2023 Pinot Noir 'Gran Terroir', Zorzal

“Volcanic Silk Pinot.”

From the dramatic high-altitude vineyards of Gualtallary, this Pinot Noir captures the wild, elemental character of the Andes with striking clarity. Planted at 1,350 metres above sea level on rocky soils rich in calcium carbonate and granite, the wine opens with an evocative bouquet of graphite, crushed stone and earthy minerality, layered with delicate nutty nuances and a whisper of gunpowder reduction. The dramatic day to night temperature shifts of this mountain site shape a wine of aromatic precision and natural freshness, where purity of fruit meets a distinctly stony, volcanic edge.

The palate is beautifully smooth and flowing, combining generous structure with remarkable finesse. Fermented with native yeasts in concrete, including a portion of whole bunches, and matured for 12 months in French oak, it offers silky layers of red fruit wrapped in gentle spice, fine tannins and a quiet mineral tension. There is both volume and elegance here, a wine that feels polished yet vibrant, finishing long, savoury and effortlessly poised with lingering freshness and subtle oak complexity.

For when: you want something refined but quietly powerful.
Pairs with: duck breast, mushroom dishes, or herb-roasted poultry.
If this wine were a landscape: a windswept mountainside at dusk, pure, still, and beautifully dramatic.

Zorzal is a boutique Argentine winery founded in 2008 by the Michelini brothers in the high-altitude Gualtallary region of the Uco Valley. Working with minimal intervention and a deep respect for terroir, the estate focuses on expressing the purity and identity of its mountain vineyards rather than imposing heavy winemaking influence. From some of Mendoza’s highest sites, Zorzal crafts wines of precision, tension and authenticity, modern Argentine expressions defined by elegance, restraint and a strong sense of place.