Merlot

Question 1

Merlot budding and ripening

Answer 1

early budding, mid ripening variety

Question 2

Merlot weaknesses

Answer 2

susceptible to coulure, drought and most botrytis bunch rot (making sorting necessary to maintain quality)

Question 3

compared to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Answer 3

ripens earlier, reaches higher sugar levels (therefore higher potential alcohol levels)

Question 4

as a variety Merlot contributes to the Bordeaux blend with

Answer 4

• medium to pronounced intensity fruit
  (strawberry and red plum;
  herbaceous flavours in cooler years;
  cooked blackberry, black plum in hot years),
• Medium tannins
• Medium to high alcohol

Question 5

in Bordeaux, Merlot is the dominant variety in

Answer 5

the whole of the Right Bank and in Médoc (more fertile soils with high clay content)

Question 6

What % of total ha planted in Bordeaux is Merlot

Answer 6

almost 60%

Question 7

what is the impact of climate change on Merlot

Answer 7

in Bordeaux, Merlot had the advantage to ripen in cooler soils/years and give higher alcohol than Cabernets: this is less so today.
in hot years flavours remind of cooked blackberry and black plum

Question 8

Merlot berry size

Answer 8

Large berry size typical of Merlot

Médoc, has more fertile soils with a high clay content. Merlot ripens on these cooler soils and the water-holding capacity of clay enables it to produce the large berry size typical of Merlot

Question 9

Hectares of vineyard planted with Merlot in Bordeaux

Answer 9

about 64.000 ha (2021)
(59,2% of total 108,000 hectares planted)