2020 Gimenez Mendez Tannat Alta Reserva, Uruguay, Las Brujas Canelones, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is 100% Tannat.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, dust, chocolate, spice and a hint of toasted oak.  Medium tannins.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, plums and black raspberries.  Moderate acidity.  This is very tasty.  Nice finish.  Drinking well now and should continue for another twelve to fifteen years.  Nice on its own but better with food.  This would work well with Lamb Chops.  An excellent value!

2018 Alto de la Ballena Tannat/Viognier Reserva, Uruguay, Maldonado, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

This is an intriguing blend of 85% Tannat and 15% Viognier.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with chocolate, cherries, and a slight coconut note.  Medium to firm tannins.  Full bodied.  Juicy acidity.  On the palate, cherries and other red fruits.  Moderate finish.  This is drinking well now and should drink well for another five to eight years.  This works better with food.  It would go well with roasted duck or chicken.  

2019 Montes Toscanini Tannat Gran Tannat Premium, Uruguay, Las Piedras, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$59.00USD

At a recent tasting of Uruguayan wines, this seemed to be the crowds choice for best wine.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has raspberries, plums and milk chocolate.  Medium to firm tannins.  Soft texture.  On the palate, black cherries and plums.  Deep.  The finish is long with lots of fruit and tannins.  This is drinking well now but should improve.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Nice on its own, this will work better with food.  Pot Roast would work well.  

2018 Pisano Tannat RPF (Reserva Personal de la Familia), Uruguay, Progreso, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

This is 100% Tannat.  Ruby in color, purple at the core, mostly clear and bright.  The nose seems warm/moist in a good way with black cherries, dark chocolate, spice and slight herbal notes.  Firm tannins.  Softer texture.  On the palate, black cherries and black raspberry fruit.  Good acidity.  The tannins kick up on the finish.  This is very tasty.  Good value.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.  It drinks well on its own but probably better with food.  It would be nice with grilled meats or even roasted vegetables.  

Gimenez Mendez 2020 Tannat

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

Uruguay’s flagship red wine is, and always has been, Tannat. It grows well there. Tannat, however, is not the friendliest of grape owing to its heavier tannic structure. For this iteration, it’s 100% Tannat and it offers blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, with back notes of wild cherry, plum and lingonberry. There is very little oak influence – just nine months in barrel - and very strong tannins, so this wine definitely needs some air time, and food. Tannat is not a cocktail wine and it needs to be paired with food, most typically in Uruguay it’s beef.

NV Basta Spirit Vermut Flores, Uruguay, Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

This was interesting.  The base wine is a Rose made from Tannat grapes.  Served straight with an ice cube and a piece of orange peel.  16%  Orange/pink in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with Chinese Five Spice and also floral notes.  Viscous.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet but also a bitter note that contrasts it.  A bit of a dried herbal note as well.  Good finish.  This is very refreshing and would work well in cocktails.  Drink in the next couple of years.  It makes a great aperitif and works nicely with fried appetizers.  

2016 Producteurs Plaimont Saint-Mont Les Vieilles Vignes

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

From the southwest of France, this is a blend of Tannat, Cabernet and Pinenc from the southwest of France.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, spice, and oak.  Full bodied.  Very tannic.  On the palate, boysenberries, ash, and black cherries.  Good finish.  This needs some air although the tannins will certainly outlast the fruit in this wine.  It is just part of the drinking experience.  Due to that, food is probably a good idea.  Cassoulet would work well.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  Nice Value.

NV Viñedo de los Vientos Tannat Alcyone, Uruguay, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$33.00USD

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.  

2016 Château Montus Madiran, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is 80% Tannat and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from the southwest of France.  It is still young and in need of time.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, spice and black licorice.  Full bodied with firm tannins.  On the palate, this is deep and complex if hiding behind the tannins.  Black cherry fruit with some black cherries and licorice.  Strong acidity.  Long finish if a bit drying.  Give this wine another five years and then drink over the next ten to fifteen.  It needs big food.  Coq au Vin would work well.  Plenty of upside to the score with

2012 Bodega El Porvenir de Cafayate Tannat Laborum Finca El Retiro, Argentina, Salta, Valle de Cafayate, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B

This is a Tannat wine from Argentina.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has spice, black raspberries, and some oak showing.  A lovely texture.  Black raspberry fruit.  It is sweet, more than just ripe.  Not dessert like but certainly seems like some residual sugar in the wine.  Looking back at a note I wrote on this wine in 2017, it is consistent.  This probably drinks better on its own due to the sweetness but perhaps a chocolate desert would work.  Drink over the next few years.  Those who enjoy a hint of sweetness will like this more than I.  

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