Comparison
McLaren Vale Shiraz vs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
How McLaren Vale Shiraz and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has more oak influence; Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has more herbal / green character.
Choose
McLaren Vale Shiraz
Choose McLaren Vale Shiraz if you prefer its flavour profile — blackberry, red plum, dark chocolate.
Choose
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Choose Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon if you want something more oaky, more herbal and green.
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.
Oak influence
Clear differencePerceptible impact of barrel or alternative oak contact — vanilla, toast, coconut, smoke, cedar and added texture.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is more oaky: medium-plus against medium.
Herbal / green character
Clear differenceHerbs, grass, blackcurrant leaf, capsicum and other green notes, largely driven by methoxypyrazines and picking decisions.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is more herbal and green: low-medium against low.
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.
- Tannin: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Alcohol: Similar — both high.
- Body: Similar — both high.
Full side by side
| Dimension | McLaren Vale Shiraz | Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
|---|---|---|
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Tannin | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Alcohol | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Body | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| 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-plus (3/5) |
| Floral character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Spice | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Earthy 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 high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Serve at | 16–18°C | 16–18°C |
| Typical flavours | blackberry, red plum, dark chocolate, sea salt, liquorice | cassis, black cherry, cocoa, vanilla, cedar |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Style
McLaren Vale Shiraz
Maritime-cooled South Australian Shiraz — a touch fresher and more red-fruited than the Barossa, with a salted-chocolate edge.
Style
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
The New World Cabernet benchmark: ripe cassis and cocoa, plush tannin, generous new oak and high alcohol.
Comparison
Napa Cabernet vs Bordeaux
The Judgement of Paris comparison, forty years on.