2023 Cabernet Franc, Bodega Garzón Reserve

• Style: Lifted, mineral-bright Cabernet Franc
• Taste: Blackberry, wild herbs, peppery spice, soft structure
• Food: Roasted beef, duck, grilled dishes, stews
• Occasion: Weeknight comfort, Sunday lunch
• Serve: 16–18°C, decant 30 mins

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

This Cabernet Franc opens with forest fruit and peppery spice, unfolding layers of ripe blackberry and prune beneath wild-herb freshness. Soft tannins add texture without weight. At 13.5% ABV, the wine achieves balance through restrained alcohol and precise pH — serious yet approachable, drinking beautifully now with quiet structure for modest cellaring.

The Winery — Bodega Garzón

Bodega Garzón sits 11 miles from the Atlantic in Maldonado, where granite-rich soils and ocean breezes ripen fruit steadily. The family-owned estate pioneered viticulture in this cool southern region over a decade ago, earning Wine Enthusiast's New World Winery of the Year award in 2018. Their philosophy — 1,150 individual small vineyard blocks, each positioned for its own soil and microclimate — reflects a commitment to listening to land rather than imposing on it. The 2023 vintage faced a historic drought that shortened harvest by two weeks; careful irrigation management preserved fruit intensity without excess. Six to twelve months in untoasted French oak added subtle structure, letting the wine's natural character lead. The winery itself operates with gravity-fed production and holds LEED certification, the first beyond North America to achieve this sustainability standard.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Roasted duck, grilled beef, aged cheese, and eggplant-forward dishes find their match here — this is a wine built for flavourful, earthy food. Stews and braises benefit from its soft structure, while game and venison highlight the mineral backbone. Serve at 16–18°C; a 30-minute decant opens the aromatics. Perfect for weeknight comfort or Sunday lunch when the table calls for something with real substance but no pretension. If you're exploring Cabernet Franc beyond its Loire Valley home, this Reserve offers genuine insight into how cool maritime terroir shapes the variety. Discover more within our full Cabernet Franc range and browse our Uruguay collection to experience how this region challenges conventional wisdom about wine geography.