Merlot Flashcards
What type of climate does Merlot prefer
Moderate to warm
Describe a typical single varietal merlot.
Acid
Tannin
Medium acid
Medium tannin
Describe the flavour profile of a just-ripe Merlot
Body
Aromas and Flavours
Medium body
Red Fruit (strawberry, red plum)
Herbaceous notes (green bell pepper)
Describe the flavour profile of a riper Merlot
Body
Aromas and Flavours
Medium to full body
Cooked black fruit (blackberry, black plum)
How is it possible to produce a riper style merlot in a moderate climate
Harvest the grapes later
What characteristic of other red wines does a Merlot blend help to improve
Tannins
Adding merlot to other red wines makes them ready to drink at an earlier age. True/False
True
What are some tertiary flavour of an oak aged merlot
Dried fruit and tobacco
Where is Merlot grown in France
Bordeaux and the South of France
What is the climate in Bordeaux
Moderate with high level of rain
What are the two rivers that meet in Bordeaux
Garonne and Dordogne
Name the three districts that are known as the left bank
Medoc, Graves and Sauternes
What two districts are know as the right bank
Saint-Emillion and Pomerol
What are the two regional appellations in Bordeaux
Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superieur AOC
Wines made in the right bank appellations in Bordeaux are typically Cabernet Sauvignon dominant
False, they are typically merlot dominant
Describe the body and flavours of merlot wines from the right bank
Full body
Black fruits from and oak
What are some tertiary flavours that merlot will see from bottle aging
Tobacco and dried fruit
Name three grapes that are often blended with merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Syrah
What regions in California are known for Merlot
Napa and Sonoma
High quality California merlot is often aged in new oak barrels. True/False
True
What area of Chile is known for merlot
Central Valley
Chile is known for high yields of fully ripe merlot each year. True/False
True
Merlot from Chile should be aged. True/False
False, it is best consumed when young
What region of South Africa is known for Merlot
Stellenbosch
Wines from Stellenbosch merlot is better when aged in bottle. True/False
True
What is the climate in Stellenbosch
Moderate to warm, mountainous with sea breezes
What area of Australia produces Merlot
Margaret River
Is merlot from Margaret river often blended? Yes/No
Yes with Cabernet Sauvignon
What area of New Zealand produces Merlot
Hawkes Bay
Describe the typical acid and tannin of a single varietal merlot
Medium Tannin, Medium Acid
What is the difference between Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC?
Stricter rules around yields, aging and minimum alcohol levels
Name three appellations within the Medoc AOC
Medoc-Haut AOC, Margaux AOC and Pauillac AOC
Name a high quality appellation within the Graves AOC region
Pessac-Leognan AOC
Name the prestigious appellation within Saint-Emillion AOC
Saint-Emillion Grand Cru AOC
Fill in the blank:
While Merlot is typically the greater part of the blend on the _____ Bank, Cabernet Sauvignon makes up the greater proportion of red blends on the _____ Bank.
Right, Left
