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.
Vite Colte - Barbaresco La Casa in Collina 2021
An elegant Barbaresco, rose and cherry, whose refined tannins call for the table.
Château de Targé - Saumur-Champigny Rouge 2021
Blackcurrant, blackberry and green pepper: Saumur Cabernet Franc in its structured style.
Francis Ford Coppola - Director's Cut Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Laurent Mabileau - Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Rouge 2023
Blackcurrant, raspberry and violet: an organic Saint-Nicolas whose tannins are never harsh.
Francis Ford Coppola - Diamond Appellation Series Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Santa Rita - 120 Reserva Especial Red Blend 2022
Blackcurrant, blackberry and coffee beans, a supple blend aged a few months in oak.
Nickel & Nickel - State Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
A single plot in Yountville, a Cabernet with a silky grain and a long finish.
La Rural - Rutini Antologia LIII 2018
A blend of the best grapes of the vintage, from a selection of 3 exceptional terroirs
Nickel & Nickel - C.C Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Single-varietal Rutherford: blackcurrant and wild raspberry on polished tannins.
Tabalí - Ventas Blancas Malbec Cabernet Franc 2018
Very elegant, expressive and unique wine
Glenelly Estate - Lady May Cabernet Sauvignon
The estate's great vintage, a tribute to the great Bordeaux blends
Glenelly Estate - Estate Reserve Red 2017
The elegance of Stellenbosch terroir in every sip
Caelum - Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2019
An intense, structured and elegant Argentinian Cabernet, with deep aromas of black fruits and spices.
Luca Wines - Beso de Dante 2019
An Argentinian red from high altitudes, combining Andean intensity, freshness and Bordeaux elegance.
Parker Coonawarra Estate - 95 Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
A precise and structured Coonawarra cabernet, a pure reflection of the Australian terra rossa.
Henschke - Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
A precise and intense high-altitude Australian Cabernet Sauvignon, where power meets elegance.
Vasse Felix - Tom Cullity 2018
A great red wine from Margaret River, combining depth, finesse and maritime tension.
Parker Coonawarra Estate - Terra Rossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
A Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra that combines intensity of black fruits, freshness and assertive structure.
Parker Coonawarra Estate - First Growth Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
A full-bodied and precise Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra, where concentration is combined with a remarkably balanced freshness.
Viu Manent - Single Vineyard La Capilla Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
A precise and structured Cabernet Sauvignon from Colchagua, combining aromatic intensity and elegant texture.
Vasse Felix - Premier Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
A Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River combining aromatic precision, firm structure and maritime freshness.
Vasse Felix - Filius Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
A precise and structured Margaret River cabernet, combining maritime freshness and fruit intensity.
Gaja - Dagromis Barolo 2019
Sine Qua Non - Distenta I Syrah 2019
A deep, velvety wine of almost sculptural intensity, where the richness of the fruit combines with remarkable precision and energy.
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.