Fortunately, we can help you better understand this situation and make it easier for you to buy wine.
The term body (which can also refer to the boldness or thickness of the wine) refers to how heavy or light the wine feels in the mouth.
It is determined by several factors, including its alcohol content, the type of grape used, and overall sweetness.
Lighter wines tend to go down smoother, while heavier wines can be more difficult for new wine drinkers.
What exactly is Bold Red Wine?
A bold red wine is a rich and thick wine with strong flavors that sit heavy in the mouth.
Many red wines contain bold flavors with diverse flavor profiles and unique aromas.
Lighter options may offer a smoother overall drinking experience, but they lack overall flavor and will delight strong wine lovers.
Courage or body is based on:
Alcohol content: Higher alcohol wines tend to weigh more heavily on the tongue, meaning they taste bolder and sharper than lighter wines.
Lighter wines, on the other hand, have lower alcohol content and may sit more easily on the tongue, but lack the punch of heavier wines.
Tannins: Higher tannin levels usually indicate a bolder wine, as tannins affect how easily a wine sits on the tongue and how easy it is to drink.
Lower tannins make the wine a bit easier for novice wine drinkers to enjoy, but rob the wine of much of its initial punch.
Acidity: Interestingly, wines with lower acidity tend to be bolder, as acidity can affect how long it lingers on the tongue.
The higher acidity balances the heaviness of the wine and makes it a little lighter, affecting how it feels in the mouth and stomach.
Sweetness: Sweeter wines tend to be easier on the tongue because they contain less alcohol.
But the excess sugar in wine can make it heavier in some situations.
For example, high-alcohol red wines fortified with sugar are heavier because excess sugar adds density to the wine.
Many factors in addition to these elements can affect the boldness of a red wine.
For example, a winemaker may focus on specific winemaking techniques that bring out extra boldness, such as allowing grapes to ferment longer to produce more alcohol.
But the growing climate of the grapes can also affect the boldness of the wine.
The longer it takes the “legs” to slide down the side of the glass, the heavier the alcohol content.
Climate affects the boldness of red wine
A cold climate creates lighter wines, while a warmer climate creates heavier wines.
This is because the colder climate creates more acidity in the grapes and affects things like their tannins and potential alcohol content.
For example, cold weather grapes may have less sugar, which means the yeast in the vat has less food and produces more alcohol, resulting in a lighter wine.
List of red wines with the heaviest body
We’ll list the heaviest bodied wine first and then move on to the fifth choice.
Tannat: Tannat is at the higher end of the wine spectrum and usually thrives best in warmer environments.
Its flavor is something true wine connoisseurs will love, but it’s often reserved for die-hard wine drinkers or people with more experience with heavier wines.
While this is a pretty fantastic wine, its heaviness makes it difficult for some people to handle.
Petite Sirah: While still quite bold, Petite Sirah is a little easier to handle than the two main choices.
In some ways, it works great as a transition to those heavier wines.
Its heavy flavor and bold flavors make it a great option for people who want something a little different and like roasted vegetables.
Mourvedre: This appealing wine is also a great choice for people just starting to enjoy heavier-bodied wines.
Thick wines refer to wines with low acidity and rich taste.
Additionally, it is related to the body of the wine (primarily alcohol content), with heavier wines typically being the thickest.
While Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are probably the most popular bold red wines on the market, Tannat and Sagrantino are the boldest red wines.
Heavy red wines include Syrah, Pinotage, Petite Verdot, Petite Sirah and Sagrantino.
Tannat is the heaviest red wine on the market.
Typically a Shiraz or Syrah is slightly heavier than a Cab, although this can vary depending on the brand you buy due to their closeness.
Which is heavier, Merlot or Cabernet?
Merlot is considered a light-bodied wine, although it is on the verge of a heavier level.
Cabernet Sauvignon, on the other hand, is well into the heavy range, making it the boldest choice.
Which is heavier, Merlot or Shiraz?
As a result, Shiraz ranks higher than Merlot, if only slightly higher than Cab. Is Pinot Noir a full-bodied wine?
Pinot Noir is quite low on the lightness scale and is not considered a full-bodied wine.
Only two other red wines are lighter.
There’s nothing better than tasting a new type of wine, and over the years I’ve become a bit of a wine connoisseur.