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.
Rockford - Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
A top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon from the Barossa Valley!
Postmark - Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Napa Cabernet in its straightforward style: ripe blackcurrant and polished tannins.
Ceretto - Barolo 2021
Tobacco, truffle and dried rose: a classic Barolo that calls for patience.
Paternoster - Aglianico del Vulture Don Anselmo 2017
Aglianico del Vulture in its flagship cuvée: volcanic, dense and built to last.
Tabalí - Payen Syrah Cabernet Franc 2018
The estate's signature Syrah-based cuvée
Vesevo - Taurasi 2016
A powerful and elegant Taurasi, from the volcanic soils of Campania, which expresses all the depth of the Aglianico
Silver Oak - Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
A legendary Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars - SLV 2020
The vintage that beat the most Bordeaux blind at the 1976 Judgment of Paris
Bella Union - Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The union of 2 extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, this is the first wine made by Belle Union.
Duckhorn - Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
One of the benchmark Cabernet Sauvignons in Napa Valley
Canvasback - Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Red Mountain in the glass: blackcurrant, cedar and dark chocolate on a dense tannic frame.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars - Hands Of Time 2018
Stag's Leap's entry-level wine, supple and fruity, to open straight away.
Col Solare - Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Antinori in partnership with Château Ste. Michelle on Red Mountain: power and length.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars - Cask 23 2020
Stag's Leap's top wine: a Cabernet made for twenty years in the cellar.
Ceretto - Barolo Prapò 2019
The Prapò cru in vertical mode: menthol and liquorice on iron-like tannins.
Château Queyron Pindefleurs - Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2018
Right Bank Merlot: black fruit and leather, with the structure of a Saint-Émilion built for ageing.
Vite Colte - Barolo del Comune di Barolo Essenze 2019
A Barolo born in the historic village itself: raspberry, violet and liquorice.
Francis Ford Coppola - Diamond Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Morra Gabriele - Foravia Langhe Nebbiolo 2024
A Nebbiolo crafted in the codes of the modern era: fresh, elegant and airy
Caelum - Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva 2016
A powerful and refined high-altitude Cabernet Sauvignon, where intensity and elegance come together in harmony.
Diemersfontein - Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Cabernet Sauvignon from Wellington, blackcurrant and cedar on a well-held tannic frame.
Gaja - Sito Moresco Langhe DOP 2021
Etchart - Privado Cabernet Sauvignon 2024
Etchart's Cabernet: blackcurrant and cedar, with firm but ripe tannins.
Francis Ford Coppola - Rosso & Bianco Rosso 2018
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.