Uruguay

With nearly 300 producers making a wide range of wines, this is a Latin American country to watch. With the majority of the vineyards situated in the hills in the southern part of the country where the Atlantic gives off a temperate climate, producers like Castel Pujol are in a strong position to penetrate world markets. The Carrau family make a distinctively New World style Sauvignon Blanc with fragrant, full-bodied and well balanced gooseberry and grapefruit ripe fruit. Their Gran Tradición is predominantly Tannat, (the 'star' grape variety of Uruguay) with generous dollops of Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc. Aged for 18 months in new French oak casks and then aged in bottle, this a sophisticated, mature red with plenty to say for itself.