Attended by Alberto Antonini, consulting winemaker of Bodega Garzón and one of the world’s leading winemakers, the avant premiere of Balasto 2020 was held in Uruguay for the specialized press at the Sofitel Hotel in Carrasco. This time, a new vintage of this wine was presented, which marked a milestone by being the only Uruguayan wine launched in 2017 in the exclusive Place de Bordeaux, a place reserved for the best labels in the world.
During the event, guests were able to enjoy the exclusive launch of the 2020 vintage of this icon wine of Bodega Garzón and learn about its main characteristics from Alberto Antonini and Germán Bruzzone, Vineyards and Winery Manager, who was also present during this avant premiere.
Balasto 2020 is a blend composed of three grape varieties with the best of Garzón’s terroir: 42% Tannat, 39% Cabernet Franc, 19% Petit Verdot, with a fermentation process in 80 HL. concrete tulips and a maturation process carried out for 20 months in French oak untoasted barrels.
“By knowing the terroir in depth, wines with a stronger sense of place can be produced. The biodiversity, the soil structure and composition, the hills and the exposure they provide to the vineyards, its proximity to the ocean and the influence of its clean, fresh breeze make Garzón a unique place for making premium wines.” Alberto Antonini.
Balasto 2020 has already obtained prestigious international scores, such as the 98 points awarded by the renowned English Master of Wine Tim Atkin, 96 points from the American critic and journalist James Suckling, 96 points, Best Red and Best Red Blend awarded by Patricio Tapia in his Descorchados Guide, and 94 points from the prestigious Wine&Spirits Magazine.
In addition, the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 vintages had already achieved important recognitions, among the most outstanding: Top 100 Wine & Spirits, 97 points by Descorchados, 97 points by Tim Atkin, 96 points by James Spurrier, 96 points by James Suckling, 95 points by Decanter, 94 points by Wine & Spirits and 93 points by Wine Spectator.
Balasto 2020 will have its official launch and presentation on September 12, 2023 at Place de Bordeaux.
As a gift to the guests, a bottle of Tannat 2014 signed by Antonini himself was handed out.
Bodega Garzón is an avant-garde building that has become the most important winemaking venture in Uruguay. Founded by Engineer Alejandro P. Bulgheroni and belonging to the Alejandro Bulgheroni Family Vineyards group, it has a vineyard of around one thousand three hundred plots and a fully sustainable building of 19,050 m². It also has an exclusive restaurant for 120 diners with the renowned chef Francis Mallmann as ambassador and Culinary Director, and several wine tourism proposals to enjoy its facilities throughout the year.
Other milestones achieved by Bodega Garzón in recent years: inauguration of the exclusive Private Club The Garzón Club, Tannat Reserva 2015 in the TOP 100 of Wine Spectator magazine, Tannat Single Vineyard 2017 in Masters Of Wine, being chosen as Winery of the Year by Patricio Tapia’s Descorchados 2020 Guide, Best Winery of the New World by Wine Enthusiast, having the Best Winery Restaurant according to prestigious Decanter and integrating the Top 100 Wineries 2020 of Wine & Spirits.
