How to choose the best red wine?
You have probably asked yourself this question a dozen times before, if not more. But how can you recognize a red wine of quality? It is indeed not always easy to know which red wines are particularly affordable in terms of taste. Furthermore, in the digital age, it is becoming increasingly easy to get a bottle of wine. Indeed, there are now a multitude of websites offering to order online red wines as well as white wines. In order not to regret your purchase and to avoid impulsive purchases, follow our guide and our tips which will allow you to choose the ideal red wine.
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What makes a red wine excellent?
First of all, you should know that a good red wine depends on everyone's tastes. In order to be able to choose a red wine perfect for your taste buds, it is important to taste as many grape varieties as possible. Indeed, the taste of red wine differs from white for the following reasons:
- Higher tannin content
- Higher alcohol content
- More substantial body
- Different aromatic profile
- Potentially increased complexity
All these qualities come from the fermentation process during which the grape skins are left in the tank with the juice. Fermentation causes all the sugar contained in the crushed grape pulp to become alcohol with a refined taste to thus please all tasters.
Furthermore, the maturity of the barrel and the bottle plays an important role. This corresponds to the wine's development which will bring it to its peak. It is the nature of these processes and the quality of the grape that have the strongest impact on thearoma and the character of the wine.
A good red wine will be all the more excellent if you decant it. To know how and why to decant red wine, we invite you to read this article on the subject.
Find your favorite wine
It is not because they are grand crus or well-aged red wines that you necessarily have to like them. Aging aromas are full of bitterness just like truffles and mature cheeses. For new tasters, it is essential to vary the options, to explore the choices available to you.
To help you orient yourself more easily, you can turn to aoc (controlled designation of origin) or aop (protected designation of origin) and igp (protected geographical indication). These designations, common in France, testify to a certain level of wine requirements (grape varieties, terroir, winemaking). You can start with ordinary wines, to accustom your palate and gently discover the world of wine, then turn to more authentic and complex wines.
We strongly recommend you start with the following wine varieties to better know your preferences:
- The acidity of Pinot Noir
The Pinot Noir originating from Burgundy is the perfect red wine for understanding acidity. If you appreciate Pinot Noir, there is a strong chance that you will taste much more acidic red wines like Grenache for example. When you taste Pinot Noir for the first time, you feel something invigorating in your mouth as if you were drinking a sparkling drink. It is simply the effect of acidity.
Furthermore, a good bottle of Pinot Noir is provided with a good balance of tannins and acidity to flatter the naturally fruity taste of the wine.
- The body of Syrah/Shiraz
The body of the wine is also important. Indeed, red wines tend to be heavy wines, powerful and structured unlike white wines due to their compositions. However, the quality and flavor of wines vary according to their origins. Syrah, also known as Shiraz, is an excellent example of full-bodied red wine and originates from the Rhône. Furthermore, you should be able to taste more intense aromatic notes such as plum, chocolate and tobacco, making Syrah more velvety and milky.
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- The tannin of Cabernet Sauvignon
The Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine with a tannic structure that leaves your mouth dry when you swallow. It is extremely popular in the wine world due to its rich and spicy flavor that pairs wonderfully with red meat. If you appreciate the Cabernet Sauvignon originating from Bordeaux you will probably also like Merlot, Chianti and Rioja which have similar taste qualities. The Southern wines breathe the sun and the gourmandise of these regions with seaside airs.
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- The alcohol of Zinfandel
Most red wines are strong in alcohol but Zinfandel is one of the most powerful. A good bottle contains an alcohol content of 15% which is particularly high. The high alcohol content makes Zinfandel bold, full-bodied and much more intense.
For information, the high alcohol levels come from the fermentation process during which the wine yeast turns into ethanol. You have the opportunity to taste this sweetness in Zinfandel through its maturity and fruity flavor. Moreover, red wine Shiraz and Madeira are two other types of red wines strong in alcohol.
There are red wines in monocépage, that is to say that the wine is produced from a single grape variety, but the winemaker can also produce a blend wine, that is to say that he combines several grape varieties together to make a wine. Some appellations only allow monocépage, others blends. It is then the work and know-how of the winemaker that speaks to find the right balance between the different grape varieties to find the ideal magic potion!
Do not accept any compromise in terms of quality and taste
Another criterion for choosing the right red wine is of course its quality character. You can consume all the tannic wine but if it is cheap and bad you will hardly appreciate the experience. It is not about spending hundreds of euros on a bottle of red wine at auctions dedicated to alcoholic beverages but choosing according to specific criteria. Indeed, a bottle of an excellent red wine can quite easily be bought for less than forty euros. Here without further ado are the three criteria that will allow you to choose without making a mistake:
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Complexity: it sounds a bit pretentious but what you are looking for is a wine offering a wide range of flavors. For example, a good Cabernet Sauvignon will be accompanied by a hint of cherry, blackberry, spices and green pepper. And if it is aged, we will feel the taste of a cigar box, leather and chocolate.
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Intensity: How can you identify each of the flavors? The more obvious it is, the more intense the wine is and the higher its quality.
- Balance: The best wines hold their flavors in their balance. If the flavor of the wine is fruity, mineral and structured, then you have the perfect bottle of red wine.
Are you a true red wine lover?
Red wine is not everyone's cup of tea but if you appreciate flavorful wines with a structured body and strong character, then the perfect wine awaits you. Be adventurous, step out of your comfort zone to find the type of red wine that you like the most.
What are the benefits of red wine?
Red wine is rich in polyphenols, in flavonoids and in tannins. Closely studied by scientific laboratories, it would soon be a therapeutic food. Indeed, red wine is very good for the heart insofar as it would help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases through the presence of polyphenols. Furthermore, red wine is excellent for fighting psychological diseases notably depression. However, be careful not to fall into excess!
Moderate consumption of red wine would also contribute to living longer. Furthermore, drinking good red wine would also slow down cell death and would be excellent for our vision.
Red wine is also excellent for fighting type-2 diabetes and also helps to reduce the risks of colon cancer. Finally, some studies claim that wine plays a positive role against obesity thanks to the presence of resveratrol which would prevent weight gain.
In search of a good red wine
With so many red wines available from different providers, it is really difficult to know if you are choosing the right one, just by looking at the bottle. Fortunately, there are several ways to make sure you are making the right choice. With a little knowledge and information, just as with the help of experts, you will be able to find a good bottle of red wine. The Hachette wine guide is the best-selling book in France to discover the world of wine, but nothing beats a real tasting to get started. It is well known, between theory and practice, there is a real difference. Reading books about skiing will not be enough to have the level of Candide Thovex, sometimes, you have to put on your boots and go for it! ;)
In terms of wine, taste is very often subjective. An excellent way to find a red wine that is good for you, is to know what you like. For this, you must define your needs and your budget, know the red grape varieties and their particularities, taste if possible, and let yourself be guided when you have difficulties.
Estimate, define your needs beforehand
In order to find a real good bottle of red wine, you must first take into account your own needs. Here it is about knowing what you want to do with it. If you want to give it to a loved one or a host, then find out about their preferences, their experience. Is he a red wine lover? Does he have a cellar? Or is he a wine lover? This information will help you find a wine that he will find good, because it will match his preferences.
Likewise, knowing if you want to consume it immediately, or if you are looking for a wine to age is important. Your choice will not be the same in these two cases, since it will focus on different vintages and estates.
Furthermore, the choice of the right red wine can depend on the dish with which you want to accompany it. The food and wine pairings can be a real headache so here are our tips! For dishes strong in taste and quite fatty, a full-bodied red will be perfect; Beaujolais will go well with charcuterie, white meat and goat cheese (Sainte-Maure, Chavignol…); on the other hand, a organic red wine from Burgundy will be a good accompaniment for roasted or grilled meats. We advise you to try the primeur wines of Beaujolais nouveau, it is a must in France and you may discover the wine of your dreams. At the aperitif, accompanied by a cheese and charcuterie board, it is a moment of guaranteed pleasure!
Do not forget that wine is above all a matter of pleasure and parties like those of Beaujolais nouveau, the Vin Jaune Breakthrough of the Jura and all other wine fairs are unforgettable moments where we gather around a common passion.
Define your budget
Desiring a very good bottle of red wine is perfectly normal, but first, decide how much you are willing to spend to find the right value for money. Your appreciation of the quality of your choice also depends on what it cost you. You will undoubtedly find an excellent quality red wine for less than twenty euros, but others prefer to spend more, or only consume fine wines. Yet, it is not because you pay more or because it is a grand cru classé that the drink will be good. On the other hand, our Châteauneuf-du-Pape was unanimously acclaimed and all your positive feedback warms our hearts!
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Dare to taste wines
Without a doubt, the best way to know if you like a wine is to taste it. Many wine retailers offer tastings free or at a minimal price, which will allow you to select the best red wine according to your palate.
Before you embark on tasting and choosing the one your palate has selected, it is necessary to know a few specifics of red wine. Indeed, unlike some wines, red wine is subject to malolactic fermentation. This lowers the acidity level. As for its alcoholic fermentation, it takes place at a higher temperature (18 degrees Celsius).
In the bottle, it stands out for its polyphenol content, which refers to all the tannins and coloring matter. Finally, what interests you at this stage is the taste. This particularity in the red wine-making process gives it such a distinctive taste: it is more powerful, due to the presence of tannins. A younger wine with fewer tannins is more light on the palate, easier to drink but has less aromatic complexity. To each their own preferences.
Now, you must taste different products to know which one is good. Your evaluation begins even before the wine reaches your mouth. You must first make sure it has no flaws. This means checking if it is corked, oxidized (some have intentional oxidation, however), or if it is sparkling, smells like a farm or rotten eggs (a phenomenon known as reduction).
Next, you must look for a sensation of balance in the wine. A good red wine must be balanced. This is a fairly simple criterion to assess. A balanced wine should not have a very pronounced character in a single flavor, and here, you must take the tannic dimension into account. Thus, a wine that is too young will seem bitter or too astringent on the palate. Or it will leave you with an unpleasant vegetal taste on the palate if its tannins are too green. If it is too acidic, it may make you grimace. In short, the acidity, alcohol, sugar, and tannins must balance each other, without completely overpowering other dominant characteristics.
Finally, you must assess the intensity and the complexity of the wine. As for intensity, the more obvious the wine's flavors are, the more intense it is, and the better its quality. Complexity, on the other hand, characterizes a wine that offers several flavors.
Let yourself be guided by professionals
At the end of the tasting, you may have difficulty assessing and finding the right bottle. You may also have found several, without being able to make a final choice. It may also happen that you do not know where to start to find a good red wine, or that you do not have enough time to devote to it. In these cases, the help of professionals will be of great importance.
We do not all have a sommelier next door, and finding an expert who will sincerely help you with this task is not easy. However, there is a simple way to be guided by experts, so you can find the bottle of red that will delight your palate: consult an online wine site.
Online wine sites are now essential players. They are gaining more and more ground compared to wine shops and supermarkets, due to the additional services they offer. It is notably these services that will allow you to find a good red wine.
At Oé, Valérie, our oenologist, travels around France and works her palate to offer you a selection of good organic wines, which you can find on our site. This already reassures you about the quality of the wine, and saves you long hours of searching. Furthermore, a good wine must also be good for your body and for nature. This is why we only offer wines from responsible viticulture.
Knowing that responsible viticulture is growing more and more makes us smile at Oé. Biodynamics, organic viticulture, as well as natural wine, are nothing new, but the 21st century marks their great return!
If you want to know more, we have written articles about organic red wines, biodynamic red wines and natural red wines.
In this article, you will also learn a lot about vegan red wine.