Wine 101

Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are types of grapes that lend their names to varieties of red wine. In the United States, wines are typically named after the grape that produces them. In contrast, Europeans usually refer to wines by the location where they are grown, such as a Bordeaux wine, which is named for the famous wine-producing region of France.

Still, no matter where the vineyard is located or how the wine is made, the type of grape used is essential to determining the wine's personality. "Cabernet Sauvignon is marked by plum, currant and black cherry flavors and firm tannins," writes James Laube of Wine Spectator. This holds true whether it's bottled in the Stag's Leap District of Northern California's Napa Valley or an estate in Chile's Maipo Valley.

The soft and fruity Merlot grape is sweeter, smoother, and lower in tannins. This means it blends well with other grapes and is ready to drink at a younger age. In fact, it's the most widely planted variety in the Bordeaux region, and is a popular choice of American red wine aficionados.

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cabernets are deep, dark, "fruity"... primarily taste of black currant. medium to full body. almost always aged in oak for over a year. lots of tannins.

merlots have less tannins than cabernets. can be light wines, or full-bodied. always deep/dark in colour.

agree with all above.

i would only add that a cabernet often has a bit of a "pepper" taste to it as well. sounds odd to say, but drink one and you will see what i mean.

my pref, fwiw, is go with the merlot. or better yet a pinot noir - which i think (fwiw) is an easier red to drink.

Thanks all!

Co runner- you won't embarrass yourself by choosing either merlot or cab- both offer superb choices, and you can't go wrong. I am trying to learn more about wine, and I find there is so much information that it is hard to keep p with it, so I have tried to specialize in just a few wines and regions, for me mainly Oregon and CA pinot noirs and cabs- and I like Russian River Valley pinots the best- such as Failla Vineyards. Any Stag's Leap is very good, but you can get very fine wine for far less that a Stag's Leap- try brands such as Simi, St. Supery, Rombauer, Groth- all quite good and all around 20 dollars or so. If you have more money, go for Silver Oak, Duckhorn Vineyards, Cakebread, Joseph Phelps Signature, etc. These will range from around $40 to up to $100. That'll impress that little lady...

I don't know a lot about wine, just started drinking it this year (I'm a beer girl), but I love Yellow Tail Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a very smooth red wine. Under 10 bucks a bottle too. Again, I don't know what makes it taste great, but it does.

CO-Runner, if you want to seduce some great chick, pick some of the Pinot Noir of Bourgoigne.

Pinot Noir is another kind of grape. I think all the women ultimately love this wine. Its really good.

Save some cash and buy domestic. I highly recommend the 2001 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir from Oregon. This winery is run by the son of a well respected French vintner and the vine stock was imported from the Old World. This should set you back about $40 / bottle and 2001 was an excellent quality harvest in the Yamhill Valley.

It is also important to note that restaurants mark the price of wine up 100-300% of the cost. Many wines that sell for 50-60 bucks at a restaurant can be found at a liquor store for 20-25 bucks. You can get a very nice bottle of wine for a fraction of the cost at a restaurant. Another opinion on a smooth red would be a Barbera from Italy. Medium body, VERY smooth...Are usually priced medium to high in a restaurant. Beaujolais wines from France can also be light to medium bodied, and there are decent ones for cheap, but my best recommendation to anyone looking for a GOOD red wine that is not expensive is RAMSAY PINOT NOIR from Oregon. One of the best bottles around and will cost you between 10-20 bucks at a liquor store and 20-40 bucks at a restaurant. Good Luck.