There are few folks on this planet that might contemplate me a “wine professional”, far fewer would name me a “South American wine professional” an I can guarantee you that not one single particular person would contend that I’m a “Uruguayan wine professional.”

However.

I like to consider myself as a reasonably good pupil (the College of Pennsylvania doesn’t dole out Ph.D. levels to simply anybody), so once I was despatched a slew of wines from the quite tiny nation of Uruguay (it’s roughly the identical dimension as Wisconsin or Washington), I made a decision that I might attempt to discover out a bit extra.

Uruguay is sandwiched between the a lot bigger Brazil to the northeast and Argentina to the west, and has been an impartial nation since 1828. Typically identified for its progressive politics, the nation did undergo simply over a decade of oppressive navy rule (1973-85).

From weblog.usac.edu

A soccer (soccer) crazed nation, Uruguay has as many World Cup victories (2) because the French. Positive, these embody the very first World Cup (1930) and one other 20 years later (1950), however the nation gained the Beneath-20 FIFA World Cup final summer season in neighboring Argentina, so…

Relating to wine, about 75% of Uruguayan wine manufacturing comes from the 2 wine areas proper across the nation’s capital Montevideo: Canalones (roughly 60% of manufacturing) and Montevideo (sure, the identical identify because the capital, with about 15% of complete manufacturing).

Tannat, which was delivered to the nation within the 1870s by French Basque immigrants, constitutes near 40% of the vineyards planted right this moment, with different worldwide varieties turning into more and more necessary.

Final 12 months, I used to be despatched 9 wines from Uruguay for a Zoom name and I revealed notes on the white wines and crimson wines (which, not surprisingly, included a number of Tannats).

Final month, I had yet one more Zoom with the fantastic folks from Uruguay and though I’ve by no means visited the area, I do really feel that I’m turning into a bit extra accustomed to the wines. This specific webinar targeted on whites from the coastal area of the nation, which lies on the Atlantic Ocean (however you knew that already…).

2023 Los Cerros de San Juan Riesling Familie Lahusen Single Winery, Costas del San Juan, Uruguay: Retail $25. Screw cap. 1.6 g/l residual sugar. Solely 10 complete acres of Riesling are planted in Uruguay and to make this even a bit extra uncommon, the wine is aged in amphora. An uncommon Riesling in that there should not the standard markers right here: no petrol to talk of, no intense citrus. A great deal of honeysuckle and acacia with a determined salinity on the nostril. The palate comes off dry and tart with good fruit and a prolonged end. An attention-grabbing wine. Very Good. 89 Factors.

2023 Viña Overground Viognier, Progreso, Uruguay: Retail $26. Beneath agglomerated stopper. There’s not a lot Viognier planted in Uruguay both and that is not like any Viognier I’ve tried. There isn’t any intense floral side right here so  one can decide up the lemon rind and seashell rather a lot simpler with this wine. Good and tart with nice citrus and a little bit of weight. I might by no means guess that this was a Viognier, so easy methods to fee it? I don’t know, however I prefer it. Wonderful. 90 Factors.

2024 Familia Traversa Sauvignon Blanc, Montevideo, Uruguay: Retail $16. Beneath screw cap. Straw, near yellow within the glass, A traditional SB nostril however with out the cat pee/freshly minimize grass that one finds in some SB, significantly in New Zealand. Brilliant citrus, a contact of salinity and a touch of an natural side (basil?). The palate is lean and targeted with a stunning acidity, it drops off a bit on the end, however this can be a nice instance of the variability. Very Good. 89 Factors.

2024 Bodega Bouza Albariño, Garzón, Uruguay: Retail $28. Beneath screw cap. Albariño may be Uruguay’s signature white grape (Tannat definitely fills that function on the crimson facet). Brilliant straw with pretty pear and peach aromas on the nostril, wealthy and alluring. Surprisingly spherical–most Albariños I’ve had had been definitely acid-driven–with luscious fruit and a weighty mouthfeel. This makes one take into consideration what an Albariño may be if extra winemakers would department out a bit. Wonderful. 92 Factors.

2024 Familia Deicas Albariño Atlántico Sur, Juanicó, Canelones, Sierras de Garzón, Maldonado, Uruguay: Retail $20. Very Accountable Bottle (480g; 16.9oz). Beneath screw cap. Mild, sensible straw shade within the glass with a wealthy, fruity nostril of tree fruit: some golden apple, white peach, perhaps even apricot. The palate is fruity and wealthy with layers of fruit and a roundness that one doesn’t often discover in Albariño. A little bit of orange blossom and a tiny trace of orange rind are launched on the mid-palate. The end is prolonged and complicated, making me marvel if this wine actually is barely twenty bucks? Excellent. 94 Factors.

2023 Bodega Garzón Albariño Single Winery, Las Violetas, Canelones, Melilla, Montevideo, Uruguay: Retail $25. Accountable Bottle (537g; 19oz). Beneath cork. 15 year-old vines. Good straw within the glass with lime and lime zest that leap out of the glass, actually weighty. The palate is wealthy and voluptuous with out being over-bearing and pushy. “White peaches made like to acacia flowers in a seashell mattress.” That’s how the U.S. consultant described the wine (roughly) and I’ve to agree, that is a tremendous wine. Excellent. 95 Factors.