WineBuddPinot Noir vs Merlot: tasting notes side by side
Both are dry reds, and neither is sweet. Pinot Noir is the lighter one, with low tannin, medium-high acidity and red fruit such as raspberry and cherry. Merlot is medium to full-bodied and soft, with medium acidity and plum, cherry or blackberry.
Pinot Noir and Merlot, line by line
These are the typical styles of each grape, not two particular bottles, so a wine in your glass may differ. Each line reads from our worked example for the grape.
| Line of the note | Pinot Noir | Merlot |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetness | Dry. | Dry. Ripe fruit can give a sweet impression even when there is no sugar left in the wine. |
| Acidity | Medium-high. | Medium. Refreshing, but not high. |
| Tannin | Low. | Soft and round. Guides rate it anywhere from low to medium-high, and it varies with climate and winemaking. |
| Body | Light to medium. | Medium to full. Warmer-climate wines are fuller. |
| Alcohol | Usually 12 to 14% ABV. Check the label. | Usually 13.5 to 15% ABV. Check the label. |
| Typical aromas | Raspberry, strawberry and cherry. Red fruit leads. Hibiscus, tea leaves, clove and incense. A little mint or vegetal note can appear. | Red plum and cherry in cooler climates. Baked blackberry and fruitcake in warmer ones. When fully ripe it can also show blackcurrant, blueberry and chocolate. Vanilla and spice if it was aged in oak. A grassy or bell-pepper note can appear in cool-climate wines. Earthy, meaty and chocolate notes can develop with age. |
Read the full tasting note for each grape
Each page has a worked note written line by line and a free blank sheet to fill in.
Questions
Which is sweeter, Pinot Noir or Merlot?
Neither is sweet. Wine Folly lists both as dry. Merlot can seem sweeter because ripe fruit gives a sweet impression, even when there is no sugar left in the wine.
Which is lighter, Pinot Noir or Merlot?
Pinot Noir. It is light to medium-bodied, with low tannin, and pale to medium in colour because of its thin skins. Merlot is medium to full-bodied, and fuller from warmer climates.
How do I tell them apart in the glass?
Start with tannin and body. Pinot Noir is low in tannin and light to medium in body, so it feels silky. Merlot is soft too, but rounder and fuller. On the nose, Pinot Noir leans to raspberry, strawberry and cherry, often with tea leaf or clove. Merlot leans to red plum and cherry in cooler climates and baked blackberry in warmer ones.
Sources
The typical aromas and structure above come from these grape guides.