Tannic red wine: the framework that holds and ages
198 tannic red wines, from €9.40Tannin is what slightly dries the mouth and gives that textured sensation. It comes from the skin and seeds of the grape, sometimes from the wood. It is what allows a wine to age, and it is what cuts through the fat of a marbled red meat.
Our 198 tannic cuvées are primarily Italian with 62 wines and American with 48. Cabernet Sauvignon alone accounts for 52 of them, ahead of Cabernet Franc, Nebbiolo, and Tannat.
460 Casina Bric - Mesdì Rosso
A beautiful expression of Nebbiolo, the flagship grape variety of Piedmont
Thymiopoulos - Alta Naoussa 2024
A Xinomavro of altitude, all in finesse and elegance
Gevorkian - Red Amphora 2021
A round and silky red wine, refined by traditional Armenian aging in amphorae
Maturana - Lucas Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
A Cabernet Sauvignon of great elegance, racy and refined.
Thymiopoulos - Earth and Sky 2023
The flagship of the Thymiopoulos estate, one of the greatest wines of Naoussa
Vigneti del Vulture - Pipoli Aglianico del Vulture 2021
A 100% Aglianico wine: an ancient grape variety from the Basilicata region
Thymiopoulos - OenosNature Naoussa 2022
A magnificent supple, elegant and very fragrant Xinomavro
Domaine des Tourelles - Red 2022
A high-altitude red of great character, coming from one of the founding areas of Lebanese viticulture.
460 Casina Bric - Barolo 2017
An intense Barolo deeply imbued with its high altitude terroir
Tetramythos - Agiorgitiko nature 2025
A resurrected variety from the slopes of Mount Helmos
Wildeberg - Coterie Cabernet Franc & Malbec 2020
A superb blend of Cabernet Franc and Malbec
Groot Constantia - Gouverneurs Reserve Red 2019
A sophisticated Bordeaux blend with complexity worthy of a great vintage
Gaia - Notios Red 2019
A unique wine made from the indigenous Agiorgitiko grape variety and a hint of Syrah. Roundness and spices are there!
460 Casina Bric - Barolo Municipality of Barolo 2014
A powerful Barolo deeply imbued with its high altitude terroir
Morra Gabriele - Memoirs 2024
A Nebbiolo crafted in the codes of the modern era: fresh, elegant and airy
LA Cetto - Nebbiolo Reserva Privada 2019
A great Italian grape variety grown in Mexico, what could be more exotic to discover this intense and spicy red wine.
Thymiopoulos - Terra Petra 2020
A harmonious blend of Greek red grape varieties, grown in the foothills of Mount Olympus
El Porvenir - Amauta Tannat 2024
A round and balanced wine, expressing the typicality of Tannat
Montecrocetta - Argione Appasimento 2015
An Amarone type wine made from 2 emblematic Bordeaux grape varieties
Atamisque - Atamisque Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Un cabernet de la vallée de Uco, cassis et graphite, structuré sans rudesse.
Thymiopoulos - Atma Red 2021
A red wine from Northern Greece, combining indulgence and freshness
Te Mata Estate - Merlot Cabernets 2020
Aromatic complexity and voluptuousness come together in this beautiful full-bodied wine from New Zealand.
460 Casina Bric - Ansi Langhe Red 2021
A superb blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera, mastered to perfection by Gianluca Viberti
Morra Gabriele - Barbaresco 2020
A Barbaresco crafted with refinement and elegance
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 | €9.40Dona 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.
Dona 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.