Comparison
Pinot Meunier vs Pinot Noir
How Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir come from the same country but sit in different territory. The main differences: Pinot Noir has more earthy character; Pinot Noir has more oak influence; Pinot Noir has more savoury character.
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.
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.
Oak influence
Clear differencePerceptible impact of barrel or alternative oak contact — vanilla, toast, coconut, smoke, cedar and added texture.
Pinot Noir is more oaky: medium against low.
Savoury character
Clear differenceNon-fruit, umami-adjacent character: meat, leather, olive, soy, broth, cured notes. Often increases with age.
Pinot Noir is more savoury: medium-plus against low-medium.
Spice
Clear differencePepper, clove, cinnamon and related spice notes, whether from the grape (as with rotundone in Syrah) or from oak.
Pinot Noir is spicier: medium against low.
Tannin
Clear differencePhenolic compounds from grape skins, seeds, stems and oak. The principal structural axis of red wine.
Pinot Noir is more tannic and structured: medium against low-medium.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Pinot Meunier 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.
- Acidity: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium.
- Body: Similar — both medium.
- Floral character: Similar — both medium.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Pinot Meunier | Pinot Noir |
|---|---|---|
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) |
| Oak influence | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Savoury character | low-medium (2/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) |
| Spice | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Tannin | typically low-medium, ranging from low to low-medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (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 high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Body | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Floral character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Herbal / green character | 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 | 13–15°C | 14–16°C |
| Typical flavours | red apple, strawberry, brioche, red plum | 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
Pinot Meunier
The third Champagne grape: earlier-ripening and more frost-tolerant than Pinot Noir, contributing fruit and approachability.
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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