Bodegas Carrau Sauvignon Blanc Sur Lie 2008

Winemaker: Francisco Carrau
Grape: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Cerro Chapeu, Uruguay

See other wines from this producer:
Bodegas Carrau Tannat de Reserva
Bodegas Carrau AMAT Gran Reserva

Uruguay wouldn’t be considered a typical region for Sauvignon Blanc, yet when I first tasted this wine, I was amazed by it. It doesn’t have a strong “grassy and grapefruit” flavors its New Zealand’s cousins have, but I enjoyed it even better.

Family Carrau, the best producer of Tannat in the area, carefully selected ripe grapes for this wine from their highest elevated vineyards. Winemaker pays a special attention to prevent oxidation during the process of hand-harvesting and juice-press.

More about history of Bodegas Carrau here

Wine is than fermented with a native yeast strain and kept on the lees for 6 months (method called “sur lie”). When the wine is ready, they bottled it with a minimal handling to preserve all its freshness.

Tasting notes:
Super refreshing and crisp white wine with slight green touches has an intensive fruit and herbal aroma. Clean, dry white wine with touches of grapefruit, lime and lemongrass would be a great match with spicy seafood.

Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Retail price: under $ 12.00

Ideal food pairing:
Seafood salad, Shrimp in mustard sauce, Galician paella, My Happy Tilapia, Chinese food, Indian food,

Bodegas Carrau AMAT Tannat Grand Reserva 2005

Winemaker: Francisco Carrau
Grape: Tannat
Region: Cerro Chapeu, Uruguay

See other wines from this producer:
Bodegas Carrau Tannat de Reserva
Bodegas Carrau Sauvignon Blanc

Tannat isn’t well expended and known grape, there are only few places in the world growing it. Some of Tannat vineyards could be found around French Pyrenees, and the wine there is mostly used for blending. Its typical firm almost rustic tannic structure improves the ability of wine to age.

The family Carrau might be very well among the only producers of 100% Tannat wines in the world.

More about history of Bodegas Carrau here

This wine is a tribute to Don Francisco Carrau Amat (1790-1860), one of current winemaker Francisco’s wine making ancestors. The grapes from 30 year old single vineyard came from Cerro Chapey region, considered the highest above sea level in Uruguay. Tannat is grown with very low yields and harvest begins when the berries start to shrivel and tannins are very mature.

Wine ferments in barrels and ages “sur lie” for 18 to 24 months depending on the vintage. Then it’s bottled with minimum handling and ages in the cellar for one more year before it’s released to the market.

Tasting notes:
Very rich red wine surprise with a really deep ruby color and strong aroma of black fruit and plums. On the palate this “heavy cream” of red wines gave me a rich flavors of plums, blackberries and some cedar and vanilla from aging in the barrels.

This is the big red for your super quality steak treat. Well structured and spiced, tannins are soft and promising a long, long aging possibilities. it will keep developing over the next 10-15 years. This is an incredible value for a wine collectors.

Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Sustainable farmed
Collectible
Retail price: under $ 25.00!!!!!

Ideal food pairing:
This wine deserves the highest quality steak (like Argentinian beef, that I keep hearing about but didn’t try yet), grilled red meats, chocolate deserts, aged cheeses