Comparison
California Pinot Noir vs Hawke’s Bay Syrah
How California Pinot Noir and Hawke’s Bay Syrah differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Hawke’s Bay Syrah has more floral character; Hawke’s Bay Syrah has more spice; California Pinot Noir has more earthy character.
Choose
Hawke’s Bay Syrah
Choose Hawke’s Bay Syrah if you want something more floral, spicier, more tannic and structured.
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.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah is more floral: medium-plus against low.
Spice
Clear differencePepper, clove, cinnamon and related spice notes, whether from the grape (as with rotundone in Syrah) or from oak.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah is spicier: high 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.
California Pinot Noir is earthier: medium against low.
Tannin
Clear differencePhenolic compounds from grape skins, seeds, stems and oak. The principal structural axis of red wine.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah is more tannic and structured: 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.
Savoury character
Clear differenceNon-fruit, umami-adjacent character: meat, leather, olive, soy, broth, cured notes. Often increases with age.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah is more savoury: 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 medium-plus.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Body: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Aromatic intensity: Similar — both medium.
Full side by side
| Dimension | California Pinot Noir | Hawke’s Bay Syrah |
|---|---|---|
| Floral character | low (1/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Spice | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Earthy character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Tannin | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | 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-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Perceived freshness | 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) |
| 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) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| 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 | blackberry, black pepper, violet, olive, plum |
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
Hawke’s Bay Syrah
Peppery, floral, medium-bodied Syrah made deliberately in the northern Rhône idiom — one of New Zealand’s best-kept secrets.
Comparison
Red Burgundy vs Californian Pinot Noir
Same grape, two very different wines — which one do people mean by "Pinot"?