Reverse Wine Snob®

Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good

  • About
    • What is a Reverse Wine Snob?
    • The Rating System
    • Ten Tenets of Reverse Wine Snobbery
    • Best of Lists by Category
  • Aldi®
  • Costco®
  • Trader Joe’s®
  • FREE GUIDE
  • Insider Deals
  • Contact
    • Submit Samples
    • Contact Info

Coquena Tannat – Not For The Faint of Heart

By: Jon Thorsen Last Updated: December 10, 2016

2011-Coquena-Tannat
A powerful wine made from a powerful grape.

100% Tannat from Tolombon, Cafayate Valley, Salta, Argentina.

SRP of $20 and available for as low as $17. Sample submitted for review.

From the winery:

“Ancient Argentine lore tells the story of a mystical elf named Coquena who lives in the high mountains of Salta province and protects the vicuñes, animals native to the Andes that are prized for their wool. The locals will tell you that Coquena is all-seeing – he travels at night fiercely protecting his animals against anyone who sets out to do them harm. High up in these same mountains, in the town of Tolombón, sits a vineyard at 5,576 feet above sea level where the grapes for Coquena wine come from. The vines from this farm consistently produce such lush, well-balanced wines that the Etchart family believes the Coquena’s day job is to keep an eye on the vines that bear his name. Coquena wines are produced by Arnaldo, Marcos and Pablo Etchart, the sons of Arnaldo B. Etchart, one of the great wine pioneers of Salta Province. They believe that great wine comes from great grapes, and give special care to their low-yielding vineyards to create unique, truly pleasurable wines.

14.3% Alcohol”

Tannat is a bit of a study in contrasts. An old grape variety in France where it is typically used as a blending component, yet an up and coming grape variety in South America that I expect you will be hearing much more about in the next couple years. You’ll certainly hear about it here in the next few weeks as we delve into several from Uruguay where it is considered their signature variety.

So far; however, the Tannat we’ve sampled has played a supporting role — at most hitting 30% of the blend. That wine was the recently reviewed Hermanos Malbec/Tannat blend, also from Argentina.

Today we go all out, as in 100% Tannat. As the headline suggests this big, powerful wine is not for everybody, but if you’re up to it you may just find a whole lot to love…

The 2011 Coquena Tannat begins with aromas of dark fruits (blackberry, black cherry and black currant) along with dried herbs and a hint of coffee. Tasting the wine reveals that despite its obvious power, it has the balance to pull it off remarkably well. The fruit, while a bit constrained at first, really opens up with some air, the oak is nicely integrated and the wine has good acidity. The coffee notes from the nose come back after the fruit and carry the wine into the long, grippy finish featuring mouth drying tannins. I love this big, powerful beauty but it’s not for the faint of heart!

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.


Taste Rating: 9              Cost Rating: 4
Overall Rating: 7.8

Recommended Buy


1 Rating – Add Yours!

 
 
 
 
 

 

i
 

Find out more about my rating system and check out the Wine Ranking to find all my reviews! You can sort by type of wine, cost, rating, etc. in the interactive database.

Don’t Miss A Recommended Buy! Subscribe to our daily email to get The Reverse Wine Snob in your inbox!

Published: July 18, 2013 Filed Under: Argentina, Tannat

<< OGIO Wines Pinot Grigio and Tuscan Red – Refined and Food Flexible
John Duval Plexus – Fantastically Good >>

About Jon Thorsen

Author and independent wine consumer helping millions of people find great grape without breaking the bank. Sign up for my FREE GUIDE to learn how! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest and join my Facebook Group to chat about wine.

Reverse Wine Snob Insider Deals
Limited Time Offers. Amazing Discounts. Don't Miss Out!
Twitter 225,099Followers
Facebook 84,087Fans
Instagram 19,350Followers

Best Of Lists!

The Best Canned Wine - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Canned Wines

The Best Spanish Wine Under $20 - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Spanish Wines Under $20

The Best Cabernet Sauvignon Under $20 - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Cabernet Sauvignon Under $20

The Best Riesling - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Riesling Under $20

The Best Rosé Wines - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Rosé Wines Under $20

The Best Chianti Under $20 - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Chianti Under $20

Read All Of Our Best Of Lists Here!

Featured Articles

Blending Wines - Is it Art, Science or a Little of Both? Ask The Expert!

Blending Wines – Is it Art, Science or a Little of Both? Ask The Expert!

What's The Right Way To Cellar Wines? Ask The Expert!

What’s The Right Way To Cellar Wines? Ask The Expert!

The Best Italian Wine - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Italian Wines Under $20

2020 Best Red Wines Under $20

The 2020 Best Red Wines Under $20

Why Is Amarone So Expensive? Ask The Expert!

Why Is Amarone So Expensive? Ask The Expert!

Reverse Wine Snob: How to Buy and Drink Great Wine without Breaking the Bank

What is a Reverse Wine Snob?

Order The Book on Amazon!

.

How To Drink Great Wine…Without Breaking The Bank

Tired of wasting money on crappy wine? Sign up for our free guide!

About Me

Maximizing your wine dollars since 2011! Independent wine consumer helping millions of people (2.7 million visitors in 2020 alone) find great wines without breaking the bank including through our exclusive Insider Deals. If you're new to Reverse Wine Snob don't forget to sign up for our free guide! Want to chat about wine? Join our Facebook Group!

Reverse Wine Snob®: Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good.

Copyright © 2011–2021 · Reverse Wine Snob, LLC. | Privacy, Editorial & Advertising Policy