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 Merlot Wine

 
 

Merlot is a red grape variety with strong historic ties to Bordeaux and the south-west of France. It is the predominant variety in most wines from Saint-Emilion and Pomerol, an area which is often seen as the home of Merlot. The variety is now widely planted in wine regions across the world, and in terms of the volumes of wine produced internationally, it is rivaled only by another Bordeaux companion, Cabernet Sauvignon.

In France Merlot is the most widely planted red wine variety of all, and it is also extremely popular in northern Italy and the warmer areas of southern Switzerland. The popularity of Merlot in the United States saw a significant increase in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, particularly in California and Washington on the country’s west coast. Although Merlot-based wines were the height of fashion then, popularity has since dropped significantly in favor of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir. Further south in the Americas is Chile, a country which has long been known as a source of good value wine - a reputation built in no small part on its Merlot-based cuvees. The country has made good use of Merlot in both the high-production wines and some of its finer wines, particularly those from Apalta and the wider Colchagua Valley.

Investigations into the genetics of Merlot, to establish its place in the vitis vinifera family tree suggest that it is closely related to Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, its Bordeaux blending partners. Carmenere, an historic member of the extended ‘Bordeaux variety is also a close relative of Merlot, for which it was mistaken for many years in the vineyards of Chile.

The precise flavors which Merlot imparts to a wine are not easily grouped. It is a grape used for producing wines of a particular texture, rather than a particular taste, relying on organoleptic properties other than just flavor and aroma. Smooth, rounded and ‘easy-drinking’ are common descriptions of Merlot wines. The main reason for this is that Merlot grapes are relatively large in relation to their pips and skin thickness, where the tannins are to be found. For this reason, the variety is used to soften wines made from more tannic varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon (in the Medoc) or Malbec (in Cahors). It is also used in cooler vintages to balance the austerity of under-ripe grapes and to make the wines more approachable at an earlier age.

Merlot might be seen as the ‘reliable’ grape variety, or as an insurance policy. Not only will it soften wines and make them more widely appealing, but it is also an early-maturing variety meaning that it ripens even in slightly cooler climates. Its key drawback however, is that the early-developing flowers are more susceptible to frost damage in spring.

Where it's used: Expand/collapse
 

Click on a listed Merlot wine below for price and wine store information.  

We have found 4,042 wines made from this grape variety, only the first 500 will be shown. Displaying 1 to 25.
Wine Name (by Search Rank, sort by Name) Region   
1. Petrus, Pomerol, France Pomerol   $2,798
2. Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy Bolgheri   $564
3. Chateau La Fleur-Petrus, Pomerol, France Pomerol   $239
4. Marilyn Monroe Wines 'Marilyn' Merlot, Napa Valley, USA Napa Valley   $73
5. Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley, USA Napa Valley   $52
6. Tua Rita Redigaffi Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy Tuscany [Toscana]   $253
7. Chateau La Croix de Gay 'Chateau La Fleur de Gay', Pomerol, France Pomerol   $112
8. Le Macchiole Messorio Bolgheri Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy Tuscany [Toscana]   $245
9. Blackstone Winemaker's Select Merlot, California, USA California   $9
10. Fattoria Petrolo Galatrona Merlot Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy Tuscany [Toscana]   $109
11. Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot, California, USA California   $60
12. Sterling Vineyards Vintner's Collection Merlot, Central Coast, USA Central Coast   $13
13. Chase Era Stags' Leap Winery Merlot, Napa Valley, USA Napa Valley   $33
14. Shafer Merlot, Napa Valley, USA Napa Valley   $49
15. Pahlmeyer Merlot, Napa Valley, USA Napa Valley   $88
16. Chateau Faugeres Cuvee Speciale Peby, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France Saint-Emilion Grand Cru   $117
17. Sterling Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley, USA Napa Valley   $21
18. HRM Rex Goliath Giant 47 Pound Rooster Merlot, California, USA California   $6
19. Falesco Montiano Lazio IGT, Lazio, Italy Lazio   $41
20. Twomey Cellars Merlot, Napa Valley, USA Napa Valley   $54
21. Robert Mondavi Winery Merlot, Napa Valley, USA Napa Valley   $19
22. Markham Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley, USA Napa Valley   $19
23. Beringer Vineyards Bancroft Ranch Howell Mountain Merlot, North Coast, USA Howell Mountain   $66
24. Leonetti Cellar Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, USA Walla Walla Valley - Washington   $82
25. Columbia Crest H3 Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills, USA Horse Heaven Hills   $14
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