Tannat has always spoken to me, not with a wag or a bark, but with boldness. It’s a grape that doesn’t try to please everyone, and neither do I. Strong, dark, and a little misunderstood? Sounds like someone I know.
Image of Dino Lamberti many dog years ago, back when Long Dog Wines was just getting its paws dirty in 2017.
At Long Dog Wines, we’ve always gravitated toward grapes with character, and Tannat has that in spades. It’s not just bold, it’s brooding. Originally from the southwest of France, Tannat has found fame in Uruguay, where it’s been embraced and transformed. But here, on our quiet patch of earth, it’s carving out a story all its own and I get to tell it. I may be a dog, low to the ground, stocky, black and tan, but I’ve spent enough seasons among barrels and vines to know when something special is happening. And with our Tannat, something very special is indeed happening.
The first thing you’ll notice is the colour: dark, inky, almost opaque. It pours like velvet at twilight. Then the nose (trust me, I know noses), it hits with black fruit, spice, cracked pepper, and the smell of tobacco leaf after rain. Let it breathe, and you’ll uncover hints of leather, cacao, and that unmistakable earthy signature of our soil. Then you take a sip.
Tannat doesn’t whisper. It walks in and owns the room. The tannins? Bold and structured, not harsh, but confident. Like a dog who’s found his spot and dares you to move him. But give it time, and you’ll discover a surprising softness. The fruit opens up, the edges round out, like me after a belly rub. There’s grace behind the grit.
Here at Long Dog, our Tannat spends two years aging in French oak. The barrels don’t tame its wildness, they refine it. It’s still rugged, still proud, but now it’s polished. And while Tannat can certainly stand on its own four paws, I knew from the start it needed a partner.
Tannat brings the brawn, Cab Franc brings the charm. Together, they’re like two paws of the same stride. Powerful, balanced, and beautifully in sync. The result? The Long Dog Blend. A 50/50 partnership that sings. It took years to get it just right, but when you taste it, you’ll understand why we kept at it. Tannat lays the foundation; Cab Franc dances on top. It’s a wine with backbone, brightness, and a long finish. Like a vineyard walk that stays with you.
If you’ve never tried the Long Dog Blend, consider this your invitation. Pour a glass, take your time, and let it unfold, layer by layer. And if you sense something bold, loyal, and just a little bit wild…well, now you know the winemaker.
And if you already know it? Then you know, it’s not a wine you forget.
