If you’re reading this, you appreciate wine. But how many of us are familiar with Tannat, the flagship grape of Uruguay? When I began diving deep into all-things-wine many years ago, Tannat was a red varietal of which I wasn’t familiar. But now? After many many tastings of Tannat, whether in a blend or flying solo, I’m a huge fan.
What is Tannat?
High tannins are a prominent characteristic of the thick-skinned Tannat. It’s often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc to soften its bold palate profile. Other elements may include raspberry aromas, higher alcohol levels, a full body, fruit forward flavors and an uncanny ability to cellar for years. Wines tend to be aged in oak and it’s not unusual to find Tannat in the barrel for about 20 months before release.
Photo Credit: South American Wine Guide
Tannat is originally from southwest France, in the areas of Madiran AOC and Irouleguy. It continues to be cultivated in France as well as Uruguay (the fourth largest producer in South America after Chile, Argentina and Brazil), the United States (California, Maryland, Virginia, Arizona, Oregon, Texas), Australia, Bolivia, Peru, South Africa, and the Italian region of Apulia where it’s used as a grape for blending.
Just recently, I participated in a virtual tasting of Tannat from Uruguay, the country that holds the honor of being the only country in the world with “significant quantities of Tannat in relation to the total areas of vineyards.” And no surprise, many associate Tannat as the signature grape of Uruguay. It’s the highest in production and is the variety consumed the most by the people of the country.
Photo Credit: International Wine Review
Vines were brought to Uruguay by immigrants from the Basque region of France in 1870 and by the 1890s, there were 2400 acres of Tannat under vine. Unfortunately, phylloxera destroyed the plantings soon thereafter and replanting was in mostly smaller family plots.
Tannat thrives in the Uruguayan climate and the local soil. Situated between the 30 and 35 degrees of south latitude, the tiny country’s location is the same as vineyards in Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Australia. The influence of the wind, Atlantic Ocean, and rainfall moderate the temperature in the hottest months. A result? Wines of Tannat exude characteristics of freshness and vibrancy with styles ranging from rich and powerful to soft and easy drinking.
Tannat from Uruguay Satisfies Everyone’s Palate
In Uruguay, Tannat is deemed “elegant” with aromas of dirt, blackberries, chalk and herbs. Wines may offer soft tannins providing a foundation to notes of lush fruit such as currants, plum, cocoa, tobacco, licorice, smoke and minerality, especially when it’s produced from old vines that are descendants of the original cuttings from Europe. Newer vines tend to offer higher alcohol levels, less acidity and lush, complex layers of fruit on the palate. The diversity of styles reflect the philosophy of each winemaker, many of whom are young men and women who gained valuable winemaking experience in countries around the globe. There’s a Tannat for everyone’s palate!
In Uruguay, Tannat plantings cover around 3,900 acres. It’s the fourth largest wine producing area in South America after Chile, Argentina and Brazil. As you may expect, production is on a small scale. Most of the 162 wineries are family businesses, many of which are run by the third and fourth generation with many growers sell to larger producers. More than 50% of the harvest is done by hand.
The entire country of Uruguay is located on the Rio de La Plata craton, a mass of pre-Cambrian rock that has not been affected by the continental shifts. Primary soils are granite, sedimentary rock, volcanic soil, and calcareous clays with more sand near rivers.
Photo Credit: Uruguay Wine
In Maldonado, soils are formed by the erosion of gray granite that’s 2.5 billion years old and the oldest rock on earth. The soils are rich in clay with varying depth depending on their proximity to the hills. Around Montevideo, soils are deep, created by the erosion of the craton itself. There, soils are clay-based and retain less water, due to the sand content from the river. For example, the shore of the Uruguay River, between San Jose and Colonia, has clay soils deposited by the river and calcium carbonate created by sea fossils from long ago.
5 Interesting Wines of Tannat from Uruguay
The following wines tasted during the virtual wine event reflect diverse styles of Tannat from Uruguay.
A lighter style, Pujol Folklore Tinto 2023 ($23) is produced by Bodega Cerro Chapeu. The balanced blend is 80% Tannat co-pigmented with 20% Petit Manseng’s first press skins. Grapes were cultivated in vineyards of alluvial soils with a deep reddish sediment rife with iron. With a floral lift on the nose, fresh red fruit notes on the palate, and moderate acidity, open this lovely wine on a warm summer afternoon.
Tannat from small plots on clay/calcareous soils within the Progreso village district comprise those in Vina Progresso Revolution 2020 ($18). Thanks to the area’s proximity to the sea and the soil’s high PH levels, grapes have a high concentration of tannins. This particular wine has medium body, moderate acidity and moderate alcohol levels of 13.5%. Savory aromas lead to flavors of fruit compote, cranberries, blackberries, earth, oak and vanilla due in part to the wine’s ageing in French and American oak barrels. This wine, too, reflects a softer style of Tannat.
Juicy, delicate and pure, Don Pascual Coastal Tannat 2022 ($16) can be served slightly chilled for a refreshing sipper. Cultivated in coastal vineyards, fruit, florals and salinity are highlighted as are moderate tannins and bright acidity.
Intense and bold, Bouza Tannat 2020 ($27) is 100% Tannat from the regions of Las Violetas, Canelones, Melilla and Montevideo and grown on vineyard soils of limestone and clay. Dark purple in color, aromas and flavors of blackberries, cassis and tobacco were enticing. This balanced wine offered vibrant acidity, sleek tannins and a lingering finish. It was aged for 14 months in French and American oak barrels.
Award winning Montes Toscanini Gran Tannat 2020 ($50) is considered the winery’s “iconic selection.” Grown in premium sites in the region of Las Piedras, harvested by hand and aged in oak for 18 months before further ageing in the bottle, the wine was intense and delicious. Complex aromas of ripe red and black fruit and coffee led to concentrated fruit notes on the palate framed with ripe tannins and structure.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
You’re ready to learn more?
Attend “Albariño and Tannat Take the Stage at Alternative Tastes Wine Fest: A Celebration of Unique Varieties” in Paso Robles, California in June.
Follow link HERE for more information.
