Comparison
California Pinot Noir vs Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
How California Pinot Noir and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: California Pinot Noir has more spice; California Pinot Noir has more earthy character; California Pinot Noir has more acidity.
Choose
California Pinot Noir
Choose California Pinot Noir if you want something spicier, earthier, fresher and more acidic.
Choose
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Choose Montepulciano d’Abruzzo if you prefer its flavour profile — black plum, blackberry, dried herbs.
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.
Spice
Clear differencePepper, clove, cinnamon and related spice notes, whether from the grape (as with rotundone in Syrah) or from oak.
California Pinot Noir is spicier: 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.
California Pinot Noir is earthier: medium against low.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
California Pinot Noir is fresher and more acidic: medium-plus against medium.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
California Pinot Noir is fruitier: high against medium-plus.
Oak influence
Clear differencePerceptible impact of barrel or alternative oak contact — vanilla, toast, coconut, smoke, cedar and added texture.
California Pinot Noir 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.
- Tannin: Similar — both medium.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Body: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Aromatic intensity: Similar — both medium.
Full side by side
| Dimension | California Pinot Noir | Montepulciano d’Abruzzo |
|---|---|---|
| Spice | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium 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) |
| Fruit intensity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Tannin | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| 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 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, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Floral character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Texture | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Serve at | 14–16°C | 15–17°C |
| Typical flavours | dark cherry, raspberry, cola, baking spice, vanilla | black plum, blackberry, dried herbs, liquorice, cocoa |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Style
California Pinot Noir
Riper and fuller than Burgundy, with dark cherry, cola and baking spice — but retaining real acidity in the coolest sites.
Style
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Soft, deeply coloured, plummy Italian red at consistently low prices — and unrelated to the Tuscan town of Montepulciano.
Comparison
Red Burgundy vs Californian Pinot Noir
Same grape, two very different wines — which one do people mean by "Pinot"?