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Wines like Super Tuscan

A commercial category rather than an appellation: ambitious Tuscan reds that fell outside the DOC rules, usually built on Bordeaux varieties. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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Refine

What do you like about Super Tuscan?

Optional — the results below already work without it. But “I like Malbec” is at least four different preferences wearing one name, and saying which one you mean changes the answer substantially. Only qualities this wine actually has are offered.

I like…

How full and weighty it is The firm, grippy structure The vanilla and oak

But it’s a bit…

too heavy too drying or too tannic too oaky or woody too green or grassy too peppery too austere

Clear all

What these words mean

How full and weighty it is: Body is how much the wine seems to fill your mouth — the difference between skimmed and whole milk. It comes mostly from alcohol and ripeness.
The firm, grippy structure: High tannin — the drying grip on your gums, like over-brewed tea. It gives a red something to hold on to with rich food, and it is what lets a wine age.
The vanilla and oak: Vanilla, toast, coconut, sweet spice, sometimes smoke. It comes from the barrel rather than the grape, which is why the same grape can taste completely different with and without it.
The herbal, green side: Grass, blackcurrant leaf, green pepper, mint. It divides people more sharply than almost any other character.
The spice: Black pepper, clove, cinnamon. Some of it is the grape — the pepper in Syrah is a measured compound called rotundone — and some is the barrel.
That it is properly dry: No perceptible sugar at all. Almost all red wine is dry and a good deal of white wine is not, which is why this is a more useful thing to say about a white than about a red.

Looking for something keeping the full body and weight, while moving away from too austere, too drying or too tannic and too oaky or woody.

Based on what you said

Ranked against the qualities you named rather than against the wine as a whole. The directions below are refined the same way.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
A little less oaky or woody.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less oaky or woody.

Corvina

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
A little less oaky or woody.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
A little less oaky or woody.

Valpolicella Ripasso

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less oaky or woody.

Bolgheri

curated

Bolgheri is where much of the category is now formally appellation-controlled.

Keeps the full body and weight.
About as austere as the wine you started from.
About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.
About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.

Touriga Franca

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.
Substantially less oaky or woody.

Red Bordeaux

curated

The same varieties, in the style Super Tuscans were originally modelled on.

Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
About as austere as the wine you started from.
About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.
A little less oaky or woody.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Corvina

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Different grape, similar feel

Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Corvina

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Valpolicella Ripasso

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Change the structure

Same idea, different weight, grip or freshness.

Similar but lighter

Keeps the character but reduces weight, alcohol and density in the mouth.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.

Corvina

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Similar but lower in alcohol

Holds the character and the weight where it can, and moves specifically on strength. Note that below about 11% the choices narrow sharply, and below 5% they are mostly a different category rather than a lighter version of the same one.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.

Muscat Bailey A

Muscat Bailey A scores closest to Super Tuscan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Rondo

Rondo scores closest to Super Tuscan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.

Dornfelder

Dornfelder scores closest to Super Tuscan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Nothing in WineHQ's catalogue makes this move meaningfully from here. These are the closest wines otherwise, but do not expect them to deliver what you asked for — the honest answer is that this style does not have a good neighbour in that direction.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Argentine Malbec

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Amarone della Valpolicella

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Primitivo di Manduria

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Similar but less tannic

For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Argentine Malbec

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Tinta Barroca

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and spicier.

Montefalco Sagrantino

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and drier.

Madiran

Both are made from cabernet franc, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and drier.

Similar but fresher

Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.

Saperavi

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Barbera d’Alba

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Barbera d’Asti

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Similar but softer

Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Argentine Malbec

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

The sparkling version

Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.

Sparkling Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and spicier.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.

Lambrusco

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stiller.

Similar but sweeter

Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.

Sparkling Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and spicier.

Tinta Barroca

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Late Bottled Vintage Port

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and stronger and warmer.

Touriga Franca

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more tannic and structured.

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but less oaky

One of the commonest requests in wine. Strips oak influence while holding grape character and weight.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Valpolicella Ripasso

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and drier.

Corvina

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Tinta Barroca

Tinta Barroca scores closest to Super Tuscan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and drier.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Argentine Malbec

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Amarone della Valpolicella

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Similar but more aromatic

More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.

Cabernet Franc

Both are made from cabernet franc.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Syrah

Both are made from syrah, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Morgon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Similar but more restrained

For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Corvina

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Similar but more floral

Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.

Touriga Franca

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more tannic and structured.

Argentine Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Touriga Nacional

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and spicier.

Cabernet Franc

Both are made from cabernet franc.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Similar but more savoury

Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.

Red Bordeaux

curated

The same varieties, in the style Super Tuscans were originally modelled on.

Expect: Less ripe and more earthy, with a firmer, drier finish.

Chianti Classico Riserva

Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.

Chianti

Both are made from sangiovese, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Similar but fruitier

More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, somewhere else

Holds the variety constant and changes the place, which is often a bigger change than swapping the grape.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Merlot

Both are made from merlot, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.

California Rhône blend

Both are made from syrah, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Same grape, cooler climate

Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Chianti Classico

Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Chianti

Both are made from sangiovese, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Same grape, warmer climate

Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Both are made from syrah, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.

Change the mood

Safer, stranger, cheaper or more serious.

A safe next step

Well-known wines that are widely available and unlikely to surprise anyone.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Argentine Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Something more adventurous

Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Corvina

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Valpolicella Ripasso

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Touriga Franca

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more tannic and structured.

A better-value alternative

Wines that occupy similar sensory territory from regions carrying less price premium. WineHQ does not hold live prices, so this reasons from regional reputation and demand rather than from a price feed — treat it as a lead, not a quote.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Corvina

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Valpolicella Ripasso

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Touriga Franca

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more tannic and structured.

A step up

The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Both are made from syrah, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Argentine Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Ribera del Duero

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.

How these are chosen

Each suggestion is scored across sixteen taste dimensions, weighted so that structure matters more than flavour, and adjusted for whether the wine actually moves in the direction you asked for. Curated links from an editor carry extra weight — but only when the editor tagged them for this direction. Nothing here is a black box; see the taste model for the full method.