Comparison
Cabernet Franc vs Touriga Nacional
How Cabernet Franc and Touriga Nacional differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Cabernet Franc has more herbal / green character; Touriga Nacional has more sweetness; Touriga Nacional has more tannin.
Choose
Touriga Nacional
Choose Touriga Nacional if you want something sweeter, more tannic and structured, 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.
Herbal / green character
Clear differenceHerbs, grass, blackcurrant leaf, capsicum and other green notes, largely driven by methoxypyrazines and picking decisions.
Cabernet Franc is more herbal and green: medium-plus against low.
Sweetness
Clear differencePerceived sugar in the finished wine, driven mainly by residual sugar but modified by acidity, alcohol and fruit ripeness.
Touriga Nacional is sweeter: medium against low.
Tannin
Clear differencePhenolic compounds from grape skins, seeds, stems and oak. The principal structural axis of red wine.
Touriga Nacional is more tannic and structured: high against medium.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Touriga Nacional is fuller and richer: high against medium.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Touriga Nacional is fruitier: high against medium.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Touriga Nacional is more floral: high against medium.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Acidity: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Savoury character: Similar — both medium.
- Carbonation: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Cabernet Franc | Touriga Nacional |
|---|---|---|
| Herbal / green character | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) | low (1/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Tannin | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Body | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Floral character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Spice | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Earthy character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | medium (3/5) |
| Oak influence | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Texture | 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 high (4/5) | 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, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 14–16°C | 16–18°C |
| Typical flavours | raspberry, red plum, graphite, bell pepper, violet | violet, bergamot, blackberry, blueberry, rockrose |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Cabernet Franc
Parent of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and in its own right a lighter, leafier, more floral red.
Grape
Touriga Nacional
Portugal’s most prized red variety: intensely floral, deeply coloured and firmly structured.
Comparison
Cabernet Sauvignon vs Cabernet Franc
Parent and offspring, sharing half a name — how different are they really?
Comparison
Touriga Nacional vs Syrah
The Douro’s flagship red against the most widely understood dark, structured variety.