Garzon Cabernet Franc Reserva

Bodegas Garzon sits on a windswept plateau in Maldonado, Uruguay's easternmost wine region, where the Atlantic Ocean moderates temperature swings and Atlantic breezes stress the vines into phenolic ripeness. The vineyard occupies glacial soils rich in granite and quartz at 150m elevation, aspects facing southeast toward the ocean.

This Cabernet Franc Reserva undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, followed by 12 months in French oak (mix of new and neutral vessels). The extended oak aging and cool-climate fruit profile distinguish this expression from lighter, fruit-forward Franc bottlings; the Atlantic wind exposure concentrates acidity and tannin structure without overripeness.

Garzon's Reserva tier represents the estate's commitment to age-worthy expressions—this wine develops secondary complexity over 5–8 years, with the mineral granite terroir asserting itself as primary fruit fades. The 2019 vintage captured optimal ripeness without heat stress, a hallmark of Maldonado's maritime climate advantage.