Understanding Tannat in Washington: Beyond Tannin
Tannat: A Wine Built on Structure
What tannin actually does, and why this grape takes it further
The newest addition to our bold red lineup is the Tannat.
Tannat has a reputation for its high tannin content. This compound creates that drying, mouth-coating sensation you feel in certain wines. Its purpose is to create structure, texture, and longevity. The scaffolding where nuance develops as the years, or the oxygen, whichever gets there first, opens the wine up.
Tannat champions this compound, boasting higher levels than even other tannic wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. So tannic that in Madiran, France, where this grape originated, wines were often aged 10 to 20 years.
Tannat in Madiran: Where Structure Began
The origin of one of the most tannic wines in the world
The Madiran AOC in Southwest France has been growing Tannat since at least the 17th century. Regulations there require 60–80% of the blend to be Tannat, preserving the region’s identity.
The result? Wines that were powerful, sometimes too powerful.
Winemakers adapted. Blending with Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon helped, but so did innovation. Micro-oxygenation, the controlled introduction of oxygen during fermentation or aging, was developed to soften tannins and make the wine more approachable earlier.
How Winemakers Tamed Tannat
From micro-oxygenation to a different approach in Washington
Our winemaker, Bart, approaches the same problem differently.
“Most Tannat from other parts of the world are too harsh, bitter, and no fun. Ours is the opposite. I found that co-fermenting malolactic conversion during alcoholic fermentation allowed the tannins to soften. Along with a shorter ferment, the resulting wine is approachable and downright good.”
Instead of softening after the fact, this builds balance during fermentation.
Uruguay and the Evolution of Tannat
How the grape shifted from power to balance
From there, the story of Tannat shifts.
In Uruguay, where the grape arrived in the late 19th century, it became something else entirely. Not just a regional wine, but a national identity, even garnering a “Tannat day”.
Uruguay moved Tannat beyond severity into something more drinkable, more expressive. Climate, soil, and viticulture reshaped the grape without losing its core character.
Uruguay’s chapter in Tannat is important because it proves Tannat has room for interpretation while still remaining characteristically Tannat. No need to just age the wine faster, it can be made differently.
Why Tannin Matters in Wine
Structure, aging, and what most people misunderstand
So why lean into tannin at all?
Because tannin isn’t just intensity, it’s longevity.
“Collectors associate ageable wines with tannins.”
High tannin stabilizes wine over time, contributing to both structure and color. As it evolves, it develops layers of leather, tobacco, dried fruit, and spice.
Tannin isn’t just dryness or bitterness. It’s what allows a wine to become something more.
Why We Make Tannat
An alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon, and a different kind of wine
So what drove us to make it?
Not trends. Not data.
“I saw it as an opportunity to introduce people to another bold wine besides Cabernet Sauvignon.”
That’s it.
We like it.
And more importantly, we believe wines like this still matter.
“Big, tannic wine will always exist… While patience is required, the payoff can be huge.”
Tannat becomes a natural extension of our lineup, alongside Carmenère, Nero d’Avola, and Counoise, wines built for exploration.
“The first vintage in 2014 showed us how important it was to expand and explore different opportunities. I took a sample to a fellow winemaker friend and he almost apologized to me. He expressed his concern that no one would like it. 4 months later it was sold out. I learned to listen to the ultimate judges, our customers, not other winemakers. This philosophy helped solidify our stance on taking a risk and making bold choices.”
Washington Tannat: A New Expression
Balance, approachability, and intentional winemaking
Our Tannat represents another chapter in the grape’s evolution.
Shaped by Washington’s climate, soil, and harvest timing, and built through intentional winemaking, it carries both structure and balance.
Building on some of the sentiment from Uruguay with fruit-forwardness and acid, we put a Washington timbre on the grape.
“Most Tannat from other regions can be harsh, bitter, and no fun. Ours is the opposite.”
This is achieved by the process we mentioned above, malolactic fermentation during alcoholic fermentation to issue in those softer tannins.
“Finding the balance between natural acidity and tannin makes the wine drinkable in a shorter window.”
This wine is the result of a design choice rather than a correction.
Why Tannat Still Matters
A wine that rewards curiosity and time
Tannat matters because it’s the kind of wine people aren’t supposed to like, until they do.
We learned that in 2014.
And it’s why we keep making it.
