. Residual sugar: 1.8 g/l. Sulfites: reduced (20 ppm free at bottling, less than half the amount allowed by international organic standards).
Vinification
Production: long pre-fermentation maceration (15 days), fermentation with indigenous yeasts (or inoculated exceptionally) and extended post-fermentation under control. Sound treatment in tank: sound-harmonization process during fermentation. Production: produced and bottled on the estate.
Aging and Cellaring
Aging: 12 months in lightly toasted French oak barrels (third use), with a very subtle wood contribution. Harmonization: aging accompanied by seasonal sound frequencies for tannin polishing and organoleptic stability. Cellaring: up to 10 years.
Export markets: France, Canada and England.
The Particularities of an Ungrafted (Pie Franco) Vineyard
This wine comes from a vineyard whose distinctive feature is having been planted entirely in the "pie franco" system — a choice made for the vines' high oenological value. The wine is made from Malbec grapes harvested and hand-selected at full ripeness.
The strong thermal amplitude of this high-altitude vineyard (situated at 1300 m above sea level) guarantees the berries' natural acidity. This geographic setting allows for naturally sustainable farming that respects the terroir. The soil is sandy over a subsoil of calcareous sediments. Yields are low (40 quintals per hectare). Through all this care — from the choice of ungrafted "pie franco" vines for their high oenological value, to the manual harvest and selection of fully ripe grapes, to a production process aimed at sublimating the vivacity and intensity of Malbec's primary aromas — with our Pardus wine we seek to express the full potential of the Gualtallary terroir.
Awards
| Award | Tasting year | Bottling year | Medal / Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tasted by Andreas Larsson Best Sommelier in the World | 2024 | 2021 |  |
| Tasted by Andreas Larsson Best Sommelier in the World | 2022 | 2017 |  |
| Descorchados | 2021 | 2017 |  |
| Tasted by Andreas Larsson Best Sommelier in the World | 2020 | 2015 |  |
| Tasted by Andreas Larsson Best Sommelier in the World | 2020 | 2013 |  |
| VINQ SUB30 | 2018 | 2015 | Gold Medal |
| SĂ©lections Mondiales des Vins Canada | 2017 | 2014 |  |
| Tasted by Andreas Larsson Best Sommelier in the World | 2017 | 2013 |  Grand Gold Medal |
| VINQ SUB30 | 2016 | 2013 |  Grand Gold Medal – 98 Pts |
| International Beverage Exposition | 2012 | 2010 |  IBEC |
| Vinus Competition | 2011 | 2010 |  |
