Merlot: Principal Black Grape Varieties

Question 1

In what type of climates does Merlot grow?

a) Cool climates
b) Tropical climates
c) Moderate to warm climates
d) Mediterranean climates

Answer 1

c) Moderate to warm climates

Question 2

How does the primary flavor of Merlot vary?

a) According to the soil type
b) According to the winemaking technique
c) According to the grape color
d) According to ripeness
Correct Answer:

Answer 2

d) According to ripeness

Question 3

What is a typical aroma of just-ripe Merlot ?

a) Blackcurrant ,Lemon
b) Blackberry, Pear
c) Red Plum
d) Strawberry , Green bell pepper/Capsicum ,

Answer 3

d) Strawberry , Green bell pepper/Capsicum
c) Red Plum

Question 4

What is a typical aroma of ripe Merlot ?

a) Blackcurrant
b) Blackberry
c) Black Plum
d) Strawberry

Answer 4

b) Blackberry
c) Black Plum

Question 5

What are the potential aging characteristics of the best Merlot-dominated wines?

a) Increased tannin levels
b) Fresh and vibrant fruit flavors
c) Dried fruit and tobacco notes
d) High acidity and low alcohol content

Answer 5

c) Dried fruit and tobacco notes

Question 6

What is a common practice regarding Merlot in winemaking?

a) Blending it with higher-tannin varieties
b) Fermenting it with white grape varieties
c) Aging it exclusively in stainless steel tanks
d) Filtering it to remove all tannins

Answer 6

a) Blending it with higher-tannin varieties

Question 7

What flavors does Merlot add to blends with higher-tannin varieties?

a) Citrus fruit flavors
b) Red-fruit flavors
c) Tropical fruit flavors
d) Dark fruit flavors

Answer 7

b) Red-fruit flavors

Question 8

How does oak maturation benefit fuller-bodied styles of Merlot?

a) Adds freshness and acidity
b) Enhances tannin levels
c) Adds softness and flavor complexity
d) Reduces the alcohol content

Answer 8

c) Adds softness and flavor complexity

Question 9

Which banks of the Gironde Estuary are associated with Bordeaux Merlot wine regions?

a) Left Bank
b) North Bank
c) Right Bank
d) Upper Bank

Answer 9

c) Right Bank

Question 10

Which Bordeaux appellations are famous for Merlot-dominated wines on the Right Bank?

a) Saint-Émilion AOC and Pomerol AOC
b) Médoc AOC and Graves AOC
c) Sauternes AOC and Margaux AOC
d) Pauillac AOC and Saint-Julien AOC

Answer 10

a) Saint-Émilion AOC and Pomerol AOC

Question 11

Which neighboring regions of California are known for producing concentrated, full-bodied Merlot wines?

a) Napa Valley and Sonoma
b) Santa Barbara and Monterey
c) Paso Robles and Central Valley
d) Mendocino and Sierra Foothills

Answer 11

a) Napa Valley and Sonoma

Question 12

What are the characteristics of Merlot produced in Chile’s Central Valley?

a) Soft and full-bodied
b) Crisp and acidic
c) Bold and tannic
d) Soft and medium-bodied

Answer 12

d) Soft and medium-bodied

Question 13

In which region of Chile does Merlot ripen well?

a) Maipo Valley
b) Aconcagua Valley
c) Central Valley
d) Colchagua Valley

Answer 13

c) Central Valley

Question 14

Front: Which region in South Africa has a strong reputation for complex, age-worthy red wines?

a) Swartland
b) Franschhoek
c) Stellenbosch
d) Constantia

Answer 14

c) Stellenbosch

Question 15

How would you describe the climate of Stellenbosch?

a) Cool and maritime
b) Hot and arid
c) Moderate to warm
d) Cold and continental

Answer 15

c) Moderate to warm

Question 16

What factors can influence the climate in Stellenbosch?

a) Altitude and sea breezes
b) Rainfall and humidity
c) Soil types and vineyard orientation
d) Wind direction and temperature fluctuations

Answer 16

:a) Altitude and sea breezes

Question 17

Which region in Western Australia is known for producing high-quality wines that blend Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon?

a) Swan Valley
b) Great Southern
c) Coonawarra
d) Margaret River

Answer 17

d) Margaret River

Question 18

Which region in New Zealand is known for producing the majority of Merlot wines?
a) Marlborough
b) Central Otago
c) Hawke’s Bay
d) Wairarapa

Answer 18

c) Hawke’s Bay

Question 19

What is the range of styles for Merlot wines in Hawke’s Bay?

a) Light and crisp only
b) Fruity and aromatic only
c) Full-bodied and long-lived only
d) Light and fruity through to full-bodied and long-lived

Answer 19

d) Light and fruity through to full-bodied and long-lived

Question 20

What levels of tannin and acidity is typical of a single-varietal Merlot?

Answer 20

Medium acidity and medium tannins

Question 21

In Bordeaux, where do the most famous Merlot-dominated wines come from? Describe characteristics of the outstanding-quality wines made there

Answer 21

Saint-Émilion AOC and Pomerol AOC. Outstanding quality wines from both of these appellations are full-bodied with pronounced aromas of black fruits and flavours from oak maturation. These wines can age well in the bottle, developing complex aromas of dried fruit and tobacco

Question 22

What black grape varieties are commonly blended with Merlot in the South of France?

Answer 22

Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Syrah

Question 23

What does Merlot add to a wine when blended with higher-tannin varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 23

Merlot adds red-fruit flavours to these blends and can lower the tannin levels, making them ready to drink at an earlier stage.

Question 24

Merlot adds red-fruit flavours to these blends and can lower the tannin levels, making them ready to drink at an earlier stage.

Answer 24

Bordeaux experiences high levels of rainfall due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean

Question 25

What two rivers meet at the Gironde Estuary in Bordeaux?

Answer 25

Garonne and Dordogne Rivers

Question 26

What are the principal districts to the north and east of the Gironde and Dordogne?

Answer 26

Saint-Émilion and Pomerol

Question 27

If a wine label states ‘Bordeaux AOC’ or ‘Bordeaux Supérieur AOC’, what are some assumptions that you can make about these wines?

Answer 27

Wines labelled Bordeaux AOC or Bordeaux Supérieur AOC are typically Merlot-dominated blends. They can be made from vines planted anywhere throughout the Bordeaux region.

Question 28

Describe Merlot’s representation in the South of France.

Answer 28

Merlot is planted widely in the warm south of France. It is possible to find single-varietal Merlot across all quality levels as well as blends with other black grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Syrah.

Question 29

What might be typical characteristics one could find in a Merlot-based wine from USA labelled ‘California’?

Answer 29

Fruity, medium-bodied wines. It is common to taste pronounced flavours from oak (vanilla, coconut, smoke) in red wines from California.

Question 30

What might be typical characteristics one could find in a Merlot-based wine from the California regions of Napa Valley and Sonoma?

Answer 30

What might be typical characteristics one could find in a Merlot-based wine from the California regions of Napa Valley and Sonoma?

Question 31

What is the climate of Stellenbosch, South Africa?

Answer 31

The climate of this mountainous region varies from moderate to warm depending on vineyard altitude and influence from sea breezes.

Question 32

Where does most of New Zealand’s Merlot come from?

Answer 32

Most of New Zealand’s Merlot comes from Hawke’s Bay in the North Island.

Question 33

What is the climate of Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand?

Answer 33

This region has a moderate climate with plentiful rainfall.