Red wines

What is my style of international red wine?

We admit it isn’t easy to find your way through all these countries, regions and grape varieties, but don’t panic: we’ll explain how to get your bearings a little better! To make things clearer, we are going to divide red wines into 4 categories.

LIVELY, FRUITY RED WINES

These red wines are made from grapes with lighter, thinner skins and the lowest tannin levels. In these wines, fruit and acidity dominate, and they can be paired with many foods. They are therefore an excellent alternative if you don’t like the rough taste of tannins and the intense flavour of full-bodied wines. Pinot Noir is an excellent example of a light red wine, like those found in Burgundy, Alsace, Savoie or the Jura. This style also includes light Gamay from Beaujolais and the light red wines of the Loire Valley, such as Cabernet Franc. Further afield, it is worth trying Pinot Noirs from Chile, Argentina and Germany, light Cinsaults and Pinotages from South Africa, the light wines of Valpolicella in northern Italy or the fruity Nero d’Avola of Sicily.

SMOOTH, FLESHY RED WINES

Red wines in this category are dominated by a sense of smoothness and roundness, which creates a rich, mouth-coating feel. This sensation comes from the alcohol and gives the impression of warming the mouth. In general, this medium-bodied style of red wine has moderate acidity, a medium amount of tannin and aromas of riper fruit than light reds. In France, these are the Côtes-du-Rhône wines made from Syrah and/or Grenache, the red wines of Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence, or generic Bordeaux based on Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Beyond France’s borders, we recommend trying Carménère from Chile, Syrahs from Australia, Zinfandel from the United States, Merlots from South America, Spanish wines made from Grenache, Italian red wines such as Dolcetto d’Alba or the reds of the Douro Valley in Portugal.

TANNIC RED WINES

These are red wines whose dominant component is tannin, but they also have a high alcohol content. These tannins are felt at the back of the tongue as an astringent sensation that dries the mouth. They come from the grape skins and seeds, as well as from ageing in new wooden barrels. These wines often have aromas of spice, leather and black fruit. As powerful as they are, they need to be paired with food of equal strength, such as red meat dishes.

In France, these wines are found in the Rhône Valley (Cornas, Saint-Joseph, Côte-Rôtie, Châteauneuf-du-Pape), among the wines of the South-West (Cahors, Madiran) or in Bordeaux wines (Left Bank) based on Cabernet Sauvignon (Saint-Estèphe, Graves, Pauillac). Around the world, we suggest tasting the powerful Malbecs of Argentina, Tempranillos from Spain, Cabernet Sauvignon wines (blends or single-varietal) from Australia, South America, New Zealand or Lebanon, as well as the Nebbiolos of Italy (Barolo) and the concentrated Syrahs of America and Australia. Wines made mainly from Tannat, Mourvèdre or Carignan are rarer, but also belong to this style of red wine.

FINE, COMPLEX RED WINES

These red wines, whose structure on the palate is quite close to that of light wines, have more noticeable tannins and a more complex nose: these are what we call fine wines. They are the product of great know-how and a great terroir, and are more expensive than the average wine, sometimes very expensive! This style can also be achieved by ageing wines built to last, because over time the tannins soften and the aromas become more complex.

In France, you find this style among the great wines of Burgundy (Gevrey-Chambertin, Pommard, Nuits-Saint-Georges), the great wines of Bordeaux based mainly on Merlot (Pomerol, Saint-Emilion), the great Chinons of the Loire Valley or the great red wines of the Jura. You will find this style of wine in Germany, the United States, Australia and New Zealand with their great Pinot Noirs, but also with Blaufränkisch from Austria, or the very old vines of Grenache and Zinfandel in Spain and the United States.

LE BAROUDEUR DU VIN’S TIP :

On every bottle of wine, you can rely on the “body” gauge to get an idea of how powerful a red wine is. The body of a red wine is based on the presence of tannins and alcohol on the palate.