Merlot Grape
The Merlot grape is a dark skinned Vitis Vinifera grape used to make medium bodied red wine or used in blends with other red wine grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merlot grape had its origins in Bordeaux, France and is possibly a mutation of Biturica. Merlot is one of the most planted and popular wine grapes in the world, supposedly having surpassed Cabernet Sauvignon as the most planted red grape variety in the 1990s. Merlot is bottled on its own as Merlot, or blended with other red wine grapes to smooth and soften the blend.
Some of the most famous regions around the world where the Merlot is grown include:
- Bordeaux, France - where it is typically blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and sometimes with Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carmenere. In Bordeaux Merlot can range from about 25% of the blend to nearly 100%. Chateau Petrus, one of the most famous and expensive wines in the world, is made almost entirely from Merlot.
- California
- Australia
- South America (Chile)
After fermentation, Merlot may be aged in oak barrels or blended and aged in oak barrels. Notable Merlots such as Chateau Petrus may benefit from substantial bottle aging, but in general Merlot is meant to be drunk anywhere from release to 4 to 8 years of bottle age.
Wine made from Merlot grapes is typically medium bodied soft textured red wine with fruity, berry, black cherry and herbal flavors. Merlot that is blended with other grapes can be more full bodied and the blend will exhibit flavors from its constituent grapes.
Merlot is typically served at room or cellar temperature (see: Wine Serving Temperature). Because Merlot is a soft and smooth textured wine it is a very "food friendly" wine and can easily be paired with a broad spectrum of food from fish to red meat.
More Information About Merlot
- Merlot, from Wikipedia
