Ch09 Merlot Flashcards
What can we expect of Merlot from California ?
Climate: Moderate
Style: Dry, full-bodied, high alcohol and with high levels of soft, ripe tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours: Deeply coloured with blackberry and plum along with oak flavours of vanilla, smoke and cedar.
The very best Merlot comes from Napa Valley and it is sometimes blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. They can usually fetch up to premium prices.
What can we expect of Merlot from Chile ?
Climate: Moderate (influenced by the Andes and proximity to the ocean)
Style: Dry, medium to full-bodied, with high levels of soft, ripe tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours: Pronounced black fruit flavours of black cherry and blackberry along with fruitcake and chocolate. There are oak characteristics of vanilla and coffee.
The very best Merlot comes from the Maipo Valley, and Colchagua and Cachapoal which are parts of the Rapel Valley. The wines range from inexpensive to high priced.
What can we expect of Merlot from France ?
Climate: Moderate
Style: Dry, medium to full body with medium acid and medium tannins for the Merlot dominant blends. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours: Red fruit character of strawberry, plum and red berry with spicy, oak flavours of vanilla and coffee. The wines can develop cedar and tobacco aromas as they age.
In Bordeaux the best Merlot based wines come from Saint-Émilion AC, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AC, and Pomerol AC. These wines tend to fetch up to premium prices.
What can we expect of Merlot from South Africa ?
Climate: Moderate to hot
Style: Dry, full-bodied, with high levels of tannin and acidity. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours: Dark fruit of blackberry and plum along with oak flavours of vanilla and sweet spice.
The best examples of Merlot come from Stellenbosch and are typically blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. These wines are priced up to the premium price category.
What can we expect of Merlot from Australia ?
Climate: Moderate
Style: Dry, full-bodied, with high levels of tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours: Black cherry with blackcurrant and oak aromas of vanilla and cedar.
Margaret River in Western Australia produces premium Merlot blends with Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are usually priced up to the premium price category.
What can we expect of Merlot from New Zealand ?
Climate: Moderate
Style: Dry, medium to full-bodied, with medium to high acidity and tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours: Black cherry and plum with aromas of cedar and vanilla.
Hawke’s Bay is home to the top examples of Merlot in New Zealand. It is also blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines can fetch up to premium prices.
What are the key facts of Merlot ?
- It produces medium to full bodied red wines
- These have plum, black cherry and red berries with oak flavours
- It grows in moderate or hot climate
- Wines can be single varietal or blended with Cabernet Sauvignon among other grape varieties
- Price and quality range from inexpensive to premium and acceptable to outstanding.
