Rose, 2020. Garzon

We are pleased to present a wine from Uruguay, a country we have had very little exposure to. The country's wine history is relatively new, having been settled in the 1850s by Basque expatriates. They planted a grape called Tanat, which produces a very coarse wine that takes some getting used to.

The estate is run by Alberto Antonini, a global wine superstar with a Ph. D. in agriculture from University of Florence and Enology degrees from the University of Bordeaux and the University of California, Davis. He worked for two of the most iconic wineries in Italy, Antinori and Frescobaldi as well as other famous producers around the world.

It was people like Antonini who did not embrace Tanat and introduced international varieties to Uruguay like Pinot Noir. This grape loves being less than 10 miles from the ocean, as it is here. The winery is so meticulous that it has divided its vineyard into 1,000 different blocks covering its hillsides. They have identified each microclimate and soil to determine which varieties would do the best. We love this approach as it signifies the ambition to make the best wine from what you have, not the most popular. Garzon seems to have done both.

The color is a classic peach that reflects the light as would a jewel. The nose is floral and fruit driven with cherry being the standout. The palate delivers all the promise of the nose with lilting fruit and a zippy finish. A must with sushi, shrimp scampi, or fried chicken.

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