Tannic Red Wine : Our Selection
Main regions :
Main grape varieties Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Mourvèdre.
Tasting advice Decant in advance for young wines. Serve at around 18°/20°. Cold temperatures tighten wines, accentuating tannins.
Food & Wine Rich, round, 'fat' dishes to soften the wine's power
"What's a tannic red wine?"
What is tannin?
Tannin is a natural component found in grape seeds and skins. A wine is also said to be tannic when it is aged in oak barrels, a wood containing tannin.
This component brings power to the wine and a sensation of astringency: the drying sensation we can feel in the mouth when tasting a tannic red wine.
Which wines are the most tannic?
A tannic wine will never be white or rosé. In fact, this specificity of wine is only found in red wines, but also in orange wines! Maceration of this white wine, vinified like a red wine, gives it tannin.
The power of grape tannin is found in the South West, the Rhône Valley and the mythical regions of Bordeaux and Languedoc. So you're more likely to find a tannic wine in the southern half of France.
As for grape varieties, you'll find plenty of tannin in Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Mourvèdre.
The particularities of tannic red wine.
The taste of a tannic red depends on the location of the grapes: from bitter to toasty to leathery.
A tannic red wine has a high aging potential. It balances out with age and becomes increasingly harmonious when tasted.
The aromas found in a tannic wine depend on where the grapes were grown: from bitter to toasty, from leathery to tobacco.
