It’s obvious to most people that red wines pair well with steak, but what may not be obvious is that not all red wines are a perfect match. In a consolidated effort to get this right for our readers we opened a LOT of red wines and cooked quite a few steaks to write this week’s round up. When it comes to wine and food pairings, Cabernet Sauvignon and grilled steaks are the ultimate partnership, but it is not the only one. Red wine and well-marbled beef work together thanks to compounds that merge in our mouths when we combine them, in particular, protein, fat, and tannins.
There’s always an element of chemistry to consider; tannins, which are compounds in wine present in grape seeds, grape skins, and oak barrels, offer a drying or astringent quality on the tongue and gums. Steak’s natural levels of fat and protein provide a lubricating or moist feeling in the mouth. When steak and red wine get together, the astringent and moist qualities strike a balance and create an enjoyable sensation. Then science kicks in, with molecules in the steak’s fat making the tannins more pliable, producing softer, smoother sensations, while the wine’s tannins mellow out the fat and coax more flavor out of the meat. Ripe Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with bold fruit flavors and a good amount of oak aging is an excellent mate for well-marbled, grilled beef, but other wines with bold tannic structure such as Rhône Valley reds, Barolos, Syrah blends, and Sicilian wines made from indigenous Nerello Mascalese grapes grown on the volcanic soils of Mount Etna also match extremely well. We did a lot of homework, so you don’t have to; here are the best red wines to pair with steak.
Namo 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley California
When Debra Mathy’s father was terminally ill he urged her to follow her lifelong dream, so taking his advice she left teaching and purchased a 30-acre vineyard and winery in Sonoma named Dutcher’s Crossing. While Debra achieved great success in Sonoma, she still longed to make a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon collectors would find worthy. To that end she consulted with Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky and Namo was born. It is garnet red to almost purple in the glass with aromas of crushed violet petals, dried mint, blueberry compote, and a top note of dried lavender. Rounded yet firm tannins and bright acidity in the mid palate lead the way to flavors of black currant, black raspberry, pencil lead, and dark chocolate. Drink now or hold for 10 to 15 years.
Buy Now: $240
Goosecross Cellars 2021 Branta Red Blend Napa Valley California
About a decade after Dave Ficeli met Christi Coors moved to Napa in 2003 to open a family winery, they purchased the Goosecross to set their roots more permanently. They make about 20 different wines, but the one that caught our attention is their Branta Red Blend. It is composed of 35 percent Syrah, 35 percent Zinfandel, 21 percent Petit Sirah, and the balance of Tempranillo. It is garnet colored in the glass with aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, and a touch of forest floor followed by balanced acidity and flavors of ripe red and black fruits with just a touch of cigar box on the finish.
Buy Now: $69
Mayacamas 2019 Top Block Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder Napa Valley California
Mayacamas was founded in 1889 and is named for the Mayacamas mountains of Napa Valley. In the more modern era, it has consistently produced quality Napa wines for 75 years and remains one of our favorites to pour for family and friends. This delightful wine is made from grapes grown on the volcanic soil predominant Top Block site, one of the highest vineyards at the estate. It opens with enticing aromas of cranberry, pomegranate, red raspberry, and black plum with whiffs of eucalyptus and mint. Round and full bodied in the mouth it follows with balanced acidity, smooth tannins, and flavors of ripe red and black fruits, a touch of cigar box, and steely graphite in the finish.
Buy Now: $360
Aldo Conterno 2020 Colonnello Barolo Piedmont Italy
Poderi Aldo Conterno consistently makes some of Italy’s best Barolos. Located in Bussia, Monforte D’Alba just about six miles away from the famous town of Alba, it’s always a pleasure to visit and pair some delicious wines with locally grown truffles. Nebbiolo grapes for this stunning wine are grown on 45-year-old vines and hail from the Colonnello vineyard. It is garnet ruby in color with aromas of crushed violet petals, wet river rock, and bright red cherry. Pleasantly grippy and full bodied, it opens with flavors of dried cherry, anise, and winds down with a touch of fresh mint leaves in the finish.
Buy Now: $240
Vini Franchetti Passopisciaro 2021 Contrada G Sicily Italy
Winemaker Andrea Franchetti is well known for his Tenuta di Trinoro in Tuscany, but his wines from Passopisciaro in Sicily are something to keep an eye out for. He founded the winery in 2000 and his production here is less than 8,000 cases per year with six out of the eight bottles offered made from the indigenous Nerello Mascalese grape. Grown on the volcanic slopes of the Mount Etna, this super wine is garnet colored and offers aromas of ripe black fruits, cassis, and red plum. Balanced acidity and a pleasantly rigid backbone of minerality support flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, and cassis.
Buy Now: $110
Tenute Silvio Nardi 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy
Made from grapes sourced from vineyards in Montalcino that have northwest and southwest sun exposure and soils comprising jasper and shale, this 100 percent Sangiovese is fermented and macerated for at least 20 days after harvest. The wine is then aged for 12 months in French oak barrels then another 12 months in larger Slavonian oak barrels before resting in the bottle for an additional six months. It has intense ruby color with aromas of red raspberry, vanilla, and a whiff of fennel frond. It has balanced acidity and round, voluptuous tannins.
Buy Now: $80
John Anthony Vineyards 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley California
John Anthony Vineyards is involved in a variety of charitable organizations including the V Foundation, founded by basketball coach Jim Valvano whose goal is to achieve “Victory” over cancer and Napa Valley Grapegrowers and Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation, two non-profit organizations that support sustainable vineyard practices as well as financial aid to local vineyard workers and their families. John Anthony Vineyards makes excellent wines too and one of the standouts is their Napa Valley Cab. It has aromas of plum, blackberry, and a whiff of pine needles that transform on the palate to cassis, coffee, cedar, and finely ground black pepper in the finish.
Buy Now: $110
Authors
-
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, also known as the World Wine Guys, are wine, spirits, food, and travel writers, educators, and hosts. They have been featured guests on the Today Show, The Martha…
Read More
