🍷 Uncorking Bordeaux

Written by Christine Marsiglio MW

Pictured: Wine Folly’s Famous Blends Poster

Blending is Best

Some of the most famous wines in the world are blends. For example, pretty much all wines from Bordeaux are blends of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Even the white wines from there are blends. But why do winemakers blend?

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Wine Quiz

Which grape variety in Bordeaux contributes body and smooth tannins, creating a rich, luscious mouthfeel, with flavors typically including red fruits like cherry and plum, along with notes of chocolate?

  1. Cabernet Sauvignon
  2. Merlot
  3. Petit Verdot
  4. Cabernet Franc

Scroll down to find out!

Pictured: Page 131 of The Master Guide.

Smooth Operator

Did you know that Merlot is the most planted grape variety in Bordeaux? Merlot gives generous fruit flavors and polished, refined tannins to Bordeaux blends. Some of the finest Merlot in the world can be found on the Right Bank of Bordeaux.

Explore Merlot

Bordeaux Made Easy

Ever wondered what makes Bordeaux wines so unique, so sought after, so…irresistible? Or ever felt confused by a Bordeaux Wine Label? Check our Bordeaux 101 to learn more!

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Pictured: Map of the Right Bank including Pomerol from French Wine 201.

Perfect Pomerol

Some of the best, if not the best, Merlot in the world comes from Pomerol. Lush and plush with silky tannins, floral nuances, and a mix of meatiness and chocolate notes with age.

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Wine Quiz Answer

Answer – #2 Merlot

Merlot plays a crucial role in the Bordeaux blend, often counterbalancing the more robust and tannic Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cabernet Franc adds floral notes, red fruit, elegance, and acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon adds tannin, structure, and cassis notes. Petit Verdot adds lots of tannin, acid, color, and a spicy note; it’s only used in small amounts.

Written byChristine Marsiglio MW

Christine Marsiglio is Head Wine Educator and Resident Master of Wine for Folly Enterprises and Wine Folly. Christine is a certified Wine & Spirits Education Trust wine educator, a winner of the Bollinger Medal, and holds an MSc in Oenology and Viticulture from École Supérieure d'Agriculture d'Angers, France.