L2 - Class 6: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah/Shiraz

Question 1

Describe the characteristics of Merlot?

Answer 1

-Versatile black grape variety
-Grows in moderate and warm climates
-Typically dry, w/ medium acidity, medium tannins
-Just ripe merlot grapes produce light to medium body wine with red fruit flavors (strawberry, red plum) & herbaceous notes (green pepper/capscicum) -ready for immediate consumption
-Riper Merlot produces medium to full body wine w/ cooked black fruit (blackberry, black plum- can be oaked & aged in bottle
-the riper style is easily achieved in a warm climate, but also be achieved in a moderate climate by harvesting later.
-Can be single varietal wines, but also can be added to soften blends with higher tannin black grapes, like Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 2

In what styles can Merlot be made (single varietal or blended)? How about maturation?

Answer 2

-Can make outstanding single varietals
-Can be blended with higher tannin varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot adds red-fruit flavors to Cab Sauv & can lower tannin levels
making them ready to drink earlier
-Can be oaked or unoaked
-Lighter styles typically do not need extended barrel maturation
-Fuller bodied styles benefit from oak aging which adds softness & flavor complexity
-The best merlots are age worthy & develop notes of dried fruit & tobacco

Question 3

What are the most important regions for growing Merlot?

Answer 3

France
-Bordeaux
–Saint Emillion AOC
–Pomerol AOC
-South of France
USA
-California (Napa & Sonoma)
Chile (Central Valley)
South Africa (Stellenbosch)
Australia (Margaret River)
New Zealand (Hawke’s Bay)

Question 4

Describe the Bordeaux region for Merlot.

Answer 4

-Has a moderate climate with high levels of rainfall due to proximity to the Atlantic Ocean
-Merlot is the most widely planted variety
-Wines are typically blends of Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 5

How is the Bordeaux region naturally segmented?

Answer 5

-By the Gironde Estuary where the Garonne & Dordogne Rivers meet
-West & South of the Gironde/Garonne lie the districts of Medoc, Graves, and Sauternes (this area is known as the “Left Bank”)
-North & East of the Gironde/Pomerol is Saint-Emillion & Pomerol, known as the “Right Bank:”

Question 6

What are some of the well-known Merlot labels for Bordeaux?

Answer 6

-Bordeaux AOC & Bordeaux Superior AOC
–Both are typically Merlot dominated blends
–Both can be planted from vines anywhere in the Bordeaux region

-Saint Emillion AOC & Pomerol AOC
–Most famous Merlot dominated wines
–Wines from these 2 regions tend to be: full bodied, w/ pronounced black fruit aromas & flavor from oak
–These wines can age well int eh bottle developing complex aromas of dried fruit & tobacco

Question 7

Describe Merlot from the South of France.

Answer 7

-Region has warm weather
-Single varietals can be found at all quality levels
-Also blends with Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache & Syrah

Question 8

What styles of Merlot come from California?

Answer 8

• Can be single-varietal or blends
  -Flavors range from fruity, medium-bodied (labelled California) to concentrated full-bodied (from Napa Valley and Sonoma)
  -Pronounced flavors from oak (vanilla, coconut, smoke)
  -Very good or outstanding wines are often aged in new barrels
  -High volume producers use oak chips or staves

Question 9

Describe Merlot from Chile.

Answer 9

-Merlot ripens well in Chile’s warm & dry Central Valley
-It is possible to achieve high yields of fully ripe fruit each year
-Merlot from Central Valley yields soft, medium-bodied for high volume brands intended for immediate consumption
-However high altitude allows for fresher styles of Merlot to be made as well

Question 10

Describe Merlot from South Africa.

Answer 10

-Stellenbosch is the region in South Africa
-This region is known for developing complex, age-worthy red wines from class Bordeaux varieties
-Climate of this mountainous region varies from moderate to warm depending on vineyard altitude and influence from sea breezes

Question 11

Describe Merlot from Australia.

Answer 11

-In Australia Merlot is traditionally used as part of a blend with Cabernet Sauvignon in high-quality wines from Western Australia’s Margaret River.

Question 12

Describe Merlot from New Zealand.

Answer 12

-Most Merlot from New Zealand comes from Hawke’s Bay in the North Island
-Hawkes Bay has a moderate climate with plentiful rain
-Wines range from light and fruity to full-bodied & long-lived
-Can be found as a single varietal or as a blend with Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 13

What is Merlot known for today?

Answer 13

-Merlot is best suited to create high volume wines or for blending with higher-tannin varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon
-Today producers are proving Merlot does not have to be blended
-Because of its medium tannins and acidity Merlot can also make refreshing unoaked wines at all quality levels & powerfully flavored wines that benefit greatly from a period of oak and/or bottle maturation

Question 14

What are the characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 14

-Grows in moderate to warm climates (but can struggle to ripen in moderate climates & needs to be planted in a warm “site”)
-Requires a long and warm growing season
-Grapes have thick skins containing high levels of flavor, tannin, and color.
-Single varietal will be deeply colored
-Dry, high acidity, high tannin, medium to full body
-Flavors: black fruit (blackcurrant, black cherry), herbal (mint), herbaceous notes (green bell pepper, capsicum)
-In warm climates, fruit flavors become cooked

Question 15

What wine-making techniques are used for Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 15

-Can be single-varietal, but also can be blended w/ other varieties such as Merlot
–Blending helps soften Cabs high levels of acidity & tannins. This is most important for Cab grapes grown in moderate climate regions where Cab struggles to ripen
-It can also be matured in oak barrels for months/years to soften tannins. New oak barrels will impart secondary flavors (smoke, vanilla, cloves)
–newly fermented Cab can taste unpleasantly tannic which is why oak age helps

Question 16

What qualities of Cabernet Sauvignon make it suitable for aging?

Answer 16

-Cab Sauv is highly tannic and acidic which act as natural preservatives
-For this reason Cab can mature over many years in bottle or via barrel
-Aging allows the tannins to soften and the wine develops complex tertiary flavors (dried fruits, earth, & forest floor)

Question 17

What regions are most important for Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 17

-France, Bordeaux
–Medoc AOC
–Haut-Medoc AOC
–Margaux AOC
–Pauillac AOC
–Graves AOC
–Pessac-Leognan AOC
-South of France
-California
-Chile
-South Africa
-Australia
-New Zealand

Question 18

What regions most successfully grow Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux?

Answer 18

• Cabernet Sauv ripens best on the Left Bank as there are some soils there that contain stones (it otherwise struggles in moderate climates)
  -These soils are known as “gravel” and help Cabernet Sauvignon ripen. The stones in the soil allow rainwater to drain away so that roots are not damp and cold and they also absorb heat during the day and warm the vineyard at night
  -Cab-Sauv dominated blends are common in the following Left Bank areas: Medoc AOC, Haut-Medoc AOC (including Margaux AOC, Pauillac AOC, Graves AOC, and Pessac-Leognan AOC)

Question 19

Why is blending important in Bordeaux?

Answer 19

-Because Bordeaux has a moderate climate, many regions are too cool to grow Cabernet Sauvignon
-The weather varies from one year to the next and in some years Cabernet Sauvignon will struggle to grow even on the Left Bank with gravel soils
-As a result blending is important and the proportion of Merlot may increase in year where Cabernet Sauvignon has struggled to ripen

Question 20

How is the region of the South of France for Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 20

-The climate here is consistently warm and less variable weather patterns
-Cabernet Sauvignon can ripen reliably as a result
-Both single varietal and blends (merlot and other black grapes can be found)

Question 21

What regions in California are the best for Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 21

-Napa Valley is ideal bc it has a warm, sunny climate & long growing season
–Napa sub-regions (Oakville & Rutherford) produce full bodied wines w/ ripe black fruit flavors, & high/ripe tannins. (Calistoga) is further north and even warmer, producing the ripest and most full bodied wines in Napa
-Sonoma Valley (which is warmer) can produce similarly powerful wines, but will have small quantities of other grapes
-Wines labeled California are blends of grapes across the state. Typically these are for immediate consumption & can display oak through chips or staves

Question 22

What regions are best for Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile and why?

Answer 22

-Cabernet Sauvignon is Chile’s most widely planted varietal
-Central Valley sub-regions Maipo Valley & Colchagua Valley are most important
-Growing sites located between the Andes Mountains & Coastal ranges on flatter fertile sites on the valley floor
-Very good to outstanding single varietal Cabs come from here.
-Also Merlot & Carmenere blends
-Wines from this region have herbal (mint), herbaceous (green bell pepper/capsicum) alongside black fruit and oak flavors

Question 23

What region is best for Cabernet Sauvignon in South Africa?

Answer 23

-Stellenbosch: a high quality mountainous region, climate varies from moderate to warm depending on vineyard altitude
-Styles range from fresh & herbal to full bodied with cooked-fruit flavors and high alcohol
-Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are blended with the local speciality grape, Pinotage which is commonly refered to as
a “Cape Blend”

Question 24

What Australian regions are most important for Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 24

-Margaret River:
–Western Australia, warm region is moderated by coastal
breezes and plentiful winter rainfall
–Wines typically display ripe black fruit aromas & subtle notes of
oak
–Well known for quality Cabernet Sauvignon
–Sometimes blended with Merlot
-Coonewarra:
–Moderated by cloud cover & cooling breezes from the south
–Flavors: distinctive herbal (mint), pronounced black currant,
typically smoke & cedar oak flavors. Can develop years in bottle

Question 25

Where does Cabernet Sauvignon grow best in New Zealand?

Answer 25

• Hawke’s Bay, a moderate climate.
• But, it must grow in the warmest sites there to achieve full ripeness
  -Commonly blended with Merlot to produce wines with fresh red and black fruit flavors & herbaceous notes (green bell pepper/ capsicum)

Question 26

What are the important labeling terms in Bordeaux?

Answer 26

-Chateau –an estate or producer, which indicates that hte wine has been made from grapes grown on a producer’s land, rather being made from “bought-in” grapes
-Grand Cru Classe/Cru Classe –Classifications for the best wines from the best chateauxs. Strong indication of quality, tend to be the most expensive and sought after wines, can mature for years
-Cru Bourgeois –Wines that do not qualify for Grand Cru Classe can apply to use this term. With a few exceptions, these are not as expensive as the classified Chateaux, but can be very good to outstanding quality with long aging potential

Question 27

What is happening with Cabernet Sauvignon today?

Answer 27

-It is popular for both a high volume brands & premium producers
-Very familiar to global consumers & pairs well with food which can help to soften its high tannins and high acidity
-Some winemakers, especially in Chile, are experimenting with gentler practices to extract less tannin, meaning the wine can be enjoyed at a younger age while it is fresh and fruity

Question 28

Describe the characteristics of Syrah.

Answer 28

-Thick skinned black variety w/ small grapes
-Moderate climate Syrah (such as in Northern Rhone)
–Typically medium in body
–Fresh black-fruit flavors (black cherry, blackberry), herbal
notes, black pepper aromas
-Warm climate Syrah (such as in Australia, known as Shiraz)
–Is typically full bodied & high alcohol
–Ripe flavors of cooked black fruits & liquorice

Question 29

What wine-making techniques are used for Syrah/Shiraz?

Answer 29

-Can be made into very high quality single varietals OR
-Blended to add black-fruit flavors & tannins (commonly blended with grapes local to Southern Rhone like Grenache)
-Oak maturation commonly used to soften tannins, add flavors of smoke and spice
-Very good/outstanding wines are suitable for bottle aging due to their intense flavors & tannins
-Can age for a decade or more (dried-fruit flavors & notes of leather, meat and earth can emerge)

Question 30

What regions are most important for Syrah and Shiraz?

Answer 30

France (Syrah)
-Northern Rhone
-Cote Rotie AOC
-Hermitage AOC
-Crozes-Hermitage AOC
-South of France
Australia (Shiraz)
-South Eastern Australia
-Barossa Valley
-Hunter Valley

Question 31

Which sub-regions are most important for Syrah in Northern Rhone.

Answer 31

Cote Rotie AOC -Farthest north limit of Northern Rhone where grapes ripen.
-Exceptionally steep & stony slopes produce complex,
peppery Syrah w/ potential to develop many years in
bottle
-Some winemakers blend Syrah w/ Viogner for floral
aromas
Hermitage AOC. -Very high quality appellation made up of one steep south-facing hill
Crozes-Hermitage AOC
-The larger, flatter appellation surrounding the
Hermitage hill. Wines from here are less complex &
cheaper

Question 32

Describe the Northern Rhone AOC.

Answer 32

Northern Rhone
-Syrah is the only black grape permitted in this region.
-Northern part of the broader Rhone Valley which
follows the Rhone Valley - the river valley is very
narrow & best vineyards are planted on steep slopes.
-Climate is moderate but grapes ripen bc of the aspect
and the river which reflects sunlight
-The slopes are so steep that machinery cannot be
used, so vineyard work must be done by hand, which
makes these wines expensive to produce

Question 33

How is Syrah in the South of France made?

Answer 33

• the warm climate of this region, means the grape ripens reliably
  -It is sometimes blended into the region’s appellation wines such as Minervois ACO
  -It can also be a single varietal known as Pays d’Oc IGP

Question 34

Describe Shiraz from Australia.

Answer 34

-Most planted grape in Australia
–South Eastern Australia -produces high volumes of
inexpensive varietals
-Barossa Valley- Home to some of the world’s oldest Shiraz vines. Produce low yields of very concentrated grapes, resulting in:
– full-bodied, high, ripe tannins
–Cooked black fruit (blackberry, black cherry), black
pepper, spicy flavors from oak (vanilla, coffee)
-Hunter Valley- Warm region but high cloud cover and
sea breezes slow the ripening process:
–Medium bodied wines w/ medium to high tannins,
fresh black fruit flavors, can develop earth & meat