Merlot tasting
Make the sheets View: A4 · Letter
Merlot heads this notes page in place of the colour, and the page below is the full set of red wine rows to circle, from colour depth to how long it lasts. Merlot usually lands in the middle and soft end: medium to deep colour, ripe black and red fruit, some mouth-watering freshness, a little dry rather than rough on the mouth-drying line, and medium to full weight. Its aroma list is built for the grape: plum, black cherry, blackberry and fig in the fruit, violet, mint and bay leaf in cooler places, vanilla, clove and chocolate from oak, and leather, truffle and prune as it ages. The guess and the answer sit side by side, and the page closes with how good and whether you would buy it. It suits anyone exploring Merlot from the right bank of Bordeaux to Chile or Washington State.
Merlot is easy to drink, which makes it easy to under-describe, so slow down on the smell. Pour a small taste, give it a swirl, and tick only what you can name with confidence. Compare the mouth-drying line with a Cabernet if you have one open: the difference in grip is the main thing that separates the two. A Saint-Émilion or Pomerol will show more earth and freshness, a warm-climate bottle more plum and chocolate. Print one page per wine, the how-to page for the first time, and try two or three styles over a week. When you want them side by side, the comparison with Cabernet has its own page. Taste and spit if you work through several, and drink water between.
Questions
What does Merlot taste like?
Ripe plum and black cherry, often with chocolate, fruitcake and a little clove or vanilla from oak. It is softer than Cabernet Sauvignon, with rounder tannin and medium to full body.
Is Merlot a good wine for beginners?
Yes. Its soft tannin and ripe fruit make it easy to like, and it is a good reference red to compare others against.
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