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.
Lantides - Little Ark Red 2020
A blend of 2 indigenous Greek grape varieties, with flavors of black fruits and spices
Vinicola Aurora - Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017
A lovely vintage for lovers of power with a balanced and persistent profile on the palate.
Balnaves - The Blend - Coonawarra 2020
A Bordeaux-style blend of great complexity!
Koerner - The Clare Red Wine 2021
A vibrant and luminous red wine, inspired by the finesse of Loire wines and made from Bordeaux grape varieties
Undurraga - Cabernet Sauvignon 2024
A very pretty Cabernet Sauvignon typical of Chile!
Cousiño Macul - Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
An elegant Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon with intense notes of black fruits and spices.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars - Artemis 2020
A Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the largest estates in California
Thymiopoulos - Aftorizo 2020
One of the estate's Grands Crus, produced from ungrafted vines
Santa Rita - Triple C 2021
Cassis, cèdre et poivre, un assemblage ferme où le carménère apporte sa rondeur.
Giminez Mendez - Viña Las Brujas 2019
The king grape variety of Uruguay, Tannat.
Matias Riccitelli - Mountain Vineyards - Cabernet Franc 2020
A high-class Cabernet, located in the high vineyards of Mendoza
Dona Paula - Estate Smoked Red Blend 2023
A wine made to accompany your wild barbecues!
Ceretto - Langhe Rosso Mosordo 2022
Trois cépages internationaux réunis au coeur des Langhe, sur un fruit noir profond.
Silver Oak - Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
A legendary Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley
Rockford - Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet 2019
A sumptuous Syrah-Cabernet Sauvignon duo from the Barossa Valley
Ceretto - Barbaresco Asili 2019
Asili, cru soyeux entre tous : rose, framboise et anis étoilé.
Vite Colte - Barolo Paesi Tuoi 2020
Un barolo droit et parfumé, cerise, rose, anis, sur des tanins bien serrés.
Agricola Brigatti - Motfrei Colline Novaresi Nebbiolo 2020
A cuvée that reveals all the nobility of Alto Piemonte Nebbiolo, combining depth, alpine freshness, tannic finesse, and aromatic complexity.
Montecrocetta - Roncaiolo Apassite 2017
A Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon blend, made using the ripasso method
Far Niente - Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
This magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon is considered one of the best in Napa
Ceretto - Barbaresco 2021
Le Nebbiolo dans sa version élégante, fruits rouges frais et notes de sous-bois.
Rockford - Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
A top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon from the Barossa Valley!
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 52 vintages | Straight, clean, a little mentholated. Polishes with age. | California, Bordeaux, Chile, Australia | Beef rib, lamb, hard cheeses | €9.40Dona Paula Los Cardos |
| Nebbiolo 5 vintages | Fine and powdery, very present despite a pale color. | Piedmont: Barolo, Barbaresco, Langhe | Braised meats, truffle, game | |
| Tannat 3 vintages | The most massive of all. Requires farming or time. | Uruguay, Argentina, Madiran | Cassoulet, duck breast, rich dishes | €16.50El Porvenir Amauta Tannat |
| Cabernet Franc 6 vintages | 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.