Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon,

Session 5
Syrah/Shiraz

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

 Merlot

• medium acidity Moderate

• medium tannin Warm
• fruit characteristics
vary according to
ripeness

• single varietal or • very good or

blended outstanding
• simple or complex examples can age:
light- to full-bodied dried fruit
•
tobacco
• oaked or unoaked
Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019
 Merlot

Least ripe Most ripe

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

 Cabernet Sauvignon

• thick skin Moderate

• high acidity Warm
• high tannin
• black fruit
• herbaceous

• single varietal or • very good or

blended outstanding examples
• simple or complex can age:
• medium- to full-bodied dried fruit
earth
• oak maturation is forest floor
common
Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019
 Cabernet Sauvignon

Least ripe Most ripe

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

 Merlot and Cabernet
Sauvignon blends
Merlot
• often blended with high-tannin varieties such as
Cabernet Sauvignon
• to lower tannin and acidity levels
• to make wines ready to drink at an earlier age
• to add red-fruit flavours to blends
Cabernet Sauvignon
• often blended with varieties with lower tannin and
acidity levels such as Merlot
• to balance a wine’s acidity if it is too low

• to add tannin to wine for a particular style

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
BELGIUM GERMANY
FRANCE

FRANCE
Paris

Bordeaux

BORDEAUX

Marseille
SOUTH OF
FRANCE
SPAIN
Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019
 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon

FRANCE

MÉDOC

PAUILLAC

HAUT-
MÉDOC SAINT-
POMEROL
ÉMILION
MARGAUX Libourne

Bordeaux

PESSAC- GRAVES
LÉOGNAN

BORDEAUX AOC

BORDEAUX
Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019
Bordeaux appellations

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

Bordeaux classifications

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon

FRANCE
USA

CHILE
SOUTH
AUSTRALIA
AFRICA
WORLD WINE NEW
REGIONS ZEALAND

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon

NEVADA

NAPA
VALLEY

SONOMA

San Francisco

CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA Los Angeles

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon

NAPA
SONOMA

Napa
Sonoma

San Pablo
Bay

SONOMA AND San Francisco

NAPA
Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019
NAPA
VALLEY
Merlot and
NAPA VALLEY
Cabernet
NAPA Sauvignon
CALISTOGA RUTHERFORD

OAKVILLE
SONOMA
Napa
Sonoma

San Pablo
Bay

San Francisco

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
CHILE

CHILE

Santiago
MAIPO
VALLEY

COLCHAGUA
VALLEY

CENTRAL
VALLEY
ARGENTINA

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
WESTERN
CAPE

WESTERN
CAPE

Stellenbosch
Cape Town

STELLENBOSCH

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon

WESTERN
AUSTRALIA
SOUTH
AUSTRALIA
NEW SOUTH
Perth WALES

Sydney
Adelaide
MARGARET VICTORIA
RIVER
Melbourne

AUSTRALIA TASMANIA

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
SOUTH
AUSTRALIA

Adelaide

COONAWARRA

SOUTH
AUSTRALIA
Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon

Auckland

HAWKE’S
BAY

Christchurch

NEW ZEALAND
Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019
 Tasting

APPEARANCE
Intensity pale – medium – deep
Colour white lemon – gold – amber
rosé pink – pink-orange – orange
red purple – ruby – garnet – tawny

NOSE
Intensity light – medium – pronounced
Aroma characteristics e.g. primary, secondary, tertiary

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

 Tasting
PALATE
Sweetness dry – off-dry – medium – sweet
Acidity low – medium – high
Tannin low – medium – high
Alcohol low – medium – high
Body light – medium – full
Flavour intensity light – medium – pronounced
Flavour characteristics e.g. primary, secondary, tertiary
Finish short – medium – long

CONCLUSIONS
Quality poor – acceptable – good – very good – outstanding

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

 Syrah/Shiraz
• thick skin Moderate
• medium to high tannin
Warm
• medium to high acidity
• black fruit
• spice

• single varietal or • very good or

blended outstanding
• medium- to full-bodied examples can age:
dried fruit
• oak maturation is
leather
common
meat
earth
Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019
 Syrah/Shiraz

Least ripe Most ripe

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

 Syrah
BELGIUM GERMANY
FRANCE

FRANCE
Paris

NORTHERN
Bordeaux RHÔNE

Marseille
SOUTH OF
FRANCE
SPAIN
Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019
 CÔTE RÔTIE
Syrah
FRANCE

HERMITAGE CROZES-
HERMITAGE

Tain l’Hermitage

NORTHERN
RHÔNE
Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019
 Shiraz

WESTERN
AUSTRALIA
SOUTH
AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH
Perth WALES
Sydney
Adelaide

VICTORIA
Melbourne

SOUTH EASTERN
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRALIA TASMANIA

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

 SOUTH
Shiraz
AUSTRALIA

BAROSSA
VALLEY

Adelaide

SOUTH
AUSTRALIA
Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019
 Shiraz
VICTORIA AND
NEW SOUTH
WALES HUNTER
VALLEY
NEW SOUTH
WALES

Sydney

Canberra

VICTORIA

Melbourne

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

 Tasting

APPEARANCE
Intensity pale – medium – deep
Colour white lemon – gold – amber
rosé pink – pink-orange – orange
red purple – ruby – garnet – tawny

NOSE
Intensity light – medium – pronounced
Aroma characteristics e.g. primary, secondary, tertiary

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019

 Tasting
PALATE
Sweetness dry – off-dry – medium – sweet
Acidity low – medium – high
Tannin low – medium – high
Alcohol low – medium – high
Body light – medium – full
Flavour intensity light – medium – pronounced
Flavour characteristics e.g. primary, secondary, tertiary
Finish short – medium – long

CONCLUSIONS
Quality poor – acceptable – good – very good – outstanding

Issue 1.1 © WSET 2019