The Cape Blend category requires a minimum Pinotage component of 30%. Merlot has smooth flavours like coffee and chocolate, whereas Cabernet Sauvignon presents with more spicy flavours like pepper. Cabs are powerful and bold wines, packing a punch of flavor in every sip. Mothercity Liquor is an independent online liquor store with physical stores in Cape Town. Merlot and Cabernet, they’re the two most popular red wines in America, but many people don’t know what makes each of them different and unique, or … FACEBOOK. Cool climate wines are more structured with a higher presence of tannin and earthy flavors like tobacco and tar. Cabernet Sauvignon grows everywhere and just about everyone loves a good Cab. Pinotage never has the elegance of a fine burgundy of course but it will go with the same sort of dishes as a more robust, rustic Pinot Noir: dishes like smoked duck and pulled pork for example. Merlot is the third most grown wine grape in the world. WINE SALES/ TASTING ROOM. Contact Us; In fact, Merlot is known and loved for its supple tannins and easy-drinking profile. France produces most of the world’s merlot, followed by the United States, then Italy. Shiraz and Merlot are amongst the most popular and widely loved red grape varieties of Australia. Pinorto 2018. Merlot and cabernet sauvignon sometimes get mixed up in blind taste tests and are often used in red wine blends together. Liquor City - The Liquor Boys is one of South Africa's largest independent liquor retailers. Merlot is a versatile grape that fares well in a variety of climates and soils; thus it is grown in many winemaking regions around the world. VIEW OUR. We have a newsletter covering what is going on at Beyerskloof. In some ways, this battle makes no sense. Average of 85 points in 4 community wine reviews on 2005 Herding Cats Merlot/Pinotage, plus professional notes, label images, wine details, and recommendations on when to drink. It was cultivated there in 1925 as a cross between Pinot noir and Cinsaut (Cinsaut was known as "Hermitage" in South Africa at that time, hence the portmanteau name). The Main Differences Between Merlot vs Cabernet Sauvignon are: Merlot tends to be fruity and soft, whereas Cabernet Sauvignon is tart. The Merlot grape is originally from France, and is commonly used in blended French wines such as Bordeaux. Merlot … In fact, the South African grape looks and tastes more like Shiraz even though Pinotage is technically related to Pinot Noir. 2. The bouquet shows there are rich aromas of plums and blackcurrant backed by mild wooded spices. Many South Africans usually start their red wine journey with a Beyerskloof Pinotage. Not true. Cabernet Sauvignon vs. Pinot Noir. So I'm on your side. Both of them are dark-skinned grapes that produce distinct & flavoursome wines expressing marvellous characters & features. Pinot noir (French: ) is a red wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera.The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes. Cabernet Sauvignon has a bit more backbone and tannic strength than Merlot. Order on for Delivery or Collection. The main differences between Merlot vs Pinot Noir are: Merlot is known for its softness and fruitiness, whereas Pinot Noir is more earthy with smoked notes. And while some Merlots might have higher levels of acidity than typical Cabernets, acidity makes your mouth water, not dry it out. The difference between merlot and pinot noir wines is a matter of geography. Pinotage is a one-of-a-kind red grape varietal that is an fruit-explosion with some earthiness. Unique to South Africa, it can produce complex and fruity wines with age but is also often very drinkable when young. Shop your favourite alcohol brands online! Supple, silky, fruity -- but with a little more complexity than merlot -- pinot noir is just behind cab in terms of overall wine popularity. French pinot noir has a lighter, more delicate taste than its American cousin. Shop Our Wines Online . A little bit of wine history is in order to fully understand the differences in malbec, merlot and cabernet. A blend consisting of 47 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 16% Shiraz and 12% Pinotage. So why haven’t we heard more about this deliciously dark grape? Please sign up to keep in touch. Merlot grows best, however, in cool soils like clay. Established in 2017. A wide selection of cheeses, including some Stinking Bishop, were nicely counterbalanced by Flagstone Pinotage Writer’s Block 2015 and KWV’s big and bold Abraham Perold Tributum 2014 (30% Pinotage, 32% Shiraz, 21% Merlot, 13% Cabernet and 4% Petite Sirah). Both depend on their growing conditions. Pinot Noir, on the other hand, grows in fewer regions. Cool Climate Cabernet & Merlot. In general, Merlot is softer and more supple than Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate it shows a smooth tannin structure, enhanced by a balanced oak finish. I know that I did. The name Pinotage is a little bit misleading because it sounds so much like Pinot Noir. A diverse array of wines are made by this producer including those from grapes Malbec, Mourvedre - Syrah, Pinotage - Shiraz, Rare White Blend, Rare Red Blend, Merlot, Chenin Blanc, Rare Rose Blend, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux Blend Red, and Shiraz. Pinotage / ˈ p ɪ n ə t ɑː ʒ / PIN-ə-tahzh is a red wine grape that is South Africa's signature variety. The result is an opulent red wine offering an array of red and black fruit flavours underscored by depth and complexity. Pinotage: Prof Perold’s Precious Grape. Cabernet, merlot, and zinfandel are all on the heavy side. NEWSLETTER. Welcome to Pinotage Country. VISIT US ON. Now you can shop online for liquor and non-alcoholic products. While the two wines come from different grapes, they do share a parent—cabernet Franc. Merlot is used as a blend in the best red wines in the world and produced without blending in America. Merlot vs. Cabernet Sauvignon . We have a wide variety of Beer, Spirits & Wines. Pinotage. Merlot and Shiraz are both dark grapes that are used to produce two kinds of red wine named after them. If you’re not familiar with Pinotage, you’re missing out on one of the most interesting grapes in the wine world. Merlot is a varietal that contains at least 13.5% alcohol, but can approach 14.5%, especially when it is grown in a warmer climate such as Australia, California or Chile. These wines are much richer and more powerful because the grape skin sits in the juice and extracts lots of color and tannin. In French, Merlot means The Little Black Bird. The Merlot grape is also a sibling of the Cabernet Franc grape. Merlot is an early ripener, which gives it a a softer character that is well suited to blending with higher tannin wines (such as Cabernet Sauvignon). In the Kadette, the Pinotage element is rounded off with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, all aged in oak. Both wines have flavors of juicy dark fruits and herbal notes (especially when grown in cooler climates). One of my favourite to go-to wines is a Pinotage. Merlot has low tannins, whereas Cabernet Sauvignon has very high tannins. Merlot vs Shiraz comparison. It is easy to assume they taste alike. The best examples balance lovely herb, cherry and chocolate flavors. Middelvlei Pinotage Merlot. You’ll find it in Medoc and Graves, where Cabernet Sauvignon is often blended with Merlot. 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