Comparison
Chardonnay vs Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
How Chardonnay and Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains has more floral character; Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains has more sweetness; Chardonnay has more body.
Choose
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Choose Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains if you want something more floral, sweeter, 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.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is more floral: high against low-medium.
Sweetness
Clear differencePerceived sugar in the finished wine, driven mainly by residual sugar but modified by acidity, alcohol and fruit ripeness.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is sweeter: medium against low.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Chardonnay is fuller and richer: medium-plus against low-medium.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is fruitier: high against medium.
Aromatic intensity
Clear differenceHow strongly the wine smells before it is tasted. Some grapes are intrinsically aromatic; others express mainly on the palate.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is more aromatic: high against medium.
Oak influence
Clear differencePerceptible impact of barrel or alternative oak contact — vanilla, toast, coconut, smoke, cedar and added texture.
Chardonnay is more oaky: medium against low.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Tannin: Similar — both low.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium.
- Herbal / green character: Similar — both low.
- Earthy character: Similar — both low.
- Perceived freshness: Similar — both medium-plus.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Chardonnay | Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains |
|---|---|---|
| Floral character | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to high (3/5) |
| Body | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low to high (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) | low-medium (2/5) |
| Spice | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | low (1/5) |
| Texture | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Tannin | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 12–15°C | 9–12°C |
| Typical flavours | green apple, lemon, white peach, pineapple, hazelnut | grape, orange blossom, elderflower, peach, rose |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Chardonnay
The most adaptable white grape in the world, and the one most often blamed for what winemakers do to it.
Grape
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
The finest member of the Muscat family, and one of very few varieties whose wine actually smells of grapes.
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