Bodega Garzón Reserva Albariño 2018 (Uruguay) - Wine Review

After enjoying the 2016 Bodega Garzón Reserva Tannat from Uruguay earlier this week, tonight's wine review is a lovely white wine from the same producer. Like the Tannat, this will also be coming to LCBO VINTAGES on July 6th.

It is produced by Bodega Garzón at their sustainable estate winery in Punta del Este in southeastern Uruguay. The winery is located over natural terraces and built in the hills, using a gravity-flow system to gently move the wine through the various stages, which allows Garzón to produce fine wines of the utmost quality. Their energy-efficient facilities also generate their own energy via wind and solar cells. Impressively, their 19,050 m² building has a capacity of 2.2 million litres and is the first sustainable, LEED certified winery outside of North America.

While Uruguay is known more for their red wines, Albariño was actually the first varietal planted on the property at Bodega Garzón. This white wine varietal thrives in Maldonado due to its proximity to the ocean and it's soil, which are both similar to Albariño’s home in Galicia in northwestern Spain.

Tasting Note:

BODEGA GARZÓN RESERVA ALBARIÑO 2018 - Maldonado, Uruguay (#646802) (XD) - $21.95
Hand-picked and sorted, this Albariño spent 3 to 6 months on the lees in stainless steel tanks. The pretty nose offers fragrant and ripe apricot and peach aromas with hints of lemon citrus. It is medium-full bodied on the structured palate that has a slight spritzy character. Dry flavour profile with citrus, tangy grapefruit, white floral and herbally notes that are lifted with fresh, crisp, and bright acidity. Stone and citrus fruit flavours give way to mineral notes on the long, crisp finish. Score: 90 pts

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Bodega Garzón Reserva Tannat 2016 (Uruguay) - Wine Review

It is widely accepted that the greatest wines in the world are found where a grape varietal finds the ideal conditions to express itself in a natural and authentic way. As such, tonight I am reviewing a delicious Tannat that has found a home in, of all places, Uruguay. This delicious red wine will be coming to LCBO VINTAGES on July 6th.

This wine is made with the Tannat grape varietal by Bodega Garzón, a producer that was awarded the 2018 New World Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast. Bodega Garzón, located in Maldonado in southeastern Uruguay, was founded by Argentinean businessman Alejandro Bulgheroni and his wife Bettina to have their family dream come true of a winery of modern viticulture in Uruguay with personality and a sense of belonging to the land. With the advice of international eonologist Alberto Antonini, Garzón's philosophy is focused on producing wines that are a true expression of their origins.

Uruguay is recognized worldwide for Tannat, a variety that has become the iconic grape of the country given its unique, velvety flavour and the countless international awards it has received. In fact, it is now produced in greater quantities in Uruguay than in Southwest of France, where this varietal originated. Located at the same latitude as Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, the temperate climate favours growing grapevines throughout Uruguay.

At Bodega Garzón, the vineyards are located close to the Uruguayan Atlantic coast at 160 m above sea level and are influenced by the fresh breeze of the Atlantic Ocean. The geology of Garzón belongs to what is known as the Crystalline Basement, which gave origin to the oldest soils on the planet more than 2.5 billion years ago. When those rocks are altered and broken down naturally over millions of years, a fantastic soil of weathered rock is formed, called Ballast. These ballast hills have excellent drainage and several minerals that are absorbed by the roots of the vine, making wines vibrant, energetic and complex, turning Garzón into a suitable place for specialized viticulture.

Tasting Note:

BODEGA GARZÓN RESERVA TANNAT 2016 - Uruguay (#558916) (D) - $21.95
Fermented in cement tanks and aged for 6 to 12 months on the lees in French oak barrels and casks. Medium+ intensity aromatics are quite stony mineral driven, layered atop red and black fruits, black currant, and herbs, accented with some peppery spice aromas. The full-ish bodied palate is ripe with more dark berry, herbal, spice, and subtle wood flavours. Nicely textured with some some stony characters on the mid-palate adding nuance. Acids are fresh, while the refined tannins are approachable, supple and have some structure. Some bitterness with dark chocolate and hints of black plum notes on the long after taste. Recommended buy to enjoy over the next 5+ years. Score: 90 pts

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