Bodega Garzon, Uruguay (Uruguay) Tannat 2010

 This wine is the product of a jaw-dropping vineyard and winery still being developed in northern Uruguay, and everything about the project beggars belief.  When I say everything, I mean everything, and this wine is no exception:  Made from vines that are just in their second year or “leaf,” this is the first crop and so of course was treated to French oak that was entirely new…which sounds like a potentially disastrous combination, but quite clearly isn’t.  The wine shows perfectly pure primary fruit aromas and flavors recalling blackberries and black plums, along with subtle toasty, spicy accents that lend lots of interest without ever elbowing the gorgeous fruit from center stage.  Based on this initial effort, one can hardly imagine how good these wines may become in the future.  The indicated price of $20 is merely a guess, as these wines aren’t yet released into ordinary commercial channels, but this project expresses a commitment to pricing the wines at relatively modest levels.  You may need to travel to Uruguay to taste this wine, which I certainly recommend that you do.