Tannat or not Tannat? Have I made that joke before? Welp, I don’t care I’m making it again. And the answer is To. Not, to not. So to.
To try Tannat.
Part of my intrigue came from my experience with French Tannat, most frequently known as Madiran, the denomination where it is grown in Southwest France. It can be tannic and bold, a big wine.
My interest in Tannat from Uruguay grew threefold, particularly given what I’d learned of the country’s progressive stances: gay marriage, abortion and cannabis are all legal there.
Politics aside, indeed, it is a place I ache to visit. It lies on the same parallel (latitude yay) as neighbors Mendoza (Argentina) and Santiago (Chile), as well as Capetown (South Africa), Adelaide (Australia) and Auckland (New Zealand). Its soils sport some of the most ancient rocks close to the surface and, to use SAT analogies, old soils are to wine as vintage clothes are to fashion, which is to say covetable and forever reborn.
Oh, and Uruguay has FREE HEALTHCARE. I loved these wines enough to want to visit, but maybe I should move there, too.
Also, voting is compulsory. I haven’t researched this one, but in theory, I think it’s good to get everyone’s opinion.
Anyway, I was so jazzed to taste before the seminar and even more so after. They showed a lot of sides, but all bowed to the dark fruit and robust tannins typical of the variety. Oh, and I apologize that I am not including the notes to the rosé vermouth in the picture—that will be in a Delectable article soon enough!
2021 Garzon Reserva Tannat is a friendly and luscious wine without tipping into laviscious–quite the opposite! On top of ripe blackcurrant and sandalwood runs a certain herbaceousness, with felt-like tannins toe-ing a line I can only describe as rustic luxury.
2020 Pisano RPF Tannat, originally the RPF (personal family reserve), was just that for the family but now stands for their peak wines. This is a gorgeous charmer–at first whiff, it is almost overwhelming, but after just ten minutes in the glass and a few swirls, it becomes elegant. Potent red plums, blackberries and baking spices (thank you, French oak aging?) tempt the nose. These scents are echoed on the palate, augmented by a touch of not-sweet caramel and iodine, finishing with a lick of wine vinegar–all the acid-balancing potent fruit.
2020 Cerro del Toro Tannat, oooh, it is ripe, also juicy. Dark-fruited, almost raisiny, but like, just some raisins marinated in wine-y wine. Dark plums/prunes, blackberries, a hint of earth and brown sugar on the nose–the same on the palate made less plush by tannic tension–balancing plush with power. Very yummy yum yum, but also give her a swirl or two-three. Time will bring out more and more.
2018 Alto de la Ballena Tannat Viognier Oh WOW, literally so elegant and balanced but with ripeness and spirit. If blind-tasted, I’d…well, I wouldn’t guess the SRP was 26 bucks. Way more. 15% Viognier, definitely adding floral vibes, the rest muscular Tannat tannins scrimmaging with lively red plums and juicy AF blackberries. Spices and vanilla oak influence, well, influence, but politely so. Wow, it’s good and retains a certain genuineness–it is not overly polished but enchants perhaps all the more for that.