SAQ Albariño Reserva 2022, Bodega Garzón, Uruguay
Big Boy
A few weeks ago, we told you about a South African albariño as an interesting rarity. In the same vein, this week we are offering you a Uruguayan albariño that is as surprising as a soccer victory against Brazil!
Few Uruguayan wines end up on the monopoly's shelves. The reason is mainly related to transport, and it is a shame when you realize that this country of 3 million inhabitants is a precursor to qualitative trends and niches for the Latin American vineyard.
The Garzon estate is the initiative of the Bulgheroni family. Fortunately financially well-off enough to invest heavily in its 240 hectares of vines (out of the 2,200 on the property) to promote organic and sustainable viticulture, the owners are now at the forefront of viticultural development on the east coast of Uruguay. Also note the presence behind the project of the super oenological consultant Alberto Antonini, the Michel Rolland of America.
This albariño will be quite pale with greenish highlights and fruity aromas evoking peach. Balanced with notes of fresh lemon, it will offer mineral freshness and interesting acidity. With 3 to 6 months of aging on fine lees, its finish on the palate will be long and round.
Unlike Galician albariños that highlight salinity, some New World albariños present a certain sweetness that will make you prefer them by the glass rather than by the bottle.
- To accompany it: tuna tataki with an Asian salad of crunchy vegetables,
- For the anecdote: Just like the tannat introduced by a Basque immigrant, the albariño is the result of a Galician immigrant who brought the grape variety in 1954,
- To better understand albariño: We will offer you a grape variety happy hour on this great traveler in the spring of 2025,
- Continue your exploration of the grape variety with an American variation from the Edna Valley in California, Tangent Albarino 2022, $28 at the SAQ (15250758)
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