2020 Garzon Balasto Maldonado 6pk 6x750ml

~ 98 Tim Atkin, Master of Wine

The aromatics are impressive, with orange blossoms, sliced oranges and black fruit. Hints of tar with some minerals, fresh spices and chiles. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins that run the length of the wine. They are polished and curated. Chewy at the end but there’s a finesse, tension and focus. 42% tannat, 39% cabernet franc and 19% petit verdot. Drinkable now, but better from 2027. ~ 96 James Suckling

According to Garzón's winemaker, Germán Bruzzone, 2020 was a perfect year, especially due to the rains that fell at the right times—something that isn't at all common in the ever-rainy Maldonado Bay. A dream year that has yielded a Balasto of succulent flavors of ripe red fruits and sweet spices. The palate has tannins that are firm, but seem much smoother and creamier than the last time we tried this wine a year ago, for the previous edition of Descorchados. It has precise acidity to balance the deep, enveloping flavors, and the finish rich in tobacco notes from the cabernet franc. Balasto is Garzón's top wine and comes from a selection of the best blocks of the vineyard, planted on granitic soils on the slopes inland from Maldonado Bay. In this new edition, they have forgone the merlot and marselan to give a more important role to the two varieties that give them the best results: 42% tannat and 41% cabernet franc. The rest is petit verdot. ~96 Descorchados

The vibrancy of this wine is one of its main characteristics. Aromas of cherry jam, fig and mulberry form an aromatic nose. The energized palate shares the same notes of black fruit, with a whisper of smoke and dried herbs. This wine is elegant and silky and has the structure needed to age beautifully. Drink now–2033. ~ 94 Wine Enthusiast

~94 Wine & Spirits Magazine

Opens with subtle leather, spice and graphite notes, offering good density to the plum and brambly berry flavors. Picks up spiced chocolate notes on the finish, where there is a firm grip of tannins, so patience is required. Tannat, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2033. 100 cases imported. ~90 Wine Spectator