Cabernet vs Merlot: Which wine to choose?

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are very similar varieties, which is why it is so difficult to distinguish their wines. You could even say that they are sisters, as they both share Cabernet Franc as a parent grape and emerged between 1600 and 1700 in the Bordeaux region of France.

Since then, the two grapes have become the two most cultivated red wine varieties in the world. How do you know which one to choose? Here we help you with some clues to make that complex decision.

 

Pros and Cons

A great way to make this decision is to take stock of the pros and cons that each has to offer. Thus, we will see that Cabernet Sauvignon has as advantages its long finish, the fact of being tasty and offering a lot of tannin, as well as a great ageing potential, it is also important to take into account that it is usually more expensive and that the large amount of tannin for some can be considered a disadvantage, as it can have an abrasive taste.

On the other hand, while Merlot is underrated, does not have as good a reputation and is often not as complex as Cabernet Sauvignon, it can offer a smooth finish (due to less tannins), a fruity flavour and is affordable.

 

Differences on the palate

Despite their similarity, we can find differences when tasting each wine. For example, while in Cabernet Sauvignon we can distinguish savoury flavours of black sultanas and pepper, in Merlot more fruity flavours of plum and cherry predominate. As Merlot tends to have a fruitier taste, it tends to be sweeter, although this depends to a large extent on its origin.

If we compare a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Merlot produced in the same way in the same area, the Cabernet Sauvignon will offer a more intense flavour due to its high tannin content. However, as we said before, it all depends on where the wine comes from.

Cold climate wines are more structured, with a higher presence of tannins and earthy flavours such as tobacco and tar. In fact, some cold climate Merlot wines, such as Bordeaux, are often mistaken for Cabernet Sauvignon.

On the contrary, warm climate wines, such as those from Mendoza (Argentina), are more characterised by fruity flavours and less predominant tannin. That is why the opposite happens here: some warm climate Cabernet Sauvignon is mistaken for Merlot. To give the wine more structure, some producers use oak ageing.

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