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.
Schiavenza - Broglio Riserva Barolo 2015
A deep and structured Barolo from Serralunga d'Alba, which precisely expresses the nobility of Nebbiolo and the personality of the Broglio vintage.
Schiavenza - Prapo Barolo 2018
A vintage Barolo that is both deep and precise, where the power of Serralunga meets a long-lasting elegance.
Le Crocine - 57022 Bolgheri 2019
A Bolgheri red with character, combining ripe fruit, fine tannins and maritime elegance.
Duckhorn - The Discussion 2018
Le fleuron de Duckhorn, fruits noirs, cèdre et tabac dans un assemblage taillé pour durer.
Dalla Valle - Hillside 2019
L'entrée dans l'univers Dalla Valle, cerise, framboise et tanins souples.
Ovid - Hexameter 2017
Cacao, tabac et fruit noir, un assemblage de Napa à la texture veloutée.
Argiano - Solengo 2021
Un super toscan dense, cassis et chocolat noir, bâti pour la cave.
Torres - Mas De La Plana 2018
Cabernet sauvignon d'un seul vignoble, cassis et cèdre bâtis pour la longue garde.
Shafer - One Point Five 2019
One of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in California
De Martino - Tierra Alta Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
An expressive Cabernet Sauvignon with assertive varietal character
Staglin Family Vineyard - Salus Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
A Cabernet Sauvignon with great aromatic depth
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
Vega Sicilia - Unico Special Reserve 2022
Un assemblage des meilleurs millésimes d'Unico, la signature la plus aboutie de Vega Sicilia.
Gianni Gagliardo - Barolo La Morra 2019
La Morra dans ce qu'elle a de plus fin, tanins raffinés et longue finale.
Tenuta San Guido - Sassicaia 2022
One of the most exceptional wine creations of the century
Gaja - Barbaresco 2020
Nickel & Nickel - CC Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Rutherford en monocépage, cassis et baies noires, tanins polis par dix-huit mois de barrique.
Paraduxx - Red Blend 2018
Sept cépages assemblés à Napa, des tanins soyeux et une longue finale sur les épices.
Dona 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
Un cabernet d'Oakville né sur douze hectares argilo-limoneux, dix-huit mois sous chêne français.
Sine Qua Non - The Hated Hunter Syrah 2017
Dalla Valle - Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Cassis, cerise noire, cèdre, un cabernet de Napa aux tanins denses et racés.
Timeless - Napa Valley 2019
Un rouge de Napa dense, marqué par le cèdre et le tabac, qui gagne à vieillir.
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.