Comparison
Pinot Meunier vs Tannat
How Pinot Meunier and Tannat differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
Pinot Meunier and Tannat come from the same country but sit in different territory. The main differences: Tannat has more tannin; Tannat has more body; Tannat has more oak influence.
Choose
Tannat
Choose Tannat if you want something more tannic and structured, fuller and richer, more oaky.
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.
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 low-medium.
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.
Oak influence
Clear differencePerceptible impact of barrel or alternative oak contact — vanilla, toast, coconut, smoke, cedar and added texture.
Tannat 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.
Tannat is more savoury: medium-plus against low-medium.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Pinot Meunier is more floral: 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.
Tannat is earthier: 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-plus.
- Fruit intensity: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Aromatic intensity: Similar — both medium.
- Herbal / green character: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Pinot Meunier | Tannat |
|---|---|---|
| Tannin | typically low-medium, ranging from low to low-medium (2/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Body | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Oak influence | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Savoury character | low-medium (2/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Floral character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | medium (3/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (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 medium-plus (4/5) |
| Fruit intensity | 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) |
| 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 | 13–15°C | 16–18°C |
| Typical flavours | red apple, strawberry, brioche, red plum | 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
Pinot Meunier
The third Champagne grape: earlier-ripening and more frost-tolerant than Pinot Noir, contributing fruit and approachability.
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.