Tannat is a variety that originates in a place called Madiran in the south-west of France, but is now most commonly found in Uruguay, where it is the most planted grape variety. It's a bit of a brute of a wine, able to have big flavours and big alcohols pretty easily, so needs a gentle hand in the vineyard to coax out more complex flavours. The Puerto Carmelo has a few years under its belt, and this has softened out some of the youthful rough edges. It shows off complex flavours of leather, balsam, smoke, red and black fruit. It's heavy set with a deep, dense feel but has a tangy, grippy edge of tannin to keep it fresh. Serious, powerful and full of character - this is a great introduction to the complexity of Tannat.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, and again, and again: Uruguayan wine really is where it’s at right now. While its wine production levels are miniscule in comparison to its Latin American neighbours of Chile and Argentina, the flavoursome and boisterous reds coming out of this country are sending us - and our fellow wine fanatics worldwide - into raptures of boozy ecstasy. Puerto Carmelo’s output is a brilliant case in point; this modern Uruguayan operation is riding high on the wave of enthusiasm surrounding the country’s Tannat production, and is taking a thoroughly 21st century approach to viticulture that’s hitting all the high notes right across the globe. Making fantastic use of their stunning terroir, Puerto Carmelo’s team of dedicated vintners are bringing out Tannat wines, which brilliantly reflect the landscape and climate the grapes are grown in. Low yielding vines reach full ripeness under the scorching Uruguayan sunshine, and the brisk breezes which cut through their high-altitude vineyards ensure that acidity and tannin levels are just right. The result? Deeply flavourful red wines which pack in mountains of character, and which balance drinkability with complexity in ways you cannot fail to get excited about. If you haven’t yet fallen in love with Uruguayan wine, this winery is sure to change that pretty damn quickly. Tannat is a variety that originates in a place called Madiran in the south-west of France, but is now most commonly found in Uruguay, where it is the most planted grape variety. It's a bit of a brute of a wine, able to have big flavours and big alcohols pretty easily, so needs a gentle hand in the vineyard to coax out more complex flavours. The Puerto Carmelo has a few years under its belt, and this has softened out some of the youthful rough edges. It shows off complex flavours of leather, balsam, smoke, red and black fruit. It's heavy set with a deep, dense feel but has a tangy, grippy edge of tannin to keep it fresh. Serious, powerful and full of character - this is a great introduction to the complexity of Tannat.