Comparison
Nerello Mascalese vs Tannat
How Nerello Mascalese and Tannat differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Tannat has more body; Nerello Mascalese has more floral character; Nerello Mascalese has more perceived freshness.
Choose
Nerello Mascalese
Choose Nerello Mascalese if you want something more floral, fresher, fresher and more acidic.
Choose
Tannat
Choose Tannat if you want something fuller and richer, more tannic and structured, 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.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Tannat is fuller and richer: high against medium.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Nerello Mascalese is more floral: medium against low.
Perceived freshness
Clear differenceThe overall impression of liveliness — a composite of acidity, alcohol balance, fruit character and the absence of tiredness. Distinct from raw acidity: a wine can be high in acid yet taste heavy.
Nerello Mascalese is fresher: high against medium.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
Nerello Mascalese is fresher and more acidic: high against medium-plus.
Tannin
Clear differencePhenolic compounds from grape skins, seeds, stems and oak. The principal structural axis of red wine.
Tannat is more tannic and structured: high against medium-plus.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Tannat is fruitier: 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.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Aromatic intensity: Similar — both medium.
- Savoury character: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Herbal / green character: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Nerello Mascalese | Tannat |
|---|---|---|
| Body | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Floral character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | medium (3/5) |
| Acidity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Tannin | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Oak influence | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Earthy character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Alcohol | 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) |
| Savoury character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Spice | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Texture | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Serve at | 14–16°C | 16–18°C |
| Typical flavours | red cherry, dried orange peel, ash, wild herbs, smoke | blackberry, plum, smoke, licorice, dark chocolate |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Nerello Mascalese
Mount Etna’s principal red variety: pale, high-acid, ashy and increasingly compared to Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir.
Grape
Tannat
One of the most tannic wine grapes in commercial use, native to south-west France and the national variety of Uruguay.
Comparison
Tannat vs Malbec
The two South American reds most likely to be on the same shelf, and readers want to know which is the softer bet.
Comparison
Nerello Mascalese vs Pinot Noir
Etna Rosso is compared to Burgundy so often that the comparison needs testing rather than repeating.