2023 Cabernet Franc de Corte, Bodega Garzón Estate

• Style: Silky Cabernet Franc–Tannat blend with black berry fruit and spice
• Taste: Soft black berries, dried herb, green pepper, gentle tannins, balanced
• Food: Grilled lamb, duck confit, aged cheddar, charred savoury dishes
• Occasion: Weeknight or Sunday lunch
• Serve: Room temperature, now or cellar 3–5 years

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Black berries arrive soft and silky, threaded with ripe berry sweetness and dried herb depth rather than fruit-forward bombast. A whisper of green pepper keeps everything taut. The gentle tannins never dominate—this is food-friendly drinking, not intellectualism in a bottle. At 12.5% alcohol, the wine drinks with a poise that belies its modest strength, the result of meticulous water management during the shorter, drier 2023 vintage.

The Winery — Bodega Garzón

Bodega Garzón sits 11 miles from the Atlantic on Uruguay's southern coast, where granite-rich soils and constant oceanic breezes create exceptional conditions. The estate pioneered viticulture in Maldonado over a decade ago and earned Wine Enthusiast's New World Winery of the Year in 2018. The 2023 vintage blends 80% Cabernet Franc with Tannat, Marselan and Merlot. Winemaking emphasises minimal intervention: five days of skin contact, stainless-steel fermentation, and several months on the lees. Over 1,000 individual microclimate-matched vineyard blocks ensure obsessive site selection, while gravity-fed cellar work prioritises quality and sustainability.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This wine rewards you for buying the unfamiliar. Pair it with grilled lamb, duck confit, aged cheddar, roast dinners, stews, beef, game and venison—anything charred and savoury where the gentle structure and spice will shine. The herbaceous edge typical of full bodied red wine from Cabernet Franc is beautifully balanced here, making it perfect for weeknight meals or leisurely Sunday lunches. Vegetarian and vegan-friendly. If you're exploring Cabernet Franc beyond the Loire Valley or going deeper into Uruguay's emerging reputation, this is where to begin.