What is Tannat?

The best grape you haven't heard of yet!

The most frequently talked about varietal wines have been around for hundreds of years: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Bordeaux to name a few. These classic favorites are familiar, timeless, and universally produced by winemakers all over the world.

However, not quite as visible as its cousins but with an origin hundreds of years old is Tannat, made from a red wine grape with historical roots in France, Uruguay, and Argentina. With a deep color and known for its highly tannic qualities, the Tannat grape has an earthy flavor that produces a full bodied wine.

For Cosentino Winery in Napa Valley, their limited production of their 2005 Tannat is comprised of the Tannat grape grown in Lodi. Released in September 2007, the winery produced less than 500 cases of their Tannat, which leans towards Bordeaux in its intensity and black fruit flavor. At under $30, the wine's distinctive flavors make it a winning option for new and old wine lovers alike.

ABOUT COSENTINO WINERY
Cosentino Winery, headquartered in Napa Valley, Calif., is comprised of five separate wineries, located in both Napa Valley and in neighboring Lodi, Calif. In total, Cosentino Winery produces over 30 award-winning wines with 15 varietals. The wines have been featured on WGN-TV and FOX-TV in Chicago, Ill., in the San Francisco Chronicle, New York Times, Wine Enthusiast, Time, Chicago Sun-Times, Miami Herald, California Wine & Food, San Jose Mercury News, Las Vegas Review-Journal and many others.