Merlot is a red wine grape from Bordeaux in France.
New to red wine? Start with Merlot!
![]() Raspberry |
![]() Black Cherry |
![]() Plum |
![]() Blackberry |
![]() Blueberry |
![]() Violets |
![]() Herbs |
![]() Pepper |
![]() Vanilla |
![]() Coffee |
![]() Chocolate |
![]() Tobacco |
Raspberry, Black Cherry, Plum, Tobacco and Vanilla are typical Merlot flavors.
Merlot is a medium wine with medium tannins and acidity:
BODY | Medium - Plus | ||
TANNINS | Medium | ||
FRUIT | Medium | ||
ACIDITY | Medium - Plus | ||
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![]() Finger Food |
![]() Pizza |
![]() Hamburger |
![]() Ham |
![]() Casseroles |
![]() Pasta |
![]() Mushroom |
![]() Chicken |
![]() Rabbit |
![]() Pork |
![]() Lamb |
![]() Veal |
Merlot goes well with a wide variety of food.
Sipped alone is a wonderful meditation wine.
Excellent Pairing:
French Cuisine. Italian Dishes (Tomato Based).
Pizza. Baked Pasta. Lasagna.
Spaghetti Meatballs. Hamburger.
Fried or Grilled Mushrooms.
Casseroles. Beef Stew.
Veal Chops. Wiener Schnitzel.
Meatloaf. Beef Wellington.
BBQ. Chicken. Pork. Rabbit.
Roasted Lamb. Lamb Chops. Lamb Shank.
Red Meat Dishes.
Cheese:
Aged Cheese. Cheddar. Gouda. Pecorino.
The Bordeaux glass is perfect for a bodied red wine.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The large size of the glass allows the bouquet to develop. It smooths out rough edges, plays down tannins, and allows the wines to achieve balance.
The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.
Merlot is the second most planted grape in the world.
Merlot is one of the primary grapes used in both "Bordeaux Right Bank" and "Bordeaux Left Bank" blends, along with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Merlot adds softness and mouth-watering fruit creating the perfect marriage with the more masculine grape Cabernet Sauvignon. The name Merlot derives from French "Merle" (Blackbird) for its dark color.
100% Merlot wines exist and they are some of the world´s most expensive wines such Chateau Petrus (Pomerol, Bordeaux) or Ornellaia (Bolgheri, Tuscany).
Merlot is known to be easy to drink, both alone and with food and therefor a perfect introduction to redwine for the newcomers.
The best Merlots are produced in Pomerol in Bordeaux, where the soil makes wines with more flavor and complexity than usual. The neighboring area of Saint Émilion uses more Cabernet Franc in the mix, and lighter wines are made here than in Pomerol.
The river Gironde splits the area in the famous Left Bank (Southwest) and the Right Bank (Northeast) where the two famous, but very different, Bordeaux Blends are produced.
On the Left Bank, Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape.
A typical top-quality "Bordeaux Blend" consists of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Merlot.
Left Bank wines are often spicy with bold tannins and are good candidates for aging.
On the Right Bank, Merlot is the primary grape.
A typical Right Bank blend consists of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Right Bank wines are also bold, but smoother, with softer tannins and typical Merlot fruity flavors. They can age, but are more "drink me soon" style.
Bordeaux Rouge
Cabernet Sauvignon
Médoc
Margaux
Graves
Pessac-Léognan
Bordeaux is dominated by red wine. Nearly 90% of all Bordeaux wine is red.
The most planted grape is Merlot, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon.
66% Merlot
23% Cabernet Sauvignon
10% Cabernet Franc
2% Malbec
1% Petit Verdot
47% Sémillon
45% Sauvignon Blanc
5% Muscadelle
Bordeaux Blanc
Pessac Léognan
Entre-Deux-Mers
Sémillon
Sauternes (Sweet)
On the Left Bank, Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape.
A typical top-quality "Bordeaux Blend" consists of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Merlot.
Left Bank wines are often spicy with bold tannins and are good candidates for aging.
The terroir is rocky, with gravel (stones) and some limestone.
In the wine world, this bad soil means good wine because the more the roots have to struggle, the better the quality. Rocky soils and hillsides give a good drainage (too much water gives a watery berry).
Famous appellations are:
Flavors:
Young: Spices. Earth. Tobacco.
Aged: Leather. Smoke. Truffle. Herbs. Cigar box.
On the Right Bank, Merlot is the primary grape.
A typical Right Bank blend consists of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Right Bank wines are also bold, but smoother, with softer tannins and typical Merlot fruity flavors. They can age, but are more "drink me soon" style.
The terroir on the right bank is less difficult, with less gravel and more clay and limestone.
Famous appellations are:
Flavors:
Young: Black Cherry. Red Plum. Flowers. Chocolate. Licorice.
Aged: Earth. Truffle. Dark Chocolate. Tobacco.
White Bordeaux uses Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion as primary grapes.
Alcohol can be addictive. Drink in moderation.
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