Comparison
Cru Beaujolais vs Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends
How Cru Beaujolais and Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Cru Beaujolais has more floral character; Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends has more herbal / green character; Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends has more spice.
Choose
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends
Choose Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends if you want something more herbal and green, spicier, more tannic and structured.
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.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Cru Beaujolais is more floral: medium-plus against low.
Herbal / green character
Clear differenceHerbs, grass, blackcurrant leaf, capsicum and other green notes, largely driven by methoxypyrazines and picking decisions.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends is more herbal and green: medium-plus against low.
Spice
Clear differencePepper, clove, cinnamon and related spice notes, whether from the grape (as with rotundone in Syrah) or from oak.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends is spicier: medium-plus against low.
Tannin
Clear differencePhenolic compounds from grape skins, seeds, stems and oak. The principal structural axis of red wine.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends is more tannic and structured: medium-plus against medium.
Alcohol
Clear differencePerceived alcoholic strength, which tracks actual ABV but is modified by sweetness, acidity and body.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends is stronger and warmer: medium-plus against medium.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends is fuller and richer: medium-plus against medium.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Sweetness: Similar — both low.
- Acidity: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Fruit intensity: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Aromatic intensity: Similar — both medium.
- Oak influence: Similar — both low-medium.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Cru Beaujolais | Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends |
|---|---|---|
| Floral character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | low (1/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Spice | low (1/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Tannin | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Body | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Earthy character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Texture | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | medium (3/5) | medium (3/5) |
| Oak influence | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 14–16°C | 15–17°C |
| Typical flavours | dark cherry, violet, granite, raspberry, iris | blackberry, white pepper, fynbos, olive, dried herbs |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Style
Cru Beaujolais
Gamay from the ten named granite hills — structured, mineral and ageworthy, and nothing like Beaujolais Nouveau.
Style
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends
Low-intervention Syrah and GSM blends from old dry-farmed Swartland vines — the centre of South Africa’s new-wave movement.
Comparison
Beaujolais vs Cru Beaujolais
Is a named cru worth several times the price of basic Beaujolais?