Red grapeSommo grape guide

Cabernet - Grenache - Merlot - Syrah

Cabernet - Grenache - Merlot - Syrah wine guide: what this red grape tastes like, where it comes from, the regions that grow it, and what to eat with it.

Colour
Red
Body
Full
Origin
France
Top region
Catalonia
4
Key regions
3
Pairings
1
Synonyms

Cabernet - Grenache - Merlot - Syrah is a red blend rather than a single variety, and it traces back to Bordeaux and Rhône Valley, France.

Structurally it lands at full body, medium-high tannin, medium acidity, dry and medium alcohol.

Look for blackcurrant, raspberry, chocolate, spice, herbal and oak.

The regions that matter for it are Catalonia, California, South Africa and Australia.

In the vineyard it is marked by mid ripening, medium vigour and a preference for warm.

It blends readily with Malbec, Tempranillo, Zinfandel and Mourvedre.

Watch for the synonyms: Bordeaux Blend.

At the table it suits herbed leg of lamb, roasted game birds and lamb meatballs in tomato sauce.

The structure.

Body
Full
Tannin
Medium-high
Acidity
Medium
Sweetness
Dry
Alcohol
Medium
Flavours
blackcurrantraspberrychocolatespice
Aromas
herbaloakearth
Styles
dry redrich redfull-bodied red

Where it grows.

Blends well with.

Food pairings.

01 Herbed leg of lamb
02 Roasted game birds
03 Lamb meatballs in tomato sauce

Also labelled.

Bordeaux Blend.

Bottles to look for.

  • 14 Hands Winery Hot to Trot Smooth Red Blend, Washington, USA
  • A.A. Badenhorst Secateurs Red Blend, Swartland, South Africa
  • Altavins Domus Pensi Crianca, Terra Alta, Spain
  • Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofi, Priorat DOCa, Spain
  • Ardevol Coma d'en Romeu, Priorat DOCa, Spain
  • Black Slate Gratallops, Priorat DOCa, Spain
  • Bodega Les Cousins Marc & Adria L'Inconscient, Priorat DOCa, Spain
  • Bodegas Esteban Martin Reserva, Carinena, Spain

Cabernet - Grenache - Merlot - Syrah: common questions

01.
What does Cabernet - Grenache - Merlot - Syrah taste like?
+
Cabernet - Grenache - Merlot - Syrah tastes of blackcurrant, raspberry, chocolate, spice, herbal and oak, plus one more. Structurally it lands at full body, medium-high tannin, medium acidity, dry and medium alcohol.
02.
Where is Cabernet - Grenache - Merlot - Syrah from?
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Cabernet - Grenache - Merlot - Syrah originates in Bordeaux and Rhône Valley, France.
03.
Where is Cabernet - Grenache - Merlot - Syrah grown?
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The key regions for Cabernet - Grenache - Merlot - Syrah are Catalonia, California, South Africa and Australia.
04.
What food pairs with Cabernet - Grenache - Merlot - Syrah?
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Pour it with herbed leg of lamb, roasted game birds and lamb meatballs in tomato sauce.
05.
What else is Cabernet - Grenache - Merlot - Syrah called?
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Cabernet - Grenache - Merlot - Syrah is also labelled Bordeaux Blend.

Keep going: the A to Z grape index, or the wine regions of France.

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