2015 Balasto - Bodega Garzon

The 2015 Balasto is mostly a 45/25 blend of Tannat and Cabernet Franc, with Petit Verdot and Marselan filling out the blend. It was aged for 20 months in second use untoasted French foudres and comes in at 14.5% alcohol. The name references the soil at the winery—"decomposed granite with excellent drainage and minerality." The nose smells very ripe, even hinting at some decay, but the palate is far better, the wine turns out pretty well and it drinks nicely, mostly resolving my concerns. It maintains some elegance, surprisingly, for the presentation and style. It is not overly jammy. Then, it adds some serious tannic pop. There is some green around the edges to go with its distinctive flavor profile, thanks to the grape blend. Overall, this does well, although it is not quite as grand as either the bottle or the price.

NOTE: This specialty wine, in the massive bottle, is essentially a library wine at this point, as it is already sold out. This was the debut release.