Discovering Tannat: The Under-the-Radar Red for Big Red Wine Lovers

In this episode, sommelier Erin explores the world of Tannat, a bold and robust red wine grape. Erin dives into its origins in the Madiran region of France and its rise in popularity in South America's vineyards, particularly Uruguay. Learn about Tannat's flavor profile, filled with dark fruits, smoky notes, and strong tannins, perfect for fans of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Erin also shares tips on food pairings, including classic dishes from France and Uruguay. Whether you're looking for a new favorite red or a unique gift idea, Tannat is a versatile option that deserves a spot in your wine rack this grilling season.

0:00 Discovering Tannat: The Under-the-Radar Red for Big Red Wine Lovers
02:03 Origins - Where does it grow
04:33 What to expect in the glass
06:42 How to Shop for Tannat - Reading Labels
07:53 Decanting Tips and Aging
08:59 Food Pairings - Classics

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Transcript

Erin: 0:00

If you are a lover of big red wines or have someone in your life who is then today's episode is for you because I'm going to be diving into the world of wines made from the grapes to net. Now, whether you're a fan of big, bold reds, like Malbeck and Cabernets having y'all, and maybe you have found yourself in a Midsummer red wine wine red, then you are going to love. Learning about to Nat today to Nat is a red grape variety that offers a unique experience that I am sure you're going to enjoy. And it creates wines that are big, bold rustic. And I may even describe them as grip. Grippy. So if you're ready to learn all about tonight and why I think it should be in your glasses, especially during the second half of summer, let's get started and dive right into today's episode. Hi everyone. And welcome to the wine talk talk. I'm your host, smelly Erin Rosar. And I'm so happy that you're here with me today. If we haven't met before, it's lovely to have you here. And if we have welcome back now, for those of you who are new, you should know that I've been a professional smile for over 20 years now. And it's my passion and my privilege to make learning about wine. Not only fun and easy, but also practical. I want to make sure that you leave every episode with some real life practical tips that you can use right away to help you find wines that you're going to love and enjoy, and be able to share with family and friends. I want you to think of me as your very own practical Somalia. Before I dive into today's episode, I'm just going to do a shameless plug for anybody who's new, who hasn't had a chance yet to take my signature pellet personality quiz. You're going to find the link for that quiz in the show notes below and after taking the quiz, you're going to discover your very own pallet personality. And you're going to have an entire book. That's all about wines that you love, why you love them and some great shopping tips to help you find new wines that you're going to like. You're also going to find a link in the show notes below to all of the freebies that I have happening on the website this summer. So definitely if you haven't had a chance check those out below. Now let's dive in and start talking about tonight. And first. You might be wondering what is tonight and where does it come from? So let's start right at the beginning. So tonight is a red wine grape, and it has its roots in the matter and region in the Southwest of France. This is the area just below Bordeaux in this grape is known for producing. Big bold and robust wine. Some will say rustic has deep colors, sort of that. Almost purposely opaque color and grippy strong tannins. This is not a red wine for the faint of heart. If you will, if you are someone or, you know, somebody who's just starting to get into soft red wines, this is not one. I would recommend that you start with this. One's going to leave a mark. If you will, if you love your red wines to fill your mouth with flavors and textures and that grippy tannin, where mouth is drying out. And this is definitely a grape that you are going to love discovering. Now it's important to know that the grape desert just come from the Southwest of France from the matter and regions to net also has found a second home in earthquake in south America. And here it has become the country's national grape. this is somewhat of a similar story to how Malbeck originated in the Bordeaux region, where it's used as part of the blend for the wines of Bordeaux, but then it really found its signature varietals identity as a single variety in Argentina. Now the climate and terroir of earthquakes are perfect for cultivating to net. It loves it here. And the wines from this region are celebrated for their distinctive style and they go beautifully with the foods in the area. Now, in addition to France, earthquake now has also grown in Argentina, Brazil and parts of the United States, particularly in California and Virginia, you will see it starting to pop up in different areas, especially areas that are really doing well with mailbox or Cabernets. And you'll see other winemakers playing with this great Friday. Both as a single variety and as a blending ingredient, it's going to add tannins and colors into a wine blend. But this is a great variety that I predict we're going to see more of as people get more comfortable with it. And as new vine started to come into some age and it starts showing up in the glass. Now each region where tonight is grown, brings a bit of its own unique terroir and personality to the wine. Which gives us one lever is an opportunity to experience a diverse range of the different expressions in the glass. So know that well to Nat has a home-based flavor of these deep dark. Christmas cake plums, blackberries. Flavors that comes through in the glass, as it is made in different areas in the world. And by different winemakers, we are going to see different styles evolve from it. You can also make beautiful Rosar wines from tonight. And if you are lucky enough to find one, I would highly suggest you try it. What you're going to find is generally a deeply hued Rosar. So it's going to be dark in the glass and also so fair bit of tan, and this is going to be one of those grippy, or Tannen feeling rosés great with heartier meals and grilled steaks and perfect for barbecue. So if you are looking up at your favorite source, you'd be able to find, to Nat. Rosar definitely pick one up. If you love big red wines, this is going to be a great option for you in the summer. This is a great segue into what is to net tasting profile and why I think you should be trying it and why it deserves a spot in your glass. When you pour yourself a glass of two net, This wine is known. Like I said, for its rich flavors of dark fruits, like blackberries plums, you're getting notes of smoke, dark earth. If you're a gardener that dark deep soil that you love to sort of have in your gardens. You can get some spice hints of leather tobacco. People also say some Christmas cake. People will pick up some black pepper spice it offers you bold flavors, both on the nose and in the glass. Now in regards to Tannon that mouth drying sensation wines made from tonight are going to give you a full bodied and structured experience. There is no hiding from the tannins in this wine, they offer a big backbone. They are looking to be paired with meats, portabella, mushrooms, cheeses. This needs food to go with it. You can definitely enjoy this as a glass on its own, but it's really going to be a stunning pairing with some food. This is a big red wine to go on its own. It really loves to be paired with delicious foods and I'm going to give you some classic food pairings in a second, but I do also want to say that if you were a fan of Malbeck and Cabernet seven y'all, then in my opinion, to not is a natural next step in your wine journey, it is a bit under the radar. So when you're shopping for it, if you're in the south American section, it will most likely be labeled as to Nat on the label. If you're in the French section, then you're going to see mattering on the label and that's spelled. Spelled M a D I R a N. And so you'll see mattering on the label and it will be. To nap now, wines from Manary and can be a hundred percent to Nat or can be a blended, but it must be the predominant grape in that blend. And the back of the wine label will be able to tell you. But no, if you're getting a to net, whether from Earthway or from France, from the matter area, this is going to be a big, robust grippy, somewhat rustic. Red wine and it is perfect for grilling season. So like I said, if you are already doing Malbeck and Cabernet Sauvignon, and you really love a big red wine, then this is a grape that deserves to be in your wine rack now it's not. Usually can benefit from some aeration to canting meaning you can just pour that bottle quickly into a decanter. There may be sediment. It may say unfiltered on the bottle. Just watch for that. In which case, you'll just need a bit of a screen to pick up any of those sediment chunks, if you will, but a little bit of aeration just to get some extra oxygen through it can help it soften in regards to the tasting profile. So something to keep in mind and generally to Nat wines are brilliant at aging because. Because of the tannins and all of the color components in them. These are great wines for collecting and cellaring generally they're very well priced. So if you are looking to learn or try wines as they age, I would recommend picking up at least three bottles of a wine. You like try one, wait a few years, try the same vintage at a few years. And then again, the last one in five to seven years. So you can see the progression of the one that you like. So tonight is definitely a red line. If you're looking to follow the progression of a wine, how it ages is a great option for you to try. Now let's talk a little bit about classic food pairings of what are you going to have when you get this delicious, big red wine home. And it's very versatile. If you are already loving big red wines, then everything that are your favorite dishes now are going to be great parents. For example, your favorite T-bone steak or Portobello mushroom. If you're looking at vegetarian dishes. Hard cheeses, dark chocolate desserts of course are going to be. Very very yummy. But if you are looking for some classic dishes, then in regards to the French, the matter in mines here to Nat is classically paired with which is a Hardy dish that's made with slow cooked, white beans, duck, cold feet, sausages, and pork. Feet and beef barnyard are also delicious. So if you're looking for those sort of slow cooked, Beef stews. This is definitely a wine that can take you from summer grilling season into Hardy winter dishes. So it really goes well with those rich dishes cook together and stews. And then if you're going to look at classic food pairings from earthquakes to not, caustically goes with Assata, which is the national south American barbecue style. And that features a variety of meats grilled over an open flame. And so here you'll have pork beef lamb. It will go with all of them really delicious with grilled lamb that earthiness in the wine and the delicious earthiness of lamb is a great pairing. It's also paired with a popular sandwich and earthquake called a T veto. And that's made with beef, ham cheese, and lots of other toppings. Think of it as a great assorted filled homemade submarine sandwich. So delicious. Lots of different flavors that come through as well as. A grill provolone cheese with herbs and spices called approval letter. And this is delicious. So lots of different options for you here, but to not again, just if you were looking for a big red wine for the summer, you're doing some. Beef and pepper. Shishkabobs delicious empanadas, if you're doing any, Mexican, so anything you're doing with peppers and lots of flavors, so delicious that you're really pulling out that grilled meat flavor. It's just a wonderful mind is going to be very economical in my opinion. And you just need to know what you're looking for. So, like I said, when you're shopping, you're going to be looking for Matt, ran on. The label, if you're in the French section and if you're in the south American section, if they do have a separate area for earthquake, you're going to find it there. And it will most likely say to Nat on the label, but definitely if you have a favorite wine store, this is something to keep your eyes open for. And like I said, if you do have the good luck to find a Rosar made from tonight, this definitely deserve a spot in your glass, but it is going to be a bit of a grippy, beautifully colored, darker hued with some tan and Rosar. Perfect for those warm summer evenings with your favorite grilled meats. Just delicious. So there you have it. I'm going to try, keep the episodes for August short and they're going to be very grape specific and now you've been introduced to the grape to Nat and you have an idea of what to expect in the glass. And if you are a fan of big red wines already, then this is definitely a wine you want to put on your must trial list. Or if you have someone in your life who is a red wine fan, and you're looking for a unique gift idea, a bottle of tonight is. A great option for them. I hope today you've learned something new and now you know that if you're firing up the grill or you're going to enjoy a cozy dinner, a French style dinner at home, then tonight is a big red wine that is first tile and offers something for everyone who is a lover of red wines. Now, if you have a favorite tonight, I would love to hear about it. Many of you are listening in from different areas in the world, and I'd be curious, what's available in your area. so please reach out. You can meet me at hello. At wind girl academy.com or if you have any questions or comments, you can also find me on Tik TOK or Instagram. A wine girl academy. Now for next week's episode, I'm going to stay on a bit of a red wine kick if you will. And I'm going to be taking you to pre-read in Spain, and I'm going to be talking about the incredible red wines coming out of that area. So I you are able to join me next week. If you are new here, welcome again, please know that new episodes come out every Tuesday. I hope that you will join me. And on that note, I want to wish you all a wonderful week to yours, to you by now.