- Complete the required Learn the wine, grape & idea primer before tasting.
- Watch the classroom explanation before the comparison. Keep bottle labels visible. Use matching glasses, small pours, water and a spit cup.
- Wine roles: Cabernet Sauvignon-led dry red with a documented blend; Merlot-led dry red with a documented blend.
- Compare drying grip, then body and mouthwatering. Do not use darkness as the tannin measurement.
Level 2 · Lesson 6
Cabernet: build the frame
8 min 59 secC14After Level 2 Lessons 1–5
Before you press play
Choose your preparation track
You do not need to buy every comparison wine. Choose the track that matches your time, budget, and interest.
- Match dry style and broadly similar maturity. Obtain actual blend information; a regional stereotype is not a substitute for the producer’s blend.
- Use the host sheet before buying. Photograph the sheet and candidate labels; give the pictures to your favorite AI assistant: Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, or another assistant. Ask it to cite evidence, identify missing facts and compare the roles within your budget. Verify its answer.
- Reuse suitable wines already open the same day or the next day; buying every example is unnecessary.
- No wine is required. Follow the fictional worked case, identify observation, known fact and uncertainty. Similar, reversed and unclear results are valid.
Print before class
Two sheets, two jobs
The host sheet handles buying and setup. Give every participant their own worksheet before the video starts.
Host purchase + prep sheetBottle choices, substitutions, setup, and reuse guidance
Participant worksheetPrint one copy for each learner
Taste responsibly: small pours, water, food, and spit cups are sensible equipment. Never build transport plans after the bottles are open.
Wine references for this class
Labels, technical sheets and source material
Use the named producer, wine and edition. A historical sheet or range page cannot establish the contents of another vintage.
- Bordeaux official: Cabernet Sauvignon
- Bordeaux official: Merlot
- Columbia Crest current wines
- Chateau Ste. Michelle current wines
- Columbia Crest — Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon — Washington State, USA
- Columbia Crest — Grand Estates Merlot — Washington State, USA
- Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 producer fact sheet - historical edition; verify your bottle vintage
- Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot 2021 producer fact sheet - historical edition; verify your bottle vintage
