It’s hard to choose between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; both are great red wines from the same Cabernet Franc ancestry, but each wine varietal has something special. All grapes are distinct and suit different occasions, food pairings, and individual preferences. So, to see which one is best for you, let’s break down the differences between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and why Cellar Beast wines could be the perfect match for someone seeking some pronounced flavors and structure.

Merlot from Red Mountain AVA in Washington State begins primary fermentation in a macro bin.

Critical Differences Between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot

1. Flavor Profiles

Cabernet Sauvignon: A bold dark-fruit cult wine, the taste of Cabernet Sauvignon typically has notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, and occasionally black cherry ripe fruit flavors, with a hint of green pepper, cedar, and spice. It’s a wine of layers and texture, often developing notes of tobacco or leather as it matures.
Merlot: Merlot, by contrast, tends to be gentler and more approachable. It delivers aromas of plum, raspberry, ripe strawberry, and black cherry fruit notes with an occasional tang of the French oak barrel aging of chocolate or vanilla. Merlot is rounder and smoother than Cabernet, a very easy-drinking grape, although both typically highlight dark fruit flavors.

2. Tannin and Structure

Cabernet Sauvignon: With its firm tannins and sturdy body, Cabernet Sauvignon is suited for aging and drinking alongside rich foods. Its tannins provide a robust tongue structure, making for a wine that holds a powerful and memorable punch. This configuration makes it the perfect destination for adventurous wine drinkers.
Merlot: Merlot tends to have a lighter tannin structure and a smoother, rounded mouthfeel with an elegant finish. It’s less intense than Cabernet and, therefore, isn’t too intimidating for those who prefer a light red. Even if it retains structure, Merlot tends to be consumed young because its soft tannins and fruity flavors can be readily obtained at any stage.

3. Body and Acidity

Cabernet Sauvignon: Cabernet is a full-bodied wine with relatively high acidity, which gives it a refreshing, mouthwatering taste. This acidity offsets the wine’s opulent fruit aromas and tannins, making it ideal for rich meals.
Merlot: Merlot is a medium—to full-bodied wine with lower acidity than Cabernet. Its mild flavor makes it an excellent food pairing for everything from pasta to roasted chicken.

4. Aging Potential

Cabernet Sauvignon: Due to its tannin content and acidity, Cabernet Sauvignon has an excellent aging potential. In the bottle, the tannins loosen, and the wine ripens into rich aromas of dried fruit, leather, and astringency.
Merlot: Merlot will age well, especially from premium areas, but most are consumed within a couple of years of vintage. Its soft tannins and lower acidity mean that it can be enjoyed younger, although some Merlots can age well.

Directly from Washington State, Alek loads Cabernet Sauvignon into the destemmer as the first phase of the winemaking process.

Which Wine Suits Your Taste?

Choose Cabernet Sauvignon If You Like:

It is an aggressive, complex wine with ample tannins and a lush, structured character.
Blackberry, blackcurrant, roasted spices, and a slight savory note.
It is an aggressively oenophilic, tannic wine with good potential to age and develop.

Choose Merlot If You Like:

It is a velvety, soft, approachable wine with silky tannins and a creamy texture.
Fresh fruit such as plum, raspberry, black cherry, chocolate or vanilla.
It is a young wine you can savor and enjoy on any occasion.

What are Bordeaux blends?

In the Old World – and Bordeaux in particular – Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot tend to be blended to produce wines of impressive elegance, density, and aging potential. Bordeaux’s main cooler climate subregions, Left Bank and Right Bank, reflect their respective styles, with Cabernet-dominated blends on the Left Bank and Merlot-dominated wines on the Right.

Left Bank (Cabernet Sauvignon-Dominant)
Bordeaux’s Left Bank, which includes Médoc and Pauillac, is also famed for Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blends. A robust tannic structure sets off their intense blackcurrant fruit, cedar, graphite, and earth flavors. Left Bank wines are ideally suited to slow aging, where they build up layers of leather, tobacco, dark chocolate, and forest floor.
Right Bank (Merlot-Dominant)
The Right Bank, particularly Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, produces Merlot-dominant blends with a softer, rounder, fruitier flavor than Left Bank wines. These Merlot-driven wines deliver plum, blackberry, and chocolate notes in a velvety palate accessible as a young wine but can mature into complexity as time passes.
Cellar Beast’s Grand Mélange is produced in the Right Bank Bordeaux style, relying heavily on Merlot as a core varietal to deliver a silky wine of richness and elegance. It’s a wine that blends Merlot's dark, ripe flavors with complements from other Bordeaux grapes, a perfect match for lovers of Right Bank Bordeaux’s luxurious, sophisticated look.

From the bold, linear style of the Left Bank to the smooth, soft texture of the Right Bank, Cellar Beast offers wines in honor of Bordeaux’s heritage, such as our Grand Mélange and our Left Bank-inspired Midnight Archer.

Mark Pagliaro prepares Red Mountain Merlot grapes to eventually become his signature wine, the Grand Melange.

Why Cellar Beast’s Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Midnight Archer, and Grand Mélange are Must-Try Wines

If you love the power, structure, and complexity of Cabernet Sauvignon, our Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is for you. Straight from Washington State’s Yakima Valley, this Reserve embodies the best of Cabernet Sauvignon, ripe with blackberry, plum, and spice notes and supported by a firm tannic structure to add balancing and complexity. Be it drinking straight off the vine or cellaring until later, the Cabernet will continue to build layers of beauty and complexity as it matures.

Our Midnight Archer blend offers a robust, ordered vibe if you’re looking for a classic Left Bank Bordeaux wine. Built from Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain wine region's premier Quintessence Vineyard, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, Midnight Archer offers dark fruit, firm tannins, and a hint of earthiness. It’s a bold, sophisticated Cabernet-based wine and is a treat for those who like a severe Bordeaux-style red. The 2022 Midnight Archer features a small dash of Carmenere, which lends a hint of green bell pepper, the same winemaking philosophy of Bordeaux blends that were made two hundred years ago.

If you want a lighter, Right Bank feel, our Grand Mélange combines Merlot, from Scootney Flats Vineyard of Red Mountain AVA in Washington State, with contributing Bordeaux varietals to create a fruity, opulent, and highly drinkable wine. With flavors of plum, blackberry, and a hint of chocolate, Grand Mélange has a creamy texture and round mouthfeel that will satisfy those seeking a more mature but approachable red wine.

Whether you love the intensity of our Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve varietal wine, the elegance of Midnight Archer, or the silky elegance of Grand Mélange, all of these Cellar Beast wines are distinctive.

You can find the variety and depth of red dry wine with these great Cellar Beast Winehouse bottles and see which will suit your style. Stop into our tasting room, learn about our Old-World winemaking techniques, and discuss the differences between Washington State wines and warmer climate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons and Napa Valley Merlots. Also, read more about possible food pairings in our blog series.

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Drawing on expertise from the wine industry and the acclaimed winemaking of Matt Check, Co-Founder and Head Winemaker at Cellar Beast, this guide ensures accurate, reliable insights into Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Matt’s wines, including award-winners like The Dark Angel, showcase his commitment to crafting exceptional wines that bring out the best in each varietal. While Cellar Beast wines are featured, these recommendations are designed to guide wine lovers in selecting their perfect match for any occasion.

Explore Cellar Beast’s Wines: Browse our handpicked selection of wines here. For personalized pairing advice or any questions about our wines, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

This article was written by Matt Check, a certified sommelier and winemaker at Cellar Beast Winehouse, with over 10 years of experience in crafting premium wines.