merlot vs. cabernet

[wondersofwine]

Good reply, WW...but I'm going to make one quibble. You say Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are used in most of the great wines of France (all the first growths) but Burgundy is part of France and the great wines of Burgundy (grand crus) rely on Chardonnay (whites) and Pinot Noir (reds). Cabernet Sauvignon is the star in Bordeaux. Again climate and terroir make the difference in which grape does better where. I think the reason I'm only slowly developing an appreciation for cabernet sauvignon is lack of patience. It's hard for me to cellar and age them sufficiently. However, I'm still holding on to a classified '95 Bordeaux and will soon have three different 90's vintages of Chateau Talbot. And from my experience with the 1998 Chateau Leoville-Poyferre I can see how Merlot does soften the blend and make the wine approachable sooner than it otherwise would be.