Our Tannic Red Wines

Tannins are the backbone of great red wines. They support the substance, extend the finish and allow the finest bottles to travel through the years with elegance. From Piedmont Nebbiolo to Australian Cabernet Sauvignon, via Rioja Reserva, Salta Malbec or Chilean Carménère, this collection invites you to explore the many faces of characterful reds.

Do you love red wines with character — those that pair perfectly with a rib of beef, a leg of lamb or a mature cheese? You are probably a lover of tannic wines.

How to choose a tannic red wine?

Not all tannic red wines are alike. Some favour elegance, others power. Some are ready to drink today, others deserve a few years in the cellar.

Do you love elegant tannins?

Turn to the great Nebbiolos of Piedmont. Barolos are famous for their paradox: a relatively pale colour but an impressive tannic structure. Behind their tannins often lie aromas of rose, cherry, liquorice and truffle. The Barolos from Giovanni Rosso or Poderi Colla are an excellent entry point into this world.

Do you love balanced tannins?

Chianti Classico Riserva, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the great Sangioveses of Tuscany often offer one of the finest compromises between fruit, freshness and structure. Sangiovese brings present but rarely aggressive tannins, accompanied by notes of cherry, aromatic herbs and sometimes leather with age. The Sergioveto or Vino Nobile di Montepulciano cuvées perfectly illustrate this style.

Do you love powerful tannins?

High-altitude Argentine Malbec, Rioja Reserva, Australian Cabernet Sauvignon or certain great Roussillon wines offer more density and concentration. Huentala Wines Sombrero Malbec, the Salta Malbecs from Agustín Lanús, Gómez Cruzado Rioja Honorable, L.A.S. Vino Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon or Clos Louis Grand Vin du Roussillon will appeal to lovers of full-bodied wines.

Do you love tannins with depth?

Some wines do not simply seek power. They combine structure, complexity and ageing potential. This is notably the case for great Rioja Reservas, the finest Barolos, Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignons, premium Chilean Carménères or certain Burgundy Pommards. Their tannins gradually soften over the years to reveal their full complexity.

A world tour of tannic red wines

At Vinodelice, we hold one conviction: the finest tannic wines are not necessarily the most powerful. They are often those that transform structure into elegance. A Piedmont Barolo impresses with its tight tannins and incredible ageing potential. A Chianti Classico Riserva plays more on balance and freshness. A Rioja Reserva brings depth and complexity through its extended ageing. A Salta Malbec combines concentration and tension. As for Margaret River or Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignons, they rival the great Bordeaux reds in structure and ability to age.

This collection invites you to explore the multiple expressions of tannin through some of the world's greatest terroirs: Piedmont, Tuscany, Rioja, Mendoza, Salta, Colchagua, Maule Valley, Roussillon, Margaret River, Coonawarra, Heathcote, Burgundy and Ningxia. Because a tannic wine can be powerful, refined, spiced or deeply gastronomic — and it is precisely this diversity that makes it so fascinating.

Our top picks for discovering tannic red wines

For discovering tannins with elegance

• Giovanni Rosso Barolo 2019
• Poderi Colla Barolo Bussia Dardi Le Rose 2018
• Tar & Roses The Fog Nebbiolo 2021

For lovers of great Italian reds

• Rocca delle Macie Sergioveto 2020
• 1787 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2021

For lovers of power

• Huentala Wines Sombrero Malbec 2021
• Agustín Lanús Ilogico Malbec 2020
• Clos Louis Grand Vin du Roussillon 2021
• Gómez Cruzado Honorable 2014
• L.A.S. Vino Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
• Parker Coonawarra Estate First Growth 2019

For lovers of finesse and depth

• Vincent Girardin Pommard Vieilles Vignes 2018
• Giovanni Rosso Barolo 2019
• Poderi Colla Barolo Bussia Dardi Le Rose 2018

To go off the beaten track

• J. Bouchon Vigno Carignan 2018
• Viu Manent El Incidente Carménère 2018
• Mulando Heroine Armour Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

The great tannic red wine terroirs

Piedmont: the kingdom of Nebbiolo

Barolo and Barbaresco are among the world's greatest age-worthy wines. Their tannins are celebrated for their finesse as much as their intensity.

Tuscany: structure and freshness

Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello produce wines where tannins are supported by a beautiful natural acidity.

Rioja: the nobility of Tempranillo

Rioja wines, particularly Rioja Reserva and Gran Reserva, combine structure, depth and great aromatic complexity.

Salta and Mendoza: Malbec under tension

Altitude allows the finest Argentine Malbecs to retain freshness and balance despite their natural concentration.

Margaret River and Coonawarra: the great Australian ageing reds

While Australia is often associated with generous Shiraz, its greatest tannic wines often come from Cabernet Sauvignon. Margaret River and Coonawarra produce structured, deep reds built to age.

Chile: characterful Carignan and Carménère

Maule Valley and Colchagua produce some of the most structured reds in South America. Carignan brings tension and depth, while Carménère combines power and elegance.

Ningxia: the new eldorado for Cabernet Sauvignon

Located on the edge of the Gobi Desert, the Ningxia region has established itself as one of Asia's most promising terroirs for structured red wines. Cabernet Sauvignons here develop beautiful concentration and assertive tannins.

Burgundy: the elegant exception

Burgundy is not the region one spontaneously associates with tannic wines. Yet certain appellations such as Pommard produce more structured Pinot Noirs, capable of offering a fine tannic presence while retaining the finesse characteristic of the grape variety.

The star grape varieties of tannic red wines

Nebbiolo - Rose, cherry, liquorice: Very high tannins

Cabernet Sauvignon - Blackcurrant, graphite, cedar: High tannins

Tannat - Dark fruit, spices: Very high tannins

Malbec - Blackberry, violet, cocoa: High tannins

Mourvèdre - Dark fruit, garrigue: High tannins

Carignan - Dark fruit, spices: High tannins

Carménère - Dark fruit, spices, sweet pepper: Medium to high tannins

Sangiovese - Cherry, aromatic herbs: Medium to high tannins

Tempranillo - Dark fruit, spices: Medium to high tannins

Syrah - Pepper, blackberry: Medium to high tannins

Tannic red wine and food pairing

Rib of beef: Barolo, Cabernet Sauvignon

Grilled sirloin: Rioja Reserva

Game: Barolo, Carignan

Roast lamb: Chianti Classico Riserva

Beef stew: Malbec, Rioja

Duck breast: Carménère

Mature cheeses: Barolo, Rioja Reserva

Roasted mushrooms: Nebbiolo, Sangiovese

Is a tannic red wine necessarily powerful?

Not necessarily. A Barolo or a Nebbiolo can be extremely tannic while remaining elegant and relatively low in alcohol. Conversely, some very powerful wines can present softer tannins. The notion of a tannic wine refers above all to the structure and the sensation of substance on the palate.

FAQ: Everything you need to know about tannic red wines

Which is the most tannic grape variety?

Nebbiolo, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon and certain Malbecs are among the most tannic grape varieties in the world.

Which tannic red wine to choose for beginners?

A Chianti Classico Riserva, a Rioja Reserva or a structured Malbec are generally excellent entry points.

Are tannic wines necessarily powerful?

No. A Barolo can be very tannic while remaining elegant and refined.

Which tannic red wine with a rib of beef?

Barolos, Cabernet Sauvignons, Malbecs and Rioja Reservas are particularly well suited thanks to their structure and length.

Which tannic red wine to give as a gift?

A Barolo, a Chianti Classico Riserva or a cellar-worthy Rioja are safe bets for lovers of great reds.

Which tannic red wine for laying down?

Barolos, great Cabernet Sauvignons, Rioja Reservas and certain high-altitude Malbecs are among the finest candidates for the cellar.

Are Burgundy wines tannic?

Burgundy is primarily known for its red wines made from Pinot Noir, celebrated for its elegance, finesse and moderate tannins rather than its power. Certain appellations such as Pommard do present a more assertive structure. Lovers of very tannic wines will nevertheless more readily turn to appellations such as Barolo, Rioja Reserva, Chianti Classico Riserva or certain ageing Cabernet Sauvignons.