Tannat is a red wine grape, historically grown in the southwest region of France in the Madiran AOC and is now one of the most prominent grapes in Uruguay, where it is considered the “national grape”. Tannat is also grown in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, South Africa, and the Italian region of Apulia, where it is used as a blending grape. Alexei and I find it amazing to taste wines where the winemaker has added a small percentage on an obscure varietal like Tannat to a blend. Domestic growths of Tannat have grown recently in the United States in areas like Maryland and Virginia where there are small experimental plantings of the vine. Plantings in California have increased dramatically recently which is where Alexei had the idea to include it in his red blend.
Tannat wines produced in Uruguay are usually quite different in character from Madiran wines. They are usually lighter in body and lower in tannins. That might be a little bit much for the wine newbies reading this post, but it is an important addition to the history of Tannat. Typically, the flavor profile on wines that have Tannat in them include flavors like black fruit, leather, liquorice and tobacco.
The thing that Alexei and I love the most about the MyStory Red Blend #1 is the way the Tannat imparts a flavor of delicious, complex, exciting aromas of ripe plums, blackberries, and fresh ground white pepper. These flavors are all elevated by the addition of Viognier in the blend. Alexei and I find that the flavors of Tannat in the red wine blend are extended and full of layers of intense, rich tannins coupled with layers of oak. The finish on this wine is rich and complex and Alexei and I encourage wine enthusiasts reading this blog to try tasting it with a nice fatty piece of meat. Based on my tasting of different red wine blends there are two things that set the MyStory Wine Red Blend #1 apart from other red blends. The inclusion of Tannat, Petit Syrah and Zinfandel adds a depth of flavor that sets this wine in a category of its own.
Alexei and I encourage you to taste the MyStory Wine Red Blend #1 at your favorite wine and spirits store or restaurant as soon as you can!
Photo by Katherine Chase on Unsplash
