Comparison
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo vs New Zealand Pinot Noir
How Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and New Zealand Pinot Noir differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: New Zealand Pinot Noir has more herbal / green character; New Zealand Pinot Noir has more spice; New Zealand Pinot Noir has more earthy character.
Choose
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Choose Montepulciano d’Abruzzo if you prefer its flavour profile — black plum, blackberry, dried herbs.
Choose
New Zealand Pinot Noir
Choose New Zealand Pinot Noir if you want something more herbal and green, spicier, earthier.
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.
New Zealand Pinot Noir is more herbal and green: medium against low.
Spice
Clear differencePepper, clove, cinnamon and related spice notes, whether from the grape (as with rotundone in Syrah) or from oak.
New Zealand 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.
New Zealand 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.
New Zealand 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.
New Zealand 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.
New Zealand 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 | Montepulciano d’Abruzzo | New Zealand Pinot Noir |
|---|---|---|
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Spice | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Oak influence | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| 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 medium-plus (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) |
| Floral 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 | 15–17°C | 14–16°C |
| Typical flavours | black plum, blackberry, dried herbs, liquorice, cocoa | dark cherry, plum, thyme, violet, clove |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Style
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Soft, deeply coloured, plummy Italian red at consistently low prices — and unrelated to the Tuscan town of Montepulciano.
Style
New Zealand Pinot Noir
Dense, fruit-forward and structured — Central Otago and Martinborough produce Pinot with more weight than most cool-climate examples.