Navigating the World of Red Wine
Have you ever been overwhelmed by the questions your server asks about red wine? It can be a lot to take in, especially when they start mentioning tannins and jammy flavors. Take a deep breath and relax. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most popular red wine varietals and their unique flavor profiles. We’ll also examine their stylistic differences from region to region, so you’ll know what to expect from each type of wine.
PINOT NOIR
The Chameleon Soul of Red Wines
Let’s start at the beginning with a grape that has a very special place in my heart, pinot noir. Like my favorite white grape, riesling, pinot noir is very dynamic and expressive. It is capable of putting on a new face with every region. It is lighter bodied and less tannic. What it lacks in color is often made up for in rich and diverse aromas.
In areas like California where the grapes are often allowed to ripen more characteristics of ripe raspberries, baked cherries and baking spices will explode on the palate. Differing from California both French and Oregonian pinot’s tend to be more refined and mineral driven. Tart cranberries and bing cherries often accompany flavors of mushrooms and damp earth.
In general, it is a fruit driven red wine with a lighter body than most reds. It shows low tannins, with medium alcohol and bright acid. Because of it’s chameleon effect I have always said that if given only one red wine I had to drink of the rest of my life, it would be pinot noir.
MERLOT
A Great Red Wine to Expand Your Palate
If your palate is ready to step up its tannin game but isn’t quite ready for the tannin monster of Cabernet, merlot is a great next step. Flavors of blackberry, casis, plums, dark chocolate, and mocha are a staple for merlots around the world. They are round, plump, rich and complex in structure.
In California merlots will generally be accompanied with the flavor of blackberry, chocolate and vanilla. French merlot, being grown in a cooler climate, will usually be more refined with flavors of red plums and notes of cedar and mocha. Walla Walla, a wine region in Washington state, is one of my favorites for merlot. Their merlot is rich and luscious filled with bing cherry, ripened plums, blackberries and distinctive earth notes.
While cheap merlot can tend to be lacking the complex nuances that make merlot, it is generally a very approachable wine. Fruit driven and full bodied, the tannins are present but not overbearing. Merlot’s medium acid, and higher alcohol makes it a great place to start expanding your palate.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
One of the Most Popular Red Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the most popular red varietals, is structured and complex. It’s a powerful and elegant red wine in it’s best forms. Generally dominated with flavors of blackberry, black currant, baking spices, cedar and often tobacco it is one of the more tannic red wines.
In California cabernet sauvignon is lush with flavors of ripe black fruits, black peppercorns, licorice, leather and cocoa. It is generally higher in alcohol and will have more oak prevalence. True to the Old World Style French cabernets will have more notes of red fruit and mint. Their tannins will be more refined. These Wine often differ more from vintage to vintage.
When looking at Cabernet Sauvignon you can generally bet that it will be fruit driven but not overly jammy, full bodied, high in tannins with a fairly high alcohol level and medium acid.
SYRAH
Red Wine With A Little of Everything
The last varietal we will look at is Syrah. This is a wine I will recommend to those that love a full bodied red, but are looking an explosion on jammy fruit to mask the tannins. Often I will describe syrah as luscious but powerful.
French Syrah’s will lead with flavors of smoke and bacon, accompanied by coffee and baking spices. With a full body and jammy fruit they are balanced with notes of green peppercorn. Differing from France in California, syrah’s tend to be more fruit driven. Your palate is filled with flavors of baked blackberry and blueberry offset by sweet tobacco, chocolate, and vanilla.
The beauty of a syrah is it’s fruit driven but full body. Generally they will have medium tannins and bright acid.