Merlot Tasting Guide: What Merlot Tastes Like

Below is a chart that identifies and categorizes the spectrum of aromas and flavors you are likely to encounter in Merlots from around the world. Where do these aromas and flavors come from? The grape itself. From the influence of weather, climate and soil in areas or vineyards. From the winemaking. And from the aging process.

The Merlot taste map is divided into 9 general categories (Fruit, Herb, etc.). Within each are more specific terms or descriptors (Plum, Grass, Violet). Most Merlots will have characteristics from at least two categories (usually Fruit, Herb, Wood, or Vegetable); some will display aromas/flavors from every category simultaneously.

Tasting Tip: The next time you taste Merlot, try to identify its aromas and flavors by general category.

Earth	Nut	Foods	Flower	Wood

(earthy)	(nutty)	(food products)	(floral, flowery)	(woody)

Underbrush Humus Mushroom Truffle	Walnut Hazelnut (Filbert) Peanut Almond	Cocoa Chocolate Mocha Coffee Cherry Cola-Cola BEEF BROTH Grilled Meat Leather Baked Bread Toasted Bread Butterscotch Caramel Toffee Wood Aged Brandy-Cognac Soy Sauce	Violet Rose Lavender Dried Flowers	OAK EUCALYPTUS CEDAR Pine (Pine Needle) Resin Raw/Green Wood Tar TOASTED OAK Wood Smoke, Smoky Charred Wood Tree Bark Sawdust

Spice	Fruit	Herb	Vegetable

(spicy)	(fruity)	(herbal)	(vegetative)

VANILLA PEPPER (Black Peppercorn) ANISEED, FENNEL SEED LICORICE Juniper Berry Cinnamon Clove	PLUM CHERRY (Black Cherry) BLUEBERRY CURRANT (Black, Red) Huckleberry Cranberry RASPBERRY BLACKBERRY (brambleberry) Strawberry BERRY Red Table Grape Raisin Grape Fig Coconut	LEAF BAY LEAF (laurel) BLACK TEA GREEN TEA Angelica Dill Tarragon Dried Leaf -Green Leaf CIGAR TOBACCO Cigar Box Tobacco Leaf MINT (family) Oregano Sage Thyme Basil Peppermint GRASS Green Grass Straw, Hay Cereal Grain Wheat Flakes	GREEN OLIVE BLACK OLIVE GREEN BEAN SWEET PEPPER TOMATO Cauliflower Green, Bell Pepper Red Pepper, Pimiento POTATO (Baked, Roasted) BEET (Beet Root) Asparagus

Next Page: Best Merlot Wine Regions

1	Meet Merlot!	3	Best Merlot Wine Regions	5	Styles of Merlot
2	Merlot Aromas & Flavors	4	Pairing Merlot with Food	6	Serving & Aging Merlot

About the Merlot Wine Guide

The Vino! Guide to Merlot wine is based on Ronn Wiegand's fantastic TasteTour Merlot wine guide. Enjoy this online guide and then buy the printed guide to use when enjoying Merlot anytime, anywhere.

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