Bracco Bosca, 2019 Gran Ombú Cabernet Franc, Atlantída, Canelones, Uruguay
Bracco Bosca was established in 2005 by 5th generation grape grower Fabiana Bracco. Located in the region of Atlantida, the family is farming around 11 hectares of vineyards planted with primarily traditional Uruguayan varieties like Tannat, Moscatel de Hamburgo, and Ugni Blanc, as well as other French varieties including less than 1ha of Cabernet Franc. When Fabiana's ancestors settled on this farm, there was a large Ombù tree planted on the property, which is an important symbol in Uruguayan and Argentine cultures. This tree represents a particular emotional significance for the family and is depicted on their all of their labels. Despite not having a lot of Cabernet Franc planted, this wine, the Gran Ombú, is the estate's top wine and has garnered the family a lot of acclaim in a short period of time.
The Uruguayan wine industry is vastly different than the two countries we often think about when we think of South American wine, namely Chile and Argentina. With approximately 5,991 hectares under vines, Uruguay's vineyards are about 4% of that of Chile and less than 3% of that of Argentina. Tannat is the country's flagship grape, and while Cabernet Franc represents around 4% of the area under vine, over the last 2 decades as the quality revolution in Uruguay has taken place, the grape has shown a lot of promise.
Not only is the Uruguayan wine industry significantly smaller than its neighbours, the climate of its viticultural regions is also very different. The climate of the growing regions in Chile and Argentina can be generally characterized as mediterranean, with very low rainfall. Whereas Uruguay experiences a strong influence from the Atlantic Ocean, which serves as the main moderating influence for the climate, and contributes to the higher rainfall and humidity, and cooler temperatures experienced here. So Uruguay's wine growing regions have a moderate maritime climate, and they also experience a lot more vintage variation than what see in Chile and Argentina.
There are three main viticultural areas in Uruguay. The main area combines the regions of Canelones and Montevideo, which accounts for around 78% of vineyard area. At around 10% of the vineyard area, we have the regions that make up the Western Coast and Rio de la Plata. And at around 7% of the area under vine, we have the the Eastern Coast, which includes Maldonado, Rocha and Lavalleja.
Bracco Bosca is located in Canelones, and more specifically the sub-region of Atlantida. The regions of Canelones and Montevideo represent the historic centre of Uruguay's wine industry. This area would've likely been planted to vines as early as the 17th century, and because of the nature of the terroir and the proximity to the capital city of Montevideo, the region's wine industry was driven by quantity rather than quality for the better part of the 20th century.
The region of Canelones accounts for around 85% of vineyard in the region, and spans quite a large area. It is about 65km wide and about 40km from north to south, so there is a lot of variability in terms of microclimates as well as soils. But generally speaking, as you move west along Uruguay's Atlantic coast, the conditions get wetter and more humid, and they also get warmer. The same is true as you move inland - so the further you are away from the Atlantic, you'll experience a warmer growing season and more precipitation. In terms of soils, while the soils vary broadly across the region, we generally find more rich clays and clay-loams, with varying amounts of calcareous materials, silts and pink granite.
Canelones is comprised of 11 sub-regions of which Atlantida is one of them. However, the region of Atlantida, where Bracco Bosca is located, is quite isolated from the rest of Canelones. It is located about 70km east of the main centre of Canelones, and nearly a halfway in between Canelones and the region of Maldonado on Uruguay's Eastern Coast. So the conditions are a not only a bit cooler, but also a touch drier than the rest of Canelones. Also, as is the case across the majority of the grape growing regions in Uruguay, altitude is not a factor in terms of moderating the climate.
In terms of the vineyards here at Bracco Bosca specifically, we are a mere 8km from the Atlantic Ocean, so their vineyards have the benefit of receiving constant cooling breezes from the Atlantic, and this helps to provide a wider diurnal range between daytime and nighttime temperatures, which helps to preserve acidities and extend the growing season, and it also reduces humidity and disease pressure. We are at around 50m above sea level, on a very gentle north facing slope, which also helps with drainage and air flow. The soils here are calcareous clay-loam, with a good balance between drainage and moisture retention capacity. The parcel of Cabernet Franc vines are some of the estate's oldest, at nearly 30 years of age.
From a winemaking perspective, the grapes are hand-harvested and destemmed. Fermentation is done in temperatures control, stainless steel tanks. The berries undergo a cold soak in advance of alcoholic fermentation, and the post fermentation maceration is on average 14 to 21 days. Aging takes place in 225L french oak barrels for around 10 months. The total production of this wine is usually around 900 bottles per year.
Key wine wine facts below:
Producer: Bracco Bosca
Region: Canelones, Uruguay
Sub-Region: Atlantída
Soils: Calcareous clay-loam
Alcohol: 14.0%
