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Comparison

Bekaa Valley Red vs Uruguayan Tannat

How Bekaa Valley Red and Uruguayan Tannat differ, dimension by dimension.

The short answer

The main differences: Bekaa Valley Red has more earthy character; Uruguayan Tannat has more body; Bekaa Valley Red has more spice.

Choose

Bekaa Valley Red

Choose Bekaa Valley Red if you want something earthier, spicier.

Choose

Uruguayan Tannat

Choose Uruguayan Tannat if you want something fuller and richer.

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.

Earthy character

Clear difference

Forest floor, mushroom, wet stone, clay and undergrowth notes. Frequently, though not exclusively, associated with cooler and more traditional styles.

Bekaa Valley Redtypically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5)
Uruguayan Tannatlow (1/5)

Bekaa Valley Red is earthier: medium-plus against low.

Body

Clear difference

The overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.

Bekaa Valley Redtypically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5)
Uruguayan Tannattypically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5)

Uruguayan Tannat is fuller and richer: high against medium-plus.

Spice

Clear difference

Pepper, clove, cinnamon and related spice notes, whether from the grape (as with rotundone in Syrah) or from oak.

Bekaa Valley Redtypically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5)
Uruguayan Tannattypically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5)

Bekaa Valley Red is spicier: 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.
  • Tannin: Similar — both medium-plus.
  • Alcohol: Similar — both medium-plus.
  • Fruit intensity: Similar — both medium-plus.

Full side by side

DimensionBekaa Valley RedUruguayan Tannat
Earthy charactertypically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5)low (1/5)
Bodytypically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5)typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5)
Spicetypically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5)typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5)
Sweetnesslow (1/5)low (1/5)
Aciditytypically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5)typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5)
Tannintypically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5)typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5)
Alcoholtypically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5)typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5)
Fruit intensitytypically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5)typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5)
Aromatic intensitymedium (3/5)medium (3/5)
Oak influencetypically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5)typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5)
Savoury charactertypically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5)typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5)
Floral characterlow (1/5)low (1/5)
Herbal / green characterlow (1/5)low (1/5)
Perceived freshnessmedium (3/5)typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5)
Carbonationlow (1/5)low (1/5)
Texturetypically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5)typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5)
Serve at16–18°C16–18°C
Typical flavoursdried cherry, fig, thyme, cedar, leatherblackberry, plum, liquorice, cocoa, dried herb

Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.

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