Comparison
Cabernet Sauvignon vs Syrah
Two structured reds for a steak — which suits which cut?
The short answer
Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah come from the same country but sit in different territory. The main differences: Cabernet Sauvignon has more herbal / green character; Cabernet Sauvignon has more acidity; Syrah has more savoury character.
Choose
Cabernet Sauvignon
Choose Cabernet Sauvignon if you want something more herbal and green, fresher and more acidic.
Worth knowing
Cabernet is the more tannic and the more austere; Syrah brings pepper and a savoury, meaty quality that Cabernet does not have. For a heavily marbled cut Cabernet has more grip to be softened; for anything with a peppercorn sauce Syrah is the more literal match.
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 Sauvignon is more herbal and green: medium against low.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
Cabernet Sauvignon is fresher and more acidic: medium-plus against medium.
Savoury character
Clear differenceNon-fruit, umami-adjacent character: meat, leather, olive, soy, broth, cured notes. Often increases with age.
Syrah is more savoury: medium-plus against medium.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Syrah is more floral: low-medium against low.
Spice
Clear differencePepper, clove, cinnamon and related spice notes, whether from the grape (as with rotundone in Syrah) or from oak.
Syrah is spicier: medium-plus against medium.
Earthy character
Clear differenceForest floor, mushroom, wet stone, clay and undergrowth notes. Frequently, though not exclusively, associated with cooler and more traditional styles.
Syrah is earthier: medium against low-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.
- Body: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Fruit intensity: Similar — both medium-plus.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Cabernet Sauvignon | Syrah |
|---|---|---|
| Herbal / green character | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | 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-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) |
| Floral character | low (1/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Spice | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Earthy character | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| 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) |
| Tannin | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Body | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Aromatic 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 high (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to high (3/5) |
| Perceived freshness | 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 | 15–17°C | 15–17°C |
| Typical flavours | blackcurrant, black cherry, cedar, graphite, tobacco | blackberry, black pepper, olive, cured meat, violet |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Cabernet Sauvignon
The world’s most planted red wine grape: thick-skinned, tannic and blackcurrant-scented, and the backbone of Bordeaux’s left bank.
Grape
Syrah
A peppery, dark-fruited variety that produces two recognisably different wines depending on climate — and two different names to match.
Comparison
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Comparison
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Are they the same grape, and if so why do the wines taste so different?
Comparison
Grenache vs Syrah
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