Don Pascual Coastal Tannat 2018

If you’ve been paying any attention to health fads hyped in the media over the last decade, then you’ve heard the claim that, when drunk in moderation, red wine may help prevent heart disease. The theory is that grape skins contain a polyphenol (called resveratrol) which is an antioxidant, and antioxidants are thought to help support heart health.

Why red wine and not white? It’s because when red wine is fermented, it stays in contact longer with its skins. As a result, the finished wine contains more resveratrol. However, if you are drinking red wine because of this purported health benefit, then choose wisely. Some red wines have higher levels of resveratrol than others.

One particularly virtuous grape is called Tannat, and it happens to be the national grape of Uruguay. Native to Madiran in south-west France, it was originally brought to Uruguay by a Basque immigrant in 1870. Now, 150 years later, it makes up 45% of all vineyard plantings, the most Tannat plantings in the world.

Even though Uruguay is only the fourth largest wine producing country in South America, we are still seeing more modern, fresh, and energetic Tannat wines on our shelves, including this example from Don Pascual. This is a complex wine with plum and berry flavours backed by a lively acidity. Don’t buy it simply for its supposed health benefits, buy it for its delicious taste.