Comparison
Carmenère vs Pinot Noir
How Carmenère and Pinot Noir differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Carmenère has more herbal / green character; Pinot Noir has more earthy character; Pinot Noir has more floral character.
Choose
Carmenère
Choose Carmenère if you want something more herbal and green, stronger and warmer, fuller and richer.
Choose
Pinot Noir
Choose Pinot Noir if you want something earthier, more floral, fresher and more acidic.
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.
Carmenère is more herbal and green: medium-plus 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.
Pinot Noir is earthier: medium-plus against low.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Pinot Noir is more floral: medium against low.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
Pinot Noir is fresher and more acidic: medium-plus against medium.
Alcohol
Clear differencePerceived alcoholic strength, which tracks actual ABV but is modified by sweetness, acidity and body.
Carmenère is stronger and warmer: medium-plus against medium.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Carmenère is fuller and richer: 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.
- Tannin: Similar — both medium.
- Oak influence: Similar — both medium.
- Savoury character: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Spice: Similar — both medium.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Carmenère | Pinot Noir |
|---|---|---|
| Herbal / green character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) |
| Floral character | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Body | 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 medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | medium (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Texture | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| 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 (3/5) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) |
| Spice | 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) |
| Serve at | 15–17°C | 14–16°C |
| Typical flavours | black plum, green peppercorn, soy, bell pepper, cocoa | red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, forest floor, mushroom |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Carmenère
A Bordeaux variety that nearly vanished in France and was rediscovered in Chile, where it had been mistaken for Merlot for a century.
Grape
Pinot Noir
A thin-skinned, difficult, site-sensitive variety that produces the most perfumed and transparent red wines in the world.
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