Wine is wine is wine – said no wine aficionado ever. There are expectations in each bottle of wine. From blends like Bordeaux, where wine from the right bank is distinctly different from the left bank, to varietal wines, that is wine made from one single type of grape, understanding the wine’s profile is both a wine enthusiast’s hobby, and a sommelier’s profession.
Trying to understand these characteristics in wine can be difficult. These are the typical, inherent aromas, flavours, body, etc. that you expect from a particular grape variety. What with so many options to choose from – from different price points to different countries- and there being only so many days in the week to try them all – sometimes you just have to buy a wide range and make your own tasting.
The homework for today: Merlot.
My plan is to continue these explorations into wine profiles using only wines I can find for an average of 5€. The Canadian in me screams “this is impossible!”, but the German resident (and Wine Business student) in me knows that the average retail price for imported wines as of 2010 was 2.27€/L. So the quality might not be the best of the best, but I can find wines from the old and new world and use this experience to increase my knowledge on wine profiles.
The Merlot’s up to bat today include:
Gallo 2014, California: 4.99€
Undurraga 2013, Chile: 5.99€
Bertoldi Rotondo 2013, Italy: 3.99€
Chateau Penin Grand Sélection 2010, Bordeaux (found this one in the house, but retails for about 10€)
Baron Philippe de Rothschild 2014, Pays D’Oc: 3.79€
The verdict? As expected, the warmer climate grown grapes presented with much stronger blueberry/blackberries and vanilla aromas and flavours, with the California Merlot striking an in-your-face blow. Too much so in my opinion. The Chilean was a little subtler and more balanced with cedar, raspberry, and plum flavours, in addition to blueberry and vanilla. The Italian was the lightest in colour, had the lowest alcohol content in the tasting at 12%, and tasted more of sour red current, cherry, raspberry, and herbs. The two French wines differ noticeably, though the age and quality may have played a difference. The Bordeaux was juicier and slightly fruitier than the Pays D’Oc, while the Pays D’Oc was more herbaceous.
Merlot may not be my wine of choice, but through practice (yay wine tasting!) I will be better able to identify Merlots in the future. Practice makes perfect!
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