Comparison
Amarone della Valpolicella vs Cahors
How Amarone della Valpolicella and Cahors differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Amarone della Valpolicella has more spice; Cahors has more earthy character; Amarone della Valpolicella has more fruit intensity.
Choose
Amarone della Valpolicella
Choose Amarone della Valpolicella if you want something spicier, fruitier, rounder and creamier in texture.
Where they genuinely differ
Only differences large enough to notice in the glass are listed here. A gap of half a point on a five-point scale is noise, and WineHQ does not dress it up as a finding.
Spice
Clear differencePepper, clove, cinnamon and related spice notes, whether from the grape (as with rotundone in Syrah) or from oak.
Amarone della Valpolicella is spicier: medium-plus against low.
Earthy character
Clear differenceForest floor, mushroom, wet stone, clay and undergrowth notes. Frequently, though not exclusively, associated with cooler and more traditional styles.
Cahors is earthier: medium-plus against low.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Amarone della Valpolicella is fruitier: high against medium.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Cahors is more floral: medium against low.
Texture
Clear differenceMouthfeel independent of weight — from lean and cutting through to creamy, waxy or velvety. Driven by lees contact, malolactic conversion, skin contact and ageing.
Amarone della Valpolicella is rounder and creamier in texture: high against medium.
Sweetness
Clear differencePerceived sugar in the finished wine, driven mainly by residual sugar but modified by acidity, alcohol and fruit ripeness.
Amarone della Valpolicella is sweeter: low-medium against low.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Acidity: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Tannin: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Aromatic intensity: Similar — both medium.
- Savoury character: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Herbal / green character: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Amarone della Valpolicella | Cahors |
|---|---|---|
| Spice | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Floral character | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Texture | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Sweetness | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | low (1/5) |
| Alcohol | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Body | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Tannin | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | medium (3/5) | medium (3/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 16–18°C | 16–18°C |
| Typical flavours | dried cherry, fig, raisin, bitter chocolate, cinnamon | damson, blackberry, tobacco, iron, graphite |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Style
Amarone della Valpolicella
Dried-grape red of enormous concentration: 15–16% alcohol, dried-fruit intensity, and technically dry.
Style
Cahors
Malbec in its French homeland: darker, firmer and more savoury than the Argentine version.
Comparison
Amarone vs Valpolicella
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Comparison
Amarone vs Port
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Comparison
Amarone vs Ripasso
The full-price version, and the one made from what it left behind.