Comparison
Brunello di Montalcino vs Taurasi
How Brunello di Montalcino and Taurasi differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
Brunello di Montalcino and Taurasi come from the same country but sit in different territory. The main differences: Brunello di Montalcino has more fruit intensity; Brunello di Montalcino has more texture.
Choose
Brunello di Montalcino
Choose Brunello di Montalcino if you want something 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.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Brunello di Montalcino is fruitier: medium-plus against medium.
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.
Brunello di Montalcino is rounder and creamier in texture: 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 high.
- Tannin: Similar — both high.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Body: Similar — both medium-plus.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Brunello di Montalcino | Taurasi |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Texture | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Acidity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Tannin | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Body | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | medium (3/5) | medium (3/5) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Savoury character | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Floral character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Spice | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Earthy character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 16–18°C | 16–18°C |
| Typical flavours | black cherry, leather, dried herbs, tobacco, espresso | black cherry, plum, leather, ash, tobacco |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Style
Brunello di Montalcino
Pure Sangiovese from a warm Tuscan hill town, aged for years before release — Italy’s most powerful expression of the grape.
Style
Taurasi
Aglianico grown at altitude in Campania — extremely tannic, savoury and long-lived, often called the Barolo of the south.
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