Review: Garzón Reserva Tannat

I’ve been writing about value wines since 2007 and one reliable trick I’ve used over the years for finding wines of exceptional value is to look for wines from under the radar regions.

It comes down to simple supply and demand. If you buy wines from the most well-known wine regions, you’re probably going to pay a premium for those wines, simply because there’s more demand for them. But that doesn’t necessarily mean those wines are better than wine from less known regions.

Uruguay

One of the under the radar wine regions I’ve been excited about for the last couple years is Uruguay. Like other wine-producing countries in South America, wine production found its roots in Uruguay through European immigrants in the mid 19th century. So, there is a long history of wine in this country. However, wine production here has seen significant investment and modernization over the past 30 years, resulting in some world class wines that many in the world have yet to discover.

One of the tactics the Uruguayan wine industry has employed during its revitalization is to focus on a specific grape variety, creating a signature grape for the region. That variety is Tannat, a red variety that produces some BIG wines. These are wines for people who like bold wines. These are wines you want to serve with a juicy steak – which is fitting, considering the fact that there are about 4 times more cows than people in Uruguay.

It’s a beef eating country with a signature wine that pairs beautifully with beef.

Although Tannat is considered the national grape of Uruguay, it didn’t originate there. Tannat has a long history in the Madiran wine region in South West France, pre-dating it’s introduction in Uruguay. Tannat from Uruguay, however, is stylistically different from French Tannat.

As you might be able to guess from the name of the grape, Tannat is known to be high in tannins. However, Tannat from Uruguay tends to be lighter and less tannic than those from France. This is one of things that makes Uruguayan Tannat special.

Why is it different here? Terroir. The Atlantic Ocean has a significant impact on wine production in Uruguay, creating a cool climate for wine growing. However, the terroir here is not a monolith. The wine industry in the country had identified 6 distinct terroirs, influenced by different soil types and climatic conditions. This means you can expect Tannat from different parts of Uruguay to have different expressions.

Garzón Reserva Tannat

The wine I’m featuring today comes from a producer called Bodega Garzón, which was named New World Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine in 2018. This is one of the bigger producers in Uruguay and therefore an Uruguayan wine you’re more likely to find in shops here in the United States.

Bodega Garzón is based the Garzón region of Uruguay, just 11 miles from the coast. The maritime influence is significant here. This region is also known for rocky, granite-based soils.

The wine itself is 100% Tannat. It was fermented in concrete tanks and aged for 6-12 months in untoasted French oak casks.

Tasting Notes

This wine has a rich nose, offering aromas such as dark chocolate, blackberry, balsamic and cedar. It is also rich on the palate, delivering concentrated blackberry, black cherry, dark chocolate and Earl Grey tea flavors. It has sufficient acidity to provide vibrancy to the flavors. The tannins give it a nice mouth feel and a hint of bitterness on the finish, but these tannins are not overwhelming, as they can be in some Tannat. There are lingering berry flavors on the finish.

Wine: Garzón Reserva Tannat
Varieties: 100% Tannat
Vintage: 2021
Alcohol: 14%
Rating: 88
Average price: $18
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.