# So what's wrong with merlot?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-wrong-with-merlot/285059>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [January 16, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-wrong-with-merlot/285059 "2005-01-16T19:25:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-wrong-with-merlot/285059/21 "2005-01-17T06:27:22Z")

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> [@spoke-](#):
>
> What is the difference between young vine grapes and old vine grapes?

Older vines produce fewer grapes per vine, thus each grape receives a higher concentration of whatever the plant puts into its fruits. The result is supposed to be a more flavorful and complex grape, which then leads to a more flavorful and complex wine. However, there are ways to [reduce yield](http://www.worldsofwine.com/articles/000060.html) on younger vines as well, so I don’t know how much of the vaunted reputation of old vines is based on objective reality and how much on preception or hype.

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**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-wrong-with-merlot/285059/22 "2005-01-17T06:35:14Z")

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I haven’t a clue as to social standards regarding wine – I merely know what I enjoy, what I like extremely well, and what I avoid.

Merlot falls in the last category, for a strange reason. My ex-boss generously gives me a bottle of fairly expensive wine every year or so. One year, he came up with a $35 merlot for Christmas, which Barb and I were very much looking forward to trying.

Opened it. Foxed. Very.

Ever since, when I’ve tried a glass of merlot, the memory of that taste comes back, and I cannot enjoy it.

So I don’t drink merlot.

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**Author:** ![chaparralv8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@chaparralv8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaparralv8)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-wrong-with-merlot/285059/23 "2005-01-17T06:38:33Z")

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These’ll be in fashion…

[Swill](http://www.lovotti.com/brochures/Boones%20Farm%20Strawberry%20Daiquiri.html)

[plonk](http://www.thedrinksgroup.co.uk/md2020.html)

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**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-wrong-with-merlot/285059/24 "2005-01-17T12:46:06Z")

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Most Pinot Noir I’ve had is _crap_. Sheer, utter swill.  
Same for Pinot Gris (or Grigio). They’re touchy grapes that get buggered up far too often.

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**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-wrong-with-merlot/285059/25 "2005-01-17T12:54:44Z")

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Can’t go wrong with a good bottle of Boone’s Farm Blue Hawaiian. Lovely tropical nose, opens with rich coconut, long blue raspberry/Kool-Aid finish. Refreshing fizziness.

Plus, blue wine goes with _everything_.

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