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Bodega Garzon Reserva Cabernet Franc 2021, Maldonado, Uruguay

19 Tuesday Mar 2024

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Medium ruby colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of capsicum, bilberry, black raspberry, red plum, coffee, caramel, vanilla and smoke.  The palate is dry with a medium body and medium tannins.  Flavors of blueberry, plum, black raspberry, coffee and a remnant of the green pepper go on for a medium length finish.  This $16 bottle is delicious and well balanced, albeit not overly complex.  I would say it is worthy of 90 points and therefore- 5 stars.  I have always enjoyed the wines from Bodega Garzon and find them to be exceptional value for money- their Tannat is awesome.  My pairing tonight is a grilled Tri-tip with steamed Japanese yams.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Bodega Garzon Reserva Albarino 2020, Maldonado, Uruguay

20 Sunday Mar 2022

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The 101st bottle tasted at our Virtual Wine tasting was this Albariño from Uruguay. As always- we tasted it at room temperature first and then chilled.  The wine is a pretty, pale gold color.   The room temp version had aromas and flavors of honeysuckle, peach, apricot, yellow pear, lemon zest and evidence of MLF and Sur Lie aging by way of yeast, bread and buttered popcorn.  We agreed that the wine had high acidity, medium (+) body and a medium finish.  I gave it 12/20 on the VWTC scale and 90 points.

The chilled version was a touch flabby- the flavors were muted but we did get buttered popcorn, green apple, tangerine, pear and honeysuckle.   Quite a marked difference in flavor profiles.  One thing that we noticed was a cotton candy flavor, albeit very faint.  Someone mentioned a touch of residual sugar was noticed but at 3.2 g/l, it is considered a Dry wine.  Chilled- this wine had a lower weight body and seemed less acidic.  It scored 8/20 and I gave it 87 points.

To be fair, this is a decent wine that deserves the 90 points I originally assigned and for $17, it gets 4 stars.  Drink now with seafood cocktails or a crisp salad.  Salut….

 

Bodega Garzon Reserva Cabernet Franc 2018, Maldonado, Uruguay

09 Saturday May 2020

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I was impressed with the Garzon Tannat so I am hoping for equal results with this Cabernet Franc.  It’s very dark in the glass, lovely rich color.  The nose is very fruity with black berries, boysenberry and rich oak.  The palate is very appealing, light in a spright kind of way but thick with flavor.  Black fruits dominate with violets and a mint component thrown in for good measure.  This wine is very easy on the palate, with lithe tannins and a juicy acidity.  The mid palate continues the blackberry theme but in a more restrained way.  It’s not jammy or full throttle.  Very seductive, as I like in Cab Franc.  The finish is decent in length and shows off some oak with the black fruit.  It fades within 20 seconds and leaves me wanting another sip.  Overall this is a good wine, but not up to the standard of the Tannat.  90 points and 5 stars for this $15 wine.  Salut….

Bodega Garzon Reserva Tannat 2018, Maldonado, Uruguay

01 Friday May 2020

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Wow, this is some inky wine.  I am on a stretch of tasting some lesser known varietals for the next few days.   Tannat is very popular in South America and is very tannic and raw.  I am cooking Strip steaks and Cevapcici sausages, made from ground lamb which is fatty and spiced- I hope the pairing works.

The nose is blackberry jam, some charred oak and red licorice.  On the palate it is as expected- fruity, primal, tannic and delicious.  This is a wine made for a big South American Asado (grilling).  The midpalate is so juicy it makes me pucker.  Black currants, blackberry and a touch of mint all hit me.  The wine is tannic, but not over dry.  Black tea and licorice flavor the back end and the finish has a hint of charcoal.  There is a definitive oak influence but it is deft and delicious.  91 points and 5 stars for this $15 Tannat.  If you have never ventured into the lesser knowns, here is a good starting point.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….