These are our 8 favorite red varietals and the best producers in the Old and New World.
The red grape varietals we are discussing today vary widely from each other, and have different expressions in the Old and New World due to terroir, climate and winemaking practices. We will walk you through the traits of these varietals and discuss our favorite bottles from around the world. For the sake of this article, we will choose wines that have 70%+ of a varietal to best showcase each one.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes have thick skins, providing ample tannins and deep color. This thick skin allows the grape to thrive in a variety of climates and resist disease. It's often blended with other grapes for added complexity. Bordeaux, France, is its ancestral home, and Bordeaux's right bank produces iconic Cabernet dominant wines like Château Margaux and Château Lafite Rothschild. Napa Valley, California, is famous for its New World Cabernets, including those from Opus One.
Old World Cabernets from Bordeaux are elegant, structured, and age-worthy. They showcase blackcurrant, graphite, and cedar notes, often with a hint of tobacco and a well-defined mineral character. In contrast, New World counterparts are more fruit-forward, with pronounced varietal characteristics of ripe blackberries, plums, and vanilla, often framed by softer tannins and a touch of oak.
Our Favorite (Old World): Chateau Latour (Premier Grand Cru Classé)
Our Favorite (New World): Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Merlot grapes are plump with moderately thick skins, resulting in a wine that's soft and approachable. It's often used in Bordeaux blends to add roundness and suppleness. Bordeaux, particularly the Right Bank, shines with Merlot in St. Emilion and Pomerol. California's Napa and Sonoma Valleys also excel with notable examples from Duckhorn Vineyards and Mayacamas.
Old World Merlots are subtle and restrained, offering flavors of red plums, cherries, and violets with hints of earth and herbs. These wines tend to be more structured and age gracefully. New World versions are fruitier and approachable at a younger age, showcasing ripe plum, raspberry, and cocoa, often with a lush, velvety texture.
Our Favorite (Old World): Masseto Toscana
Our Favorite (New World): Mayacamas Vineyards Merlot
Grenache/Garnacha
Grenache/Garnacha grapes have thin to moderately thick skins, adapting well to warm Mediterranean climates. Their thin skin allows for sugar accumulation and high alcohol content, often blended with other grapes such as Syrah and Mourvedre. Spain's Garnacha thrives in regions like Priorat and Rioja. In France, it plays a key role in the Southern Rhône's Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The most notable New World Grenache wines come form California's Paso Robles, Washington's Walla Walla Valley and Australia's McClaren Vale.
Old World Grenache wines are earthy and elegant, boasting flavors of red berries, lavender, and dried herbs, accented by subtle spices and a touch of garrigue. These wines showcase a rustic charm. New World expressions are fruit-driven with more weight, offering juicy red and black fruit flavors, along with a richer, modern style.
Our Favorite (Old World): Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve
Our Favorite (New World): Booker Vineyard "The Ripper" Grenache
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir grapes have thin skins, making them susceptible to disease but allowing for delicate flavors of red berries, roses, and earth, with a silky texture. Burgundy, France, is Pinot Noir's birthplace, producing exceptional wines from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Oregon's Willamette Valley, and California's Sonoma County and Sta. Rita Hills also excel.
Old World Pinots are graceful and ethereal, showcasing terroir. You'll discover flavors of red cherries, raspberries, forest floor, and floral notes, with subtle herbal and mineral nuances. These wines often exhibit a firm, linear structure. New World Pinot Noirs are fruit-forward, offering a vibrant expression of ripe strawberries, cherries, and hints of baking spices. They tend to be more accessible, with a supple, silky texture.
Our Favorite (Old World): Domaine Dujac Chambertin Grand Cru
Our Favorite (New World): 00 Wines Richard Hermann Cuvée Pinot Noir
Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo grapes have moderately thick skins, resulting in wines with high acidity and tannins. They thrive in the cooler climate of Piedmont, Italy, which produces legendary Barolo and Barbaresco wines from producers like Giacomo Conterno.
Old World Nebbiolos are structured, austere, and age-worthy, shining in the cool, continental climate of Piedmont. They offer flavors of tart cherries, roses, tar, and truffles, with pronounced acidity and a firm tannic backbone. New World attempts, like those from California and Australia, are rarer but show promise, featuring riper fruit flavors of cherries and plums, along with a softer, more approachable character.
Our Favorite (Old World): Giacamo Conterno Monfortino
Our Favorite (New World): Giaconda Nebbiolo
Sangiovese
Sangiovese grapes have moderately thick skins, offering bright red fruit, earthiness, and firm acidity, perfectly suited to the warm, dry climate of Tuscany, which produces famous wines such as Chianti Classico and Brunello di Monalcino.
Old World Sangiovese wines are rustic and traditional, thriving in the Mediterranean climate of Tuscany. They present flavors of sour cherries, red plums, dried herbs, and a distinct earthy note, with bright acidity and fine-grained tannins. New World versions bring a modern twist, often fruitier, with riper cherry and plum notes, maintaining a lively acidity and a softer, more approachable profile.
Our Favorite (Old World): Biondi-Santi Tenuta Greppo Brunello di Montalcino
Our Favorite (New World): Unti Segromigno
Syrah/Shiraz
Syrah (commonly known as Shiraz in Australia) grapes have moderately thick skins, offering a balance between tannin structure and ripe fruit flavors. They adapt well to various climates. The Northern Rhône's Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage are esteemed for Syrah. In the New World California's Paso Robles and Australia's Barossa Valley produce fantastic bottles as well.
Old World Syrah is more subtle and nuanced, with mineral complexity, showcasing flavors of blackberries, violets, smoked meat, and black pepper. These wines are known for their elegance and can age gracefully. New World Shiraz is robust, often with a hint of spice and a lush, generous profile. Expect ripe black fruit, plum, and chocolate notes with a bold, fruit-forward character.
Traits:
Our Favorite (Old World): E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque
Our Favorite (New World): LEDGE Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah
Tempranillo
Tempranillo grapes have moderately thick skins, allowing them to withstand the hot, arid conditions of Spain. They exhibit dark fruit, leather, and tobacco flavors. Spain's Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions are renowned for Tempranillo.
Old World Tempranillos are classically styled with finesse, flourishing in the arid climate of Spain. They offer flavors of red cherries, leather, tobacco, and cedar, with well-integrated oak and a structured, long finish. New World adaptations, like those from Argentina, emphasize ripe fruit, with flavors of blackberries, plums, and spices, often showcasing a plush, velvety texture and a more opulent character.
Our Favorite (Old World): Tempos Vega Sicilia Unico Gran Riserva
Our Favorite (New World): Zuccardi Q Tempranillo
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