Though Nossiter's film (Mondovino) had important virtues in its call for appreciation of wines of distinct terroir and its cautions regarding globalization, the film's most flagrant goof was its failure to recognize the peasant-born technique of microbüllage, which saved Madiran from globalization and preserved its centuries-old tannat tradition in the wake of the wave of post WWII modernization -- the stainless steel/inert gas/sterile filtration winemaking formula -- which gave rise to beautiful new styles like off-dry rieslings in Germany but also the disastrous French red wine stylistic crisis that its winemakers are only now beginning to comprehend and deal with.

The planting and vinification/élevage procedures of Uraguayan tannat are entirely a result of Ducournau, his vision and his techniques. Ducournau was asked by the Uraguayans in the ‘90’s to assist in the implantation of unique varietals and establishment of practical winemaking techniques to create a distinctive wine style for which this tiny, remote and obscure winegrowing nation could become world-renowned. Ducournau's work was a slam-dunk; impeccable in its precision.

So here is a perfect example of the manipulation some “purists” might demonize. At the same time, one can scarcely name a more deserving, distinctive new region worthy of the attention of the geek squad's passionate attention. It only turns out that the demonization of oxygen structuring techniques by some self-proclaimed "natural wine" fundamentalists will oblige them to ignore an entire country's accomplishment, or, alternatively, to wake up and smell the Tannat.