Comparison
Cahors vs Uruguayan Tannat
How Cahors and Uruguayan Tannat differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
Cahors and Uruguayan Tannat are both made from Tannat, so the difference is about place and winemaking rather than the grape. The main differences: Cahors has more earthy character; Cahors has more floral character; Uruguayan Tannat has more spice.
The difference here is not botanical. It comes from where the vines grow, how the wine is made and what the name has come to signal commercially — which is exactly why the two taste different in practice.
Choose
Uruguayan Tannat
Choose Uruguayan Tannat if you want something spicier, fuller and richer, fruitier.
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 differenceForest floor, mushroom, wet stone, clay and undergrowth notes. Frequently, though not exclusively, associated with cooler and more traditional styles.
Cahors is earthier: medium-plus against low.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Cahors is more floral: medium against low.
Spice
Clear differencePepper, clove, cinnamon and related spice notes, whether from the grape (as with rotundone in Syrah) or from oak.
Uruguayan Tannat is spicier: medium against low.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Uruguayan Tannat is fuller and richer: high against medium-plus.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Uruguayan Tannat is fruitier: medium-plus against medium.
Oak influence
Clear differencePerceptible impact of barrel or alternative oak contact — vanilla, toast, coconut, smoke, cedar and added texture.
Uruguayan Tannat is more oaky: 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.
- Acidity: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Tannin: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Aromatic intensity: Similar — both medium.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Cahors | Uruguayan Tannat |
|---|---|---|
| Earthy character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | low (1/5) |
| Floral character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Spice | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Body | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| 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 medium-plus (4/5) | 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) |
| Acidity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| 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 medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | medium (3/5) | medium (3/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 16–18°C | 16–18°C |
| Typical flavours | damson, blackberry, tobacco, iron, graphite | blackberry, plum, liquorice, cocoa, dried herb |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Style
Cahors
Malbec in its French homeland: darker, firmer and more savoury than the Argentine version.
Style
Uruguayan Tannat
Tannat made rounder and more approachable than in its French home — Uruguay’s national red.
Comparison
Argentine Malbec vs Cahors
The same grape in its adopted home and its original one — and why they taste unrelated.