July 15, 2011

Tannat wines in Australia

Tannat is a red wine variety is attracting some interest in Australia where it seems destined to be used for red wines intended for extended aging, or to lend its intense colour and astringency to dry red blends.

It is a late ripening variety and is thus suitable for warmer areas. If you think that Merlot is a mnemonic for “mellow” then you can add “Tannat = Tannic” to your memory bank. Some synonyms for this variety are Moustrou, Madiran, Harriague, Bordeleza

Tannat’s homeland is the South Western area of France, and one of its synonyms, Madiran, is also the name of an important appellation in that part of the world. Tannat is also popular in beef-eating Uruguay under the name of Harriague.

Wines from this variety are notable for their very high levels of tannin. Careful winemaking or blending with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and Fer can make these wines more approachable.

Tannat varietal wines wines are also very high in polyphenols. These are the good chemicals in wine that keep your heart healthy. The wines are highly recommended by researcher Roger Corder who has recently written the highly acclaimed book The Red Wine Diet.

In a recent review in the UK Guardian, Malcolm Smith writes

South-west France stands out as the place to be if you want to live a long life. In spite of a diet rich in saturated fats from foie gras, cassoulet and copious cheeses, parts of this region have double the French average of men aged 90-plus. Corder puts it down to the local red wines, exemplified by the gutsy Madiran.

Sounds like excellent advice to me.

You can put Tannat down as a dry red wine to try in winter with meaty dishes, beef stews and cassoulets or with mature cheese. The body, acid and tannins may overwhelm lighter styles of foods. It is still early days yet, but it seems that Tannat has a future both as a blending variety and for making straight varietal wines in Australia.

Bioreann in Queensland’s Granite Belt make an excellent straight Tannat, albeit in small quantities. Pepper Tree Wines in the Hunter Valley make a Grand Reserve Tannat which sells with an impressive price tag, if you really want to go upmarket.

Some Australian Producers

• Bago Vineyards Hastings River
• Boireann Granite Belt
• Bowe Lees Adelaide Hills
• Coolangatta Estate Shoalhaven Coast
• Deakin Estate Murray Darling
• Eumundi Winery Queensland Coastal
• Fall from Grace McLaren Vale
• Glenguin Hunter Valley
• Goorambath Glenrowan
• Irvine Eden Valley
• Massena Wines Barossa Valley
• Mount Tully Vines Granite Belt
• Pepper Tree Wines Hunter Valley
• Pirramimma McLaren Vale
• Symphonia King Valley
• Symphony Hill Wines Granite Belt
• Trentham Estate Murray Darling
• Yacca Paddock Vineyards Adelaide Hills
• Zonte’s Footstep Langhorne Creek

Sam Miranda of Symphonia suggests this excellent duck ragu recipe to make a fine dish to pair with tannat.

Some more food pairing ideas for tannat

Tannat and health

Red wines were once thought to be good for you because of their resveratrol content. This idea is now controversial, but other compounds in red wine, particulaurly Tannat, are now believed to be very good for promoting health and longevity.

Source: http://www.vinodiversity.com/tannat.html

The wines of Yats Wine Cellars are designed for the matured wine lovers looking for wines that are interesting, not necessarily impressive, and at a fair price that is usually below those of a comparable big names, and from a matured vintage from 20 years or older. There are over 2000 selections of wine at Yats that fit that description.

If Philippines is part of an upcoming travel and holiday plan, wine lovers might want to visit Clark Freeport Zone just 70 minutes from Manila. This bustling new city that is slated to replace Manila as the new capital of the Philippines has the largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center. Vintages span over a century and the selection of old- and new-world wines covers all major wine regions are all available at this top-rated wine shop near Manila. Pampanga Philippines is a fast growing province. Growth in major cities such as San Fernando, Angeles City and Clark Freeport Zone has given rise to a strong demand for luxury goods, upscale dining and quality living. Absence of a good wine shop for fine vintage wine has caused considerable inconvenience to the affluent community which is forced to drive down to Manila to purchase their wines.

Yats Wine Cellars is generally regarded by Asian and Philippines wine lovers as the best wine supplier in the Philippines. This Wine Shop in Clark Philippines releases very rare wines for wine lovers in Asia.

Wine lovers from Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia travel to Philippines Clark Freeport to purchase these limited rare bottles of fine vintage wine.

Leading Philippines wine supplier known for its line of fine vintage wines, Yats Wine Cellars was established in 2000 to address the requirement of a growing population of wine enthusiasts in the Philippines. Yats Wine Cellars caters to the discerning client who requires these qualities in their wines: (1) excellent value, (2) large selection of labels and vintages to choose from and (3) wines properly aged for full enjoyment.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com