Region: Maldonado, Uruguay

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir

Tasting notes: The proximity of the Atlantic Ocean is a key factor in this fresh, expressive Pinot Noir fermented by Germán Bruzzone in cement tulips before ageing in oak casks. Complex, with rewardingly fruity notes of sweet and sour cherry, plus mineral and spice aromas. In the mouth it’s dense, harmonious and elegant with firm, compact tannins.

Producer: Garzón winery and vineyard estate is the result of the dream of Argentine businessman Alejandro Bulgheroni and his wife Bettina to make a modern and emblematic winery in the coastal region of Maldonado. Under the guidance of their consultant winemaker Alberto Antonini, the focus of Garzón’s wine production has been in expressing the unique terroir through the maritime wine portfolio. Beyond the vines and winery, Garzón also offers world-class gastronomy and tourism experiences, and sustainability is at the very core of the business plan. Garzón winery is the first sustainable winery beyond North America to have a LEED certification (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), and the first in the world to have 100% of its facilities awarded Silver certification – from the offices to the wine cellar.

Vineyard and Winemaking: Located near the village of Garzón in Maldonado, on the eastern coast of Uruguay, Garzón winery was one of the modern pioneers of this region – which is now one of Uruguay’s most prized terroirs. The 240 hectare vineyard is separated into more than 1,000 lots which have each been identified for their different microclimate, orientation, levels of humidity, sun exposure and soil characteristics. One of the great attractions to making wine here was the special soil profile which the vineyards have, belonging to what’s known as the crystalline basement which is formed of some of the oldest soils on the planet – over 2,500 million years old! The weathering and breaking down of these granite rocks product a terroir known as ballast and is a key component to the mineral profile of the wines. All grapes are harvested by hand and with a bunch selection in the vineyard, and another selection in the winery.