Comparison
Blaufränkisch vs Malbec
How Blaufränkisch and Malbec differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Blaufränkisch has more acidity; Malbec has more floral character; Blaufränkisch has more earthy character.
Choose
Blaufränkisch
Choose Blaufränkisch if you want something fresher and more acidic, earthier, spicier.
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.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
Blaufränkisch is fresher and more acidic: high against medium.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Malbec is more floral: medium 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.
Blaufränkisch is earthier: medium against low.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Malbec is fuller and richer: medium-plus against medium.
Aromatic intensity
Clear differenceHow strongly the wine smells before it is tasted. Some grapes are intrinsically aromatic; others express mainly on the palate.
Malbec is more aromatic: medium-plus against medium.
Spice
Clear differencePepper, clove, cinnamon and related spice notes, whether from the grape (as with rotundone in Syrah) or from oak.
Blaufränkisch 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.
- Tannin: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Fruit intensity: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Oak influence: Similar — both medium.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Blaufränkisch | Malbec |
|---|---|---|
| Acidity | 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-plus (3/5) |
| Earthy character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Body | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | medium (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Spice | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Texture | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Tannin | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 14–16°C | 15–17°C |
| Typical flavours | sour cherry, blackberry, black pepper, graphite, violet | blackberry, black plum, violet, cocoa, blueberry |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Blaufränkisch
Central Europe’s finest red variety: peppery, high-acid and structured, with genuine ageing potential.
Grape
Malbec
A dark, velvety variety that struggled in its French homeland and became Argentina’s national grape.
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