Pinot Noir and Merlot are both very popular Noble Grape wines. Every red wine lover has their own opinions about these wines, but there is no denying that they are iconic and beloved all over the world. These wines are very different from one another, but one of their most important characteristics, their sweetness, is often overlooked. Let’s examine the flavors and tasting notes of Pinot Noir and Merlot, focusing on sweetness and pairings.

 

Pinot Noir and Merlot are both dry red wines that have some sweet flavor characteristics. Merlot is sweeter than Pinot Noir, especially when made with late-harvest grapes. Pinot Noir has the complex sweetness of red berry fruit, but it is generally subtle and only prevalent in certain younger wines.

 

Taking the time to understand the subtle flavors and characteristics of these wines opens them up to new and exciting pairings. These wines are not typically considered to be sweet wines, but if you look closely, this is among the most crucial characteristics of both wines. Comparing the sweetness of Merlot and Pinot is critical for understanding their complexity.

 

Pinot Noir Sweetness

Pinot Noir originates from the main Burgundy region of France, and these grapes have become renowned in the world of wine for the complex and varied wines that they produce.

 

These grapes are challenging to grow and maintain, and only the finest wineries are able to produce successful and delicious Pinot Noir wines. The challenges of growing these grapes produce a very wide variety of wines, each with unique and delightful characteristics.

 

Pinot is a lighter red wine compared to others, both in color and body, and the complex flavors are very, very fruit-forward. This wine is not considered to be a sweet wine, but the flavor notes present in Pinot Noir can be decided sweet if you know how to find them.

 

The beautiful flavors of red berries and winter fruits fill this wine, producing a delightful acidity and lightness. Pinot Noir is considered a dry wine, but the varied nature of this wine is known to hold sweet flavors as well.

 

The sweetness of Pino Noir is hard to find. Sweet flavors in this wine are well hidden behind layers of complexity, but once you find them, you will never think of Pinot the same way again.

 

Let’s examine some of the more common Pinot Noir tasting notes and characteristics to better understand the complex topic of sweetness in this bold wine.

 

Tasting Notes And Characteristics

Pinot Noir is difficult to define regarding flavors and tasting notes because this type of wine is so varied and complex. There are no other red wines that have as varied flavors as Pinot, and defining them is a challenge.

 

However, there are some consistent tasting notes that one may expect from most Pinot Noir varieties, but there are some challenging and sometimes unforeseen flavors that can be found here as well.

 

The most common and beloved flavors and tasting notes in Pinot Noir, particularly regarding sweetness, are those of red fruit such as cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and currents. Black fruit notes such as blackcurrant and plums can sometimes be present as well, but the red fruit notes are much more prominent.

 

The sweetness of Pinot Noir largely depends on how the wine is grown, harvested, fermented, aged, and processed. The sweetest characteristics can be found in Pinot varieties that are grown at colder temperatures, lower to the ground, and harvested relatively early.

 

These varieties will have the most fruit-forward flavors and are typically significantly sweeter on the palate than other varieties.

 

Pinot Noir Pairings

Pinot Noir is a complex wine, yet it is quite delicate when compared to other more full-bodied wines. The complex delicacy of this wine makes it ideal for many pairings, but when focusing on sweetness, the fruity flavors of this wine pair well with specific dishes.

 

Pasta with a rich tomato sauce is ideal for pairing with a sweeter Pinot Noir, as the fruity flavors will carry the tomato flavor well. The same is true for other Italian dishes.

 

Pinot Noir pairs well with fatty fish such as salmon, and it pairs very well with roasted white meat such as chicken or pork. The subtle sweetness of this wine compliments the bold flavors of fatty fish and enhances the natural flavors of white meat.

 

Merlot Sweetness

Merlot is the most popular red wine variety internationally. This wine can be complex, it is very bold, and every Merlot provides a stable flavor profile that lovers of red wine find consistent and well-balanced.

 

Merlot is also not considered to be a sweet wine, but there are some Merlot varieties that can be very fruit-forward, making them significantly sweeter than others.

 

However, while Merlot is not particularly sweet, this red is sweeter than Pinot Noir, especially Merlots from New World wineries and those that are harvested later in the season.

 

Harvesting Merlot grapes later in the harvest season produces a very fruit-forward wine with decent levels of sugar and sweetness as a result. These grapes are hardy and have a sturdy pulp, producing a very tannic wine when prepared as a Merlot wine.

 

The fruit flavors of Merlot are typically dark or black fruit flavors, which makes the sweetness experienced in this wine the type of sweetness that is pleasing on the palate rather than overpowering and dominated by the flavors of sugar.

 

Let’s take a closer look at the flavors and expected tasting notes of Merlot, focused on sweetness so that we can compare this wine more closely with Pinot Noir in this area.

 

Merlot Tasting Notes And Characteristics

Merlot has consistent, classic flavor notes of dark fruits and berries, including blackberries, black currant, and plums. These flavors are very present in the wine and provide sweeter flavors compared to other red wines.

 

The fruit flavors of Merlot make it a very strong-tasting wine. This wine also has a higher alcohol content than most other varieties, which can make the sweet flavors hard to find.

 

However, if you take the time to search it out, Merlot has a much more complex sweetness than other reds, far more complex than the surface sugar flavor. The strong fermented berry flavors make the wine sweet on a deeper level, which is why this wine pairs very well with so many various foods.

 

Merlot Pairings

Merlot is famous for many pairings, but when focusing on the sweetness of this interesting wine, there are a few excellent pairings that stand out from the rest.

 

The sweet nature of Merlot makes it an excellent pairing with beef, roasted red meats such as lamb, and even savory bread. Merlot is a wine that will never disappoint, and the sweet flavor notes make it ideal for elevating the experience of heavier meals and dishes.

 

Conclusion

Comparing the sweetness of Pinot Noir and Merlot is challenging, as these wines are so very different from one another, but they do find common ground in the complex sweetness that they both possess.

 

Merlot is a sweeter wine than Pinot Noir and is much darker and fruit-forward, especially if the grapes were harvested late. Pinot Noir is fruity if the grapes are grown in cooler temperatures, but the sweetness of this wine remains somewhat elusive if you do not know how to bring it forward.