Tannat

There’s a dark, thick-skinned grape that makes aggressive, chewy, tannic, red wines originating from France’s southwest. It’s called tannat. Mostly blended with other varietals in France, over the years, it has become the darling of Uruguay for single varietal wines. Having judged several wine competitions years ago in that country, I had tasted many, but had found few that were really good. Today, longer hang time on the vines and cold maceration of the fruit is rendering tannat that is much more vibrant and fruity. It’s still a firm little number, but much easier drinking. Absolutely fab with grilled or roasted red meats and hard, seasoned cheeses! If you get the chance, give tannat from Uruguay a go.