What is the difference between Cabernet and Merlot?

Answer 1

Grapes and taste.

Cabs are bold and less sweet. Good w/ steak.

Merlots are fruitier and milder. Good w/ pork, chicken & even fish.

Answer 2

Difference Between Cabernet And Merlot

Answer 3

From "Conversations on Merlot," by Mary Foster, I quote the following distinctions:

Varietal Characteristics

Now I'll take a stab at the Merlot and Cab comparison. Since Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are two different varieties of wine-grapes, like two different varieties of any fruit, berries for example, each has different varietal characteristics. With wine-grapes, their taste and aroma characteristics are best revealed from perfectly ripe fruit, and when made into wine.

Physically different, the Merlot grape is larger and has a thinner skin than the Cabernet grape. This is significant, as it is from the grape's skin that tannin is introduced into a wine. So the longer you leave a wine to ferment with the skin, the more introduction of tannin (or tannins, as there are more than one).

As a rule of thumb, Merlot, being a slightly larger grape, has a higher ratio of grape juice to skin than Cabernet, resulting in a wine that is generally not as tannic in concentration as Cabernet. Tannin is what gives wine its color and is not a taste, really, but a tactile sensation in your mouth. You can feel tannins -- that kind of dry, "strong tea" puckering quality you get. Very importantly, tannin is an aging factor.


Here are their definitions, according to Richard Peterson, PhD. from the website www.tastings.com (the Beverage Tasting Institute):

Cabernet Sauvignon: "The king of red wine grapes, the classic variety of the Bordeaux region of France and of many other regions around the world."

Merlot. (pronounced mer-low') "One of the great red varieties of Bordeaux. Also produces fine red wines in California, Chile, Australia, Argentina and in many other regions. Merlot wines are often blended with Merlot's cousin, Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot wines tend to be lighter, with a little less intense varietal character than do Cabernet Sauvignon wines. They also tend to age a little faster in the bottle, making the wine somewhat quicker to attain peak drinkability in your cellar. I've always thought that Merlot must have been developed by an impatient Cabernet Sauvignon drinker. In general, I don't think Merlot is quite as rich as Cabernet although there certainly are some great Merlots to be found."

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Personally, my preference is Cabernet. I find that it is a bit more full-bodied and robust than Merlot. To my taste, Merlot's flavor is not as round, and is slightly bitter. I'd still take it over a white wine, any day! Hope this helps you.

Answer 4

Merlot is real dry, and Cabernet is a little sweet

Answer 5

The type of grape. Borth are red wines but the cab grape has a bit less body to it.

Answer 6

2 different types of grapes

Answer 7

The type and blending of the different grapes

Answer 8

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