Tannic red wine: the framework that holds and ages
222 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 - Artemis 2020
A Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the largest estates in California
Montecrocetta - Argione Appasimento 2015
An Amarone type wine made from 2 emblematic Bordeaux grape varieties
Staglin Family Vineyard - Salus Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
A Cabernet Sauvignon with great aromatic depth
Silver Oak - Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
A legendary Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley
Wildeberg - Coterie Cabernet Franc & Malbec 2020
A superb blend of Cabernet Franc and Malbec
Far Niente - Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
This magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon is considered one of the best in Napa
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars - SLV 2020
The vintage that beat the most Bordeaux blind at the 1976 Judgment of Paris
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
Doña Paula - Estate Smoked Red Blend 2023
A wine made to accompany your wild barbecues!
Ceretto - Langhe Rosso Mosordo 2023
Three international grape varieties united in the heart of the Langhe, with deep black fruit.
Ceretto - Barbaresco 2023
Nebbiolo in its elegant style: fresh red fruit and forest-floor notes.
Gianni Gagliardo - Barolo La Morra 2021
La Morra at its finest: refined tannins and a long finish.
Thymiopoulos - Terra Petra 2020
A harmonious blend of Greek red grape varieties, grown in the foothills of Mount Olympus
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.
Bella Union - Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The union of 2 extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, this is the first wine made by Belle Union.
Paraduxx - Red Blend 2018
Seven grape varieties blended in Napa: silky tannins and a long, spicy finish.
Duckhorn - Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
One of the benchmark Cabernet Sauvignons in Napa Valley
Doña Paula - Altitude Series 1350 2019
Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Casavecchia form a complex trio within the famous Gualtallary terroir
Silver Oak - Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
A legendary Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley
Vega Sicilia - Unico Reserva Especial 2022
A blend of Unico's finest vintages, Vega Sicilia's most accomplished signature.
Gaja - Barbaresco 2020
Thymiopoulos - OenosNature Naoussa 2022
A magnificent supple, elegant and very fragrant Xinomavro
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.