Bracco Bosca Ombú Reserve Tannat 2020 Canelones, Uruguay 75cl

Bracco Bosca is a family estate in Canelones, the historic centre of Uruguayan winemaking. The family farms its own vineyards with care and works closely with the grape that has come to define the country, keeping a focus on ripe fruit, freshness and honest, characterful wines.

Tannat is Uruguay’s flagship variety, brought over by Basque settlers in the nineteenth century and now thoroughly at home in Canelones. The Ombú Reserve is a pure Tannat given extra attention in the cellar, tempering the grape’s famously robust tannins through careful winemaking so that the wine keeps its power while gaining polish and depth.

The 2020 vintage gives a ripe, concentrated style, with the fruit richness needed to balance Tannat’s natural grip and a freshness that keeps it lively.

Expect a dense, dark colour and aromas of blackberry, black plum and dark chocolate, with a lift of spice and a hint of leather. The palate is full-bodied and structured, the firm but ripe tannins giving real presence and a long, savoury finish. Decant it and serve with steak, barbecued or grilled red meat, chorizo or a slow-cooked roast.

If you enjoy Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon or other big, food-friendly reds, Tannat is well worth discovering, and this Uruguayan reserve is a characterful, satisfying introduction to the style. It is a grape with a proud local identity, and a rewarding change from the more familiar South American reds. Open it for a barbecue with friends, give it a decant and a generous glass, and let its bold, meaty character do the rest.