Merlot

Question 1

Describe the structural characteristics of Merlot wine

Answer 1

medium tannin, dry, medium acidity, light to full bodied

Question 2

Describe the aromas and flavours of Merlot in all climates

Answer 2

Red fruit and herbaceous (capsicum) when just ripe, medium to pronounced cooked black fruit (blackberry, black plum) in warmer climates.

Question 3

What climes are ideal for merlot

Answer 3

Moderate to warm climates

Question 4

What vessel types are used for Merlot wine?

Answer 4

Inert or oak

Question 5

What are the blending options available to Merlot?

Answer 5

Merlot can be a single varietal wine or part of a blend with Cabernet Sauvignon. It also appears in Cape Blends with Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 6

What does bottle aging give to Merlot wine?

Answer 6

Softens the tannins and produces dried fruit and tobacco notes

Question 7

List the important regions of Merlot

Answer 7

Bordeaux, California, Napa Valley, Sonoma, Central Valley (Chile), Stellenbosch, Margaret River, Hawke’s Bay

Question 8

What does Merlot bring to blends?

Answer 8

Red fruit flavour and reducing tannin and acidity in highly structured wines

Question 9

What is the climate of Bordeaux like?

Answer 9

Moderate with high rainfall due to the Atlantic Ocean

Question 10

What geographic feature lies in the middle of Bordeaux? What two things meet there?

Answer 10

The Gironde Estuary, where the Garonne and Dordogne rivers meet

Question 11

Where in the Bordeaux region does Medoc, Graves and Sauturnes lie, what is this area called?

Answer 11

West and South, the Left Bank

Question 12

Where is the Right Bank, what areas does it consist of?

Answer 12

North and East, Saint Emillion, Pomerol.

Question 13

Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superieur AOC are what dominated blends?

Answer 13

Merlot

Question 14

Saint Emilion and Pomerol produce outstanding merlot doinated wines of what character and flavour?

Answer 14

Full bodied, pronounced black fruit and oak and tertiary notes of dried fruit and tabacco

Question 15

Where is the fruit of Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superieur AOC labelled wines sourced from

Answer 15

Anywhere in Bordeaux

Question 16

What distinguishes Bordeaux Superieur AOC from Bordeaux AOC

Answer 16

Bordeaux Superieur AOC has stricter rules on yields, aging and minimum alcohol

Question 17

Where is Paulliac AOC?

Answer 17

Haut-Medoc, Left Bank

Question 18

Where is Margaux AOC

Answer 18

Haut Medoc, Left Bank

Question 19

Where is Passac-Leognan

Answer 19

Graves, Left Bank

Question 20

What is Merlot commonly blended with in South France? What is the quality level?

Answer 20

Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Syrah. All quality levels

Question 21

What is California Merlot like?

Answer 21

Fruity and medium bodied

Question 22

How is Sonoma and Napa Valley Merlot? What is the oak like? What oak formats are used?

Answer 22

Concentrated and full bodied. Vanilla, coconut and smoke. New oak used for high quality fruit, chips or staves for entry level

Question 23

Central Valley is in Chile and has what kind of climate? What is the volume of production? what is the wine like? As you go up in altitude, what happens to the wine?

Answer 23

Warm and dry

High yield

Soft, medium bodied wine designed for immediate consumption

The wine becomes ‘fresher’ as in less ripe

Question 24

What is teh Stellenbosch region like? Describe the wine that Merlot is used for in Stellenboch

Answer 24

Stellenbosch is a mountainous region with a moderate to warm climate depending on altitude and is moderated by sea breezes from the south.

Merlot is used to make complex, age worthy Bordeaux blends

Question 25

Where is notable Merlot produced in Australia? What is it blended with?

Answer 25

Margaret River as part of Cabernet blends

Question 26

Where is the largest producer of Merlot in New Zealand? What is the climate like? What is the wine like and is it blended?

Answer 26

Hawke’s Bay, moderate climate with plentiful rainfall.

Wine ranges from light and fruity to full bodied and long lived.

Single varietal or CS blend