Tannic red wine: the framework that holds and ages
209 tannic red wines, from €9.40Tannin is what slightly dries the mouth and gives that sense of framework. It comes from the grape skins and seeds, sometimes from the wood. It is what allows a wine to age, and what cuts through the fat of marbled red meat.
Our tannic cuvées are mainly Italian, then American. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the selection, ahead of Cabernet Franc, Nebbiolo and Tannat.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars - FAY 2020
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars has created a grandiose vintage, from a historic plot
Staglin Family Vineyard - Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
The great vintage of Domaine Staglin
Gianni Gagliardo - Barolo La Morra 2021
La Morra at its finest: refined tannins and a long finish.
Tenuta San Guido - Sassicaia 2022
One of the most exceptional wine creations of the century
Nickel & Nickel - C.C Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
A single-varietal Rutherford, blackcurrant and black berries, tannins polished by eighteen months in barrique.
Paraduxx - Red Blend 2018
Seven grape varieties blended in Napa: silky tannins and a long, spicy finish.
Doña Paula - Altitude Series 1350 2019
Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Casavecchia form a complex trio within the famous Gualtallary terroir
Nickel & Nickel - John Sullenger Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
An Oakville Cabernet born on twelve hectares of clay-silt soils, eighteen months in French oak.
Dalla Valle - Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Blackcurrant, black cherry and cedar: a Napa Cabernet with dense, classy tannins.
Timeless - Napa Valley 2020
A dense Napa red, marked by cedar and tobacco, that benefits from ageing.
Ovid - Napa Valley 2019
Power and liveliness in one glass: coffee, chocolate, then ripe fruit on the finish.
Doña Paula - Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon 2024
Blackcurrant and pepper, a straightforward Argentinian Cabernet that needs no waiting.
Quilceda Creek - Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
The benchmark Cabernet of Washington State: tight, mineral and made to be cellared.
Santa Rita - Casa Real Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Santa Rita's flagship wine: blackcurrant, cedar and tobacco on a tannic frame built to last.
Francesco Clerico - Langhe Nebbiolo 2023
Langhe Nebbiolo without the wait of Barolo: rose, raspberry and fine tannins.
Castellare Di Castellina - Coniale Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Cabernet Sauvignon as seen from Castellina: blackcurrant, graphite and black pepper.
Gianni Gagliardo - Barolo Castelletto 2020
Castelletto gives a dense Barolo, dried rose and leather, built for long ageing.
Francesco Clerico - Barolo Bussia 2020
Bussia in all its rigour: a tannic, floral Nebbiolo to be cellared for a long time.
Gianni Gagliardo - Barolo Lazzarito Vigna Preve 2020
Lazzarito at its peak, a Barolo dense in tannins that demands a great deal of patience.
Torres - Perpetual Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Cabernet from the estate's old, high-altitude vines: blackcurrant and graphite.
Vite Colte - Barbaresco Riserva Spezie 2015
A Barbaresco Riserva from great vintages: spice, ripe cherry and powerful tannins.
Vega Sicilia - Unico Reserva Especial 2022
A blend of Unico's finest vintages, Vega Sicilia's most accomplished signature.
Gaja - Barbaresco 2020
Sine Qua Non - The Hated Hunter Syrah 2017
Grape varieties that produce a tannic red
Not all tannins are the same. Nebbiolo tannins are fine and powdery, Tannat tannins are massive, and Cabernet tannins are straight and clean.
| Grape variety | The nature of tannin | Where can we find it in our country | The side dish | In our company, starting from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Straight, clean, a little mentholated. Polishes with age. | California, Bordeaux, Chile, Australia | Beef rib, lamb, hard cheeses | €9.40Doña Paula Los Cardos |
| Nebbiolo | Fine and powdery, very present despite a pale color. | Piedmont: Barolo, Barbaresco, Langhe | Braised meats, truffle, game | |
| Tannat | The most massive of all. Requires farming or time. | Uruguay, Argentina, Madiran | Cassoulet, duck breast, rich dishes | €16.50El Porvenir Amauta Tannat |
| Cabernet Franc | Finer than its cousin, with a hint of bell pepper and graphite. | Loire, Bordeaux, South Africa | Red meats, roasted vegetables | €14.90Caelum Terroir Cabernet Sauvignon |
| A Sangiovese for ageing, Aglianico | Firm and mouth-watering, with an acidity that accompanies the tannin. | Tuscany, Campania, Basilicata | Osso buco, slow-cooked meats |
A young tannic wine is not a bad wine; it is closed. Decanting or a few years in the cellar will transform it. If you want to drink tonight without waiting, check out fruity reds.
Three bottles to get into the profile
The tables give the theory. Here are three bottles available today, at three price points.
The admission fee
Argentinian Cabernet Sauvignon, clean structure and black fruit. Tannins are present without being harsh.
Doña Paula Los Cardos · €9.40Improve accuracy
High-altitude vineyards in Mendoza. The same grape variety, with more freshness and finer tannins.
Caelum Terroir Cabernet Sauvignon · €14.90The tannin asserts itself
Tannat in its Argentine version, from Cafayate. Massive, structured, made for rich dishes.
El Porvenir Amauta Tannat · €16.50
Tannin is not a fault
Many people say they don't like tannins, when what they actually dislike are green tannins – those from grapes picked before maturity, which are rough and leave a dry bitterness. A mature tannin, on the other hand, coats the mouth and blends into the fruit. The difference lies in the vineyard, not the cellar.
This profile also rewards patience. A ten-year-old Cabernet is no longer rough: the tannins have mellowed and given way to notes of leather, tobacco, and undergrowth.
The two-glass test
A ripe tannin makes you want to come back for more. A green tannin dries out and tires. If after a glass the mouth feels rough and saliva is absent, the wine will not improve with age.
The Baroudeur du Vin Team
What we're being asked for on tannic red
What exactly is a tannin?
A compound found in grape skins and seeds that creates this astringent sensation. Our article What are tannins? explains it in detail.
How to soften a wine that is too tannic?
Decant it for an hour, serve it slightly cooler, and above all, pair it with a fatty or protein-rich dish. Tannin binds to proteins, which is why a rib of beef makes all the difference.
Do all these wines keep?
No. Tannin is a condition for aging, not a guarantee. Acidity and substance are also needed. The entry-level wines in this category are made to be drunk within three years.
Which wine with rib of beef?
This is the classic pairing for this profile. A Cabernet, an aged Syrah, or a Nebbiolo. Our prime rib guide compares the options.
I don't like tannins, what should I get?
Check out light reds, where tannins are subdued, or fruity reds, where they are blended into the fruit.