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WSET L2 > Ch09 Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot > Flashcards

Ch09 Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot Flashcards

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1
Q

What does adding Cabernet Sauvignon to a blend do

A

Adding Cabernet Sauvignon = adds tannin + acidity + aromatic fruit

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2
Q

What does adding Merlot to a blend do

A

Adding Merlot = softens + adds body + more drinkable

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3
Q

Characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon

A
  • High Tannin + High Acidity + Strong Aromas

- Black Fruit (blackcurrant, black cherry) + Herbaceous (Green Pepper + Mint)

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4
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon Best Climate

A
  • Best in Moderate to Hot Climate

- Warmer climate = fuller body + softer tannins + more black cherry + less herbaceous

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5
Q

What is Cabernet Sauvignon like in a cool climate?

A
  • Can’t ripen in cool climate

Unripe = harsh + astringent + unpleasant herbaceousness

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6
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon Oaking

A
  • Often oaked
  • Softens tannins
  • Oaky flavours (Smoke + Vanilla + Coffee + Cedar)
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7
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon Ageing

A

Intense fruit flavours + High tannin + High acidity = good wine to age

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8
Q

Merlot Characteristics

A
  • Less aromatic + less intense flavour

- Lighter tannin + Lighter Acidity + MORE Body + MORE Alcohol than CS

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9
Q

Merlot in a Hot Climate

A
  • Hot Climate (or overripe moderate climate) =
    Blackfruit (blackberry, black plum, black cherry)
  • Full Body + Medium or Low Acidity + High Alcohol + Medium gentle tannins
  • Super ripe = fruitcake + chocolate
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10
Q

Merlot in a Moderate Climate

A 
- Moderate or cooler climates = 
Red fruit (strawberry, red berry, plum) + Herbal (mint)
  • More Tannin + More Acidity
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11
Q

What grape did Chile misidentify?

A

Some Merlot is actually Carmenere which gives wines a spicy flavour and intense fruit

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12
Q

Where in Chile do you find Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot?

A

Maipo, Colchagua, Cachapoal

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13
Q

Merlot Aged and Oaked

A

Often aged in oak = spice + oaky flavours (vanilla, coffee)

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14
Q

France Regions for Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

A 
BORDEAUX (Garonne + Dordogne meet to form Gironde estuary)
Left Bank (west and south of Gironde = Cabernet Sauvignon)
- Medoc
  • Haute-Medoc
    • Pauillac
    • Margaux
  • Graves
    • Pessac Leognan

Right Bank (north and east of Gironde = Merlot)

  • Saint-Emilion AC (best are Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AC)
  • Pomerol AC

Bordeaux AC and Bordeaux Superieur AC

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15
Q

Left Bank Regions

A 
Left Bank (west and south of Gironde = Cabernet Sauvignon)
- Medoc
  • Haute-Medoc
    • Pauillac
    • Margaux
  • Graves
    • Pessac Leognan
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16
Q

Left Bank Soil

A

Best sites are gravel mounds = drain water + retain heat to aid ripening

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17
Q

Left Bank Cabernet Sauvignon Characteristics

A
  • Medium or Full Body + High Tannin + High Acidity + Medium Alcohol + Long Length
  • Tough when young
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18
Q

Left Bank Cabernet Sauvignon Ageing

A
  • Age = softens tannins
  • Age = Blackfruit (blackcurrant, black cherry) + Tasty Oak develops into Vegetal + Tobacco + Cedar complexity
  • Best wines from Cru Classe chateaux - world’s most complex long lived reds
19
Q

Right Bank Merlot Regions

A 
Right Bank (north and east of Gironde = Merlot)
Saint-Emilion AC (best are Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AC)
Pomerol AC
20
Q

Right Bank Merlot Characteristics

A

Softer style than Left Bank
Medium Tannin + Medium Acidity
Red fruit (plum, red berry)
Age = Cedar + Tobacco

Bordeaux AC and Bordeaux Superieur AC (Higher alcohol than Bordeaux AC)
Many premium quality wines
Medium Body + Medium Tannin + Medium Acidity
Red + Black Fruits
Best consumed young, but can benefit from bottle age

21
Q

Right Bank Merlot Ageing

A

Age = Cedar + Tobacco

Bordeaux AC and Bordeaux Superieur AC (Higher alcohol than Bordeaux AC)
Many premium quality wines
Medium Body + Medium Tannin + Medium Acidity
Red + Black Fruits
Best consumed young, but can benefit from bottle age

22
Q

Bordeaux Cab Merlot Regions

A

Bordeaux AC and Bordeaux Superieur AC (Higher alcohol than Bordeaux AC)
Many premium quality wines

23
Q

Bordeaux AC and Bordeaux Superieur AC Characteristics

A

Medium Body + Medium Tannin + Medium Acidity
Red + Black Fruits
Best consumed young, but can benefit from bottle age

24
Q

Bordeaux AC and Bordeaux Superieur AC Ageing

A

Best consumed young, but can benefit from bottle age

25
Q

Australia Cab Merlot Regions

A

Coonawarra

Margaret River WA

26
Q

Coonawarra Characteristics

A

Coonawarra
Intense structured wine
Distinctive Cassis + Mint + Eucalyptus + Black Cherry + Oak (toast, vanilla)

27
Q

Margaret River Characteristics

A

Margaret River WA
Varietal Cabernet and Merlot Cabernet blends
High Tannin
Black fruit (blackcurrant) + Herb (blackcurrant leaf)

28
Q

New Zealand Cab Merlot Region

A

Hawke’s Bay (North Island)

29
Q

New Zealand Cab Merlot Characteristics

A
  • High quality Cab Sauv, Merlot, and Cab-Merlot blends
  • Medium or High Acidity + High Tannin
  • Herb aromas (cedar, blackcurrant leaf)
30
Q

USA Cab Merlot Regions

A

Napa Valley, California
Rutherford and Oakville
Alexander Valley, Sonoma
Columbia Valley, Washington

31
Q

Cab Merlot Napa Valley

A
  • Most of widely planted black grape

- Rutherford and Oakville

32
Q

Rutherford and Oakville, Napa Valley

A
  • Premium Cabernet Sauvignon

- High levels of soft ripe tannin + Deep colour + Black Cherry + Oak

33
Q

Alexander Valley, Sonoma

A
  • Soft-textured, full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon

- Premium California Merlot = Full body + Soft Black fruit + Fruitcake + Oak

34
Q

Columbia Valley, Washington

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon + Merlot

- Both California + Washington blend Cab and Merlot like in Bordeaux

35
Q

Chile Cab Merlot Regions

A
  • Maipo Valley, close to SAntiago
  • Colchagua (further south)
  • Cachapoal (parts of Rapel Valley) (further south)
36
Q

Chile Characteristics

A
  • Premium varietal and blended Cab and Merlol

- Pronounced Herbal (green pepper, blackcurrant leaf) + Intense fruit (black cherry, blackberry)

37
Q

Chile Carmenere

A

Carmenere confused with Merlot - can add intense colour + spiced black fruit (blackberry, liquorice, pepper)

38
Q

Argentina Cab Merlot Region and climate

A
  • Mendoza

- High altitude moderates the climate

39
Q

Argentina Cab Merlot Characteristics

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Malbec
  • Traditionally aged in oak for long time before release = meaty + leathery
  • Modern = much fruitier
40
Q

South Africa Cab Merlot Region

A

Stellenbosch

41
Q

South Africa Cab Merlot Characteristics

A
  • Cab-Merlot blends and varietal wines
  • LESS intense fruit + MORE herb compared to Australia or California
  • Close to Bordeaux style + High Tannin + High Acidity
42
Q

BULK Cab Merlot (8 regions-

A

Cab Sauv can be cropped at high levels in range of climates as long (as not too cool) - will still retain some black fruit and high tannins

  • Central Valley, Chile
  • Pays d’Oc, Southern France
  • South Africa (Cab Sauv)
  • SEA (Cab Sauv)
  • California (Cab Sauv)
  • Mendoza, Argentina (Cab Sauv)
  • Northern Italy (light body Merlot)
  • Basic Bordeaux (best are soft, light or medium body Merlot)
43
Q

Cab Merlot BLENDS

A
  • Cab Sauv-Merlot
  • Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz - Australia
    Shiraz gives softness and richness that Merlot usually provides
  • Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec - Argentina
  • Cab Sauv-Carmenere and Merlot-Carmenere - Chile

WSET L2 (22 decks)

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