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Agro de Bazan

Agro de Bazan was established in 1982, firstly with the Granbazan winery in the Rias Baixas region of Galicia, in northern Spain. The firm's creator and current Managing Director, Manual Oteira Candeira, clearly had an unshakeable belief in the potential held by the Albariño grape in north-western Spain, as this is the firm's focus. Nevertheless, a later addition has been the Mas de Bazan winery, located further south near the town of Requena, where red and rosé wines are produced.

The Granbazan winery is located in Tremoedo, near Pontevedra, with newly constructed buildings at the centre of a 13 ha estate. This estate, of Albarino vines trained over high (1.8m) arbours, on granitic soils, is the prime source of fruit. Nevertheless, Agro de Bazan also has contracts with 300 local smallholdings. Following manual harvesting, the fruit is cooled and then cold macerated for up to eight hours. Then there is temperature-controlled fermentation in a mixture of stainless steel and glass-lined tanks. Surprisingly, a mix of cultured and natural yeast fermentations are employed. The stalwarts of the range of wines that result are the two straight cuvées of Rias Baixas, curiously distinguished only by the colour of the bottle. The amber bottle is contains the wine from free-run juice, from the oldest vines, whereas the green bottle includes some press wine. This method of distinguishing the two wines is, in my opinion, a mistake. Any other system - calling them number one and two, or after the children of the importer, even after Greek Gods. Anything has to be better than green and brown glass.

Alongside these two wines are the Don Alvaro de Bazan, a selection of the best fruit, as well as Contrapunto, an early-harvest wine, and Limousin, an oak-aged cuvée. This latter wine sees six month in French oak. Thankfully it is post fermentation ageing, and although I have a reserved opinion about a blend of Albariño and oak this wine comes out alright.

The Mas de Bazan winery is a modern bodega in the Utiel-Requena DO. It was purchased by Agro de Bazan in 1995, and subsequently restored to a high level. Here the focus is on red wines, which are blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Grenache and Bobal; the latter brings good colour and decent acidity to the mix, and is unique to Utiel-Requena. The principle wine here is the Crianza, which sees twelve months in predominantly American oak, with 20% French. There is also a barrel fermented red, which spends a total of 100 days in oak with weekly batonnage; also an unoaked red named Robur, and a rosé of bled Bobal and Grenache. In addition, Agro de Bazan also produce distilled spirits, including marc, as well as canned duck liver of all things. (13/5/05)

Contact details:
Address: Tremoedo 46, 36628 Vilanova de Arousa
Telephone: +34 986 561 344
Fax: +34 986 555 562
Internet: www.agrodebazansa.es

Agro de Bazan - Tasting Notes

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Agro de Bazan Mas de Bazan Utiel-Requena Rosado 2004: Vivid, deep pink. Nose of confected red fruits, glace cherries. Plenty of fruit on the palate although in a sweetly confected style; full, rather fresh, decent acidity. Would be OK, ice-cold, on a Mediterranean beach, but really not a style I like. 12.5/20 (May 2005)

Agro de Bazan Granbazan Rias Baixas Albariño 2003: Pale golden hue. Freshness evident on the nose, with lemon-peach fruit undercut with a chalky, herb-tinged minerality. Medium body, with a nice crispness, and a firm, citrus-influenced, lemon acidity. Notes of white pepper. A little grip, through to a strong finish. A good, solid foil for seafood and shellfish. Drink now. 16/20 (May 2005)

Agro de Bazan Granbazan Rias Baixas Albariño Don Alvaro de Bazan 2003: A very slightly deeper hue. Fresh nose, of white stone fruit, pears and blossom. Lovely fresh palate, crisp, but with body and a little textured, ever so slightly honeyed note creeping in at the end. Mineral, bitter quinine notes add the extra dimension that marks this cuvée. Very good indeed. Drink now and over the next year or two. 16.5/20 (May 2005)

Agro de Bazan Granbazan Rias Baixas Albariño Limousin 2003: The same wine, but aged in oak for six months. Similar pale golden colour. The nose is completely different, showing buttery, caramelised, oak-derived aromas. Rounded palate, again strong on oak, but with decent structure and some grip alongside the soft, honeysuckle fruit. This is good, although much of the identity of the wine has been lost. I prefer it without oak. Drink now. 15/20 (May 2005)

Agro de Bazan Mas de Bazan Utiel-Requena Crianza 2000: Some depth to the purple core here, fading to a cherry red at the rim. Appealing nose, of dark cherry fruits blended with tobacco, pepper and sun-dried tomatoes. There is a real sense of warmth here, a baked ripeness, but on the palate there is freshness and balance. A good, rounded mouthfeel, with ripe, ever so slightly grippy-tarry fruit which has a medicinal, cherry edge. This has warmth and extract, and is ripe, mouthfilling and approachable. Good. Drink now and over the next 3-4 years. 16/20 (May 2005)