Merlot

Question 1

Merlot grows in what climate(s)?

Answer 1

Moderate and warm climates

Question 2

What is the typical acidity and tannin level in a single-varietal Merlot?

Answer 2

Medium acidity
Medium tannins

Question 3

What flavours can you expect from a Merlot that is just ripe?

Answer 3

Fresh red fruit flavours (strawberry, red plum)
Herbaceous notes (capsicum)

Question 4

What flavours can you expect from a riper Merlot?

Answer 4

Cooked black fruit (blackberry, black plum)

Question 5

What is the typical body of a just ripe Merlot vs a riper one?

Answer 5

Light to medium body for just ripe
Medium to full for riper one

Question 6

True or false? It’s impossible to make an outstanding quality single-varietal Merlot.

Answer 6

False

Question 7

Which variety is Merlot often blended with?

Answer 7

Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 8

Why is Merlot blended into Cabernet Sauvignon wines? What does it add/provide to the wine?

Answer 8

Adds red fruit flavours
Can lower tannins
Makes them ready to drink at earlier age

Question 9

True or false? Merlot is typically unoaked.

Answer 9

False. Both oaked and unoaked styles are made.

Question 10

Can Merlot-dominated wines be age worthy? What flavours develop?

Answer 10

Yes. Dried fruit and tobacco

Question 11

What is the most important region for quality Merlot based wines in France?

Answer 11

Bordeaux

Question 12

True or false? Red wines in Bordeaux are typically blends.

Answer 12

True. Predominantly of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 13

What are the 2 areas on either side of the Gironde Estuary (where the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers meet) usually referred to as?

Answer 13

Right Bank
Left Bank

Question 14

What 2 AOCs represent wines which are typically Merlot dominant and made from grapes planted anywhere throughout the Bordeaux region?

Answer 14

Bordeaux AOC
Bordeaux Supérieur AOC

Question 15

What is the difference between Bordeaux AOC
& Bordeaux Supérieur AOC?

Answer 15

Bordeaux Supérieur AOC has stricter rules around yields, ageing and minimum alcohol levels than Bordeaux AOC

Question 16

What is typically the dominant grape variety in the wines of the Left Bank?

Answer 16

Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 17

What is typically the dominant grape variety in the wines of the Right Bank?

Answer 17

Merlot

Question 18

Identify whether the below AOCS are located in the Left Bank or Right Bank of Bordeaux:
Margaux AOC
Pauillac AOC
Saint-Émilion AOC
Graves AOC
Pessac-Léognan AOC
Haut-Médoc AOC
Pomerol
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOC

Answer 18

Margaux AOC: Left
Pauillac AOC: Left
Saint-Émilion AOC: Right
Graves AOC: Left
Pessac-Léognan AOC: Left
Haut-Médoc AOC: Left
Pomerol: Right
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOC: Right

Question 19

Is it typical for very good to outstanding quality Merlot-based wines in Bordeaux to have flavours of oak maturation?

Answer 19

Yes

Question 20

What flavours can develop while aging outstanding quality Merlot-based wines in Bordeaux?

Answer 20

Dried fruit and tobacco

Question 21

What are Merlot and Merlot-based wine typically labelled as in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France?

Answer 21

Pays d’Oc IGP

Question 22

What varieties are sometimes blended with Merlot in the Languedoc-Roussillon region?

Answer 22

Cabernet Sauvignon
Grenache
Syrah

Question 23

What are medium-bodied, simple, fruit Merlot and Merlot based wines labelled as in California?

Answer 23

California

Question 24

Name 2 Californian regions known for producing concentrated, full-bodied Merlot and Merlot-based wines.

Answer 24

Napa Valley
Sonoma Valley

Question 25

It’s common to taste pronounced flavours from oak (vanilla, coconut, smoke) in red wines in California. How are these flavours achieved for:
-Very good to outstanding quality wines
-High-volume wines

Answer 25

-New oak barrels
-oak chips or staves