This variety originates from the southwest of France in the region of Madiran, part of the historical Basque territory. Typically it is blended with Cabernet Franc in the wines labeled Madiran. More recently it has become the preferred red grape for the country of Uruguay and has gained international acclaim.

Our Estate vineyards added Tannat as a variety in 2012. Block 1N consists of 5 acres of vines planted on 10’ x 5’ spacings utilizing simple vertical shoot positioning (VSP) for canopy management. It is a prolific growing variety and we strive to keep yields below 4 tons/acre to ensure depth and concentration of flavors. As a variety, it exhibits very deep color with bright, blackberry fruits and considerable tannin. The real trick is to manage those tannins to provide a seamless flow through the palate. It only spent 6 months in the second use of French oak barriques to add supporting texture rather than dominate the wine.