Tannat

Tannat is a robust, thick-skinned red grape most closely associated with Madiran in southwest France and widely cultivated in Uruguay, where it has become a signature variety. The vine shows high vigor, producing small berries in very compact clusters with exceptionally high tannin content—attributes that require careful canopy and yield management to ensure adequate ripening and avoid overly austere wines. Tannat thrives in well-drained gravel, clay-limestone, or sandy soils and benefits from warm, sunny sites that promote phenolic development while preserving acidity. Its late-ripening nature makes it sensitive to cool or damp conditions, which can delay maturity and intensify tannic hardness.

Tannat wines are typically deeply colored and full-bodied, with high acidity and a powerful tannic structure that supports long aging. Aromatic profiles often include black fruit, plum, licorice, spice, and earthy or smoky notes, with increased suppleness and elegance in regions or winemaking regimes that emphasize oak aging, micro-oxygenation, or gentle extraction. While traditional French examples are dense and formidable, New World expressions—especially from Uruguay—tend to be more approachable, balancing ripe fruit with firm but polished tannins. Its combination of intensity, longevity, and structural authority makes Tannat one of the world’s most distinctive red varieties.