14. Merlot Flashcards
What climate is Merlot grown in?
Moderate to warm
What levels of acidity does Merlot have?
Medium acidity
What levels of tannin does Merlot have?
Medium tannins
What fruit flavours does Merlot develop based on ripeness?
Least ripe = Herbaceous notes - capsicum, green pepper
Red fruit - strawberry, red plum
Most ripe = Cooked black fruit - blackberry, black plum
What grape variety is Merlot commonly blended with?
Cabernet Sauvignon
What flavours develop when Merlot is bottle aged?
Dried fruits
Tobacco
What three effects does Merlot have when added to a blended wine?
Add red fruit flavours
Lowers tannin levels
Makes the wine ready for drinking at an earlier stage
What wine has the following characteristics:
Medium tannins
Medium acidity
Fruit characteristics vary due to ripeness from green pepper to red fruits and cooked black fruits
Light to full bodied?
Merlot
What are the key regions for Merlot?
6 countries, 9 regions
France - Bordeaux (Saint Emilion, Pomerol), South of France USA - California (Napa Valley, Sonoma) Chile - Central Valley South Africa - Stellenbosch Australia - Margaret River New Zealand - Hawke's Bay
What segments Bordeaux?
Gironde Estuary where the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers meet
Which regions of Bordeaux grow more Merlot?
Right bank - Pomerol and Saint Emilion
Where is Pomerol?
Right bank, Bordeaux
Where is Saint Emilion?
Right bank, Bordeaux
Where is Medoc?
Left bank, Bordeaux
Where is Haut-Medoc?
Left bank, Bordeaux
Where is Margaux?
Left bank, Bordeaux
Where is Pauillac?
Left bank, Bordeaux
Where is Graves?
Left bank, Bordeaux
Where is Pessac-Leognan?
Left bank, Bordeaux
Which river is close to the Right bank of Bordeaux?
Dordogne
Which river is close to the Left bank of Bordeaux?
Garonne
What does ‘Chateau’ on a wine label mean?
Wine made from grapes that have come from land that the winemaker owns
What is Bordeaux Superieur?
A level above Bordeaux AOC wines
Made from grapes grown anywhere across Bordeaux
Higher quality, lower yields
Higher alcohol (due to later picking)
Slightly stricter rules that Bordeaux AOC
What is the hierarchy in Bordeaux for Merlot/Cab Sav blended wines?
Bordeaux AOC
Bordeaux Superieur
Communes (e.g. Margaux)
Grand Cru
What tends to make a wine Grand Cru level?
Lower yields
Manual works
Older vines
