Uruguay

This is a dessert wine made in Uruguay from the Tannat grape.  It is aromatized with different roots and herbs and then fortified with brandy to 16% abv.  The base wine is aged for 24 months in French oak barrels.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is very different with caramel, cherries, chocolate and spices.  On the palate, cherries with vanilla and chocolate.  Sweet, not cloying.  Slight heat on the finish.  Very interesting and tasty as well.  This would  work well with chocolate desserts.  Drink over the next twenty years.  

This is a step up in price from the regular bottling and while a nice wine, the 2019 Reserva is the better wine for less money (a note is posted on this site).  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has some shoe polish/volatile acidity along with spice, black cherries and slight licorice.  Very light, almost resolved tannins.  Black cherry fruit.  This drinks very easily and seems to be at peak.  Drink over the next few years.  It will work well with pizza.  

In a recent tasting of ten Tannat wines, this finished first.  Pretty impressive for a wine that can be found under $15.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black licorice, a hint of sour cherries and slight spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  For such a young Tannat, this was quite accessible.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with just a bit of bell pepper.  Nice finish.  This probably should be consumed over the next three to five years.  It will work well with roasted chicken or even game.  

This was a delicious wine using Tannat grapes and made in the Ripasso method.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, spice and slight raisin notes.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is a bit jammy (oddly, the label said Rhubarb Marmalade), with black cherries and again, just a hint of raisin.  Tannic.  Good acidity.  Dry.  Long finish.  There is a nice complexity here as well.  Tasted in a group, this seemed to be a love it or hate it wine, but I loved it.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  This would work well with pasta with a meat sauce.  

A Tannat from Uruguay.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is earthy with boysenberries and some baking spice.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with some cigar tobacco notes.  Medium tannins.  Moderate finish.  This is an easy drinking wine that is more accessible than many Tannat wines.  It would work well with pasta with a meat sauce.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

Uruguay is making the Tannat grape its own and there are more and more on the market.  14% ABV.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries with baking spices.  On the palate, strong acidity.  Nice texture.  Firm tannins.  The palate has black cherry fruit.  A long finish.  There is some value here.  This should drink better with food to counter the tannins.  Cassoulet would be a nice match.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

An interesting wine from a country not usually seen in the wine world (Uruguay) and a grape not usually tasted (Albarino).  Light golden in color with a slight copper hue.  The nose is all about minerality with some crushed shells, iron, diesel and sea air.  On the palate, this has a slightly oily texture.  Again, there isn't much fruit but plenty of minerality.  It is refreshing with good acidity.  It is a nice light wine that will make a good summer sipper with some soft cheeses on the back patio.  Drink over the next year.  

This is a Tannat based dessert wine from Uruguay.  Very interesting.  Dark brown in color.  The nose is like a chocolate flavored Tootsie-Pop.  Sweet and chocolaty.  The palate is slightly viscous and very chocolaty.  Sweet but just a bit.  Not cloying.  A little goes a long way, but a very fun wine.