The Merlot grape varietal is one of the world most widely planted grapes. It’s a robust fruit that is the backbone of some of the Worlds Top Bordeaux Red blends.
This is the most common grape variety in Bordeaux. It is characteristically supple and round, adding plenty of colour and the aroma of fleshy red fruits like plum, fig, and often roasted notes after a few years of ageing. Its secret: cool, moist soil is where it is best able to express its full potential.
What an odd name!
The name Merlot comes from its resemblance to the blue-black plumage of the blackbird (merle). Born of a cross between Cabernet Franc and Magdeleine Noire des Charentes, Merlot was once called Merlau, Plant MĂ©doc, SĂ©millon Rouge, BĂ©guey, Picard, Alicante, and Crabutet.
The Right Bank in Bordeaux, located north of the Dordogne and Gironde Rivers, is home to the following subregions. The dominant grape is Merlot. The right bank includes Blaye, Côtes-de-Bourg, Fronsac, Pomerol, Saint Émilion. Some of the worlds finest reds are found in Pomerol and Saint Emillion. Merlot is dominant with Cabernet Sauvignon and can Franc often added to the blend to enhance the finished wine. Strict guidelines in these regions limit the additional juices to maintain standards in each region or appellation as they are known.
Worldwide Merlot is very popular with winemakers and regions like Chile Australia and South Africa as well as parts of Northern Italy produce excellent 100% Merlot wines mostly for the mass market. Other regions like Lebanon California and New Zealand blend Merlot with Cabernet to try recreate Bordeaux style reds and Lebanese wineries produce some excellent Bordeaux style reds. Try Domaine des Tourelles and Chateau Ksara in our portfolio. From Italy one of our most popular reds Paladin Merlot Drago Rosso is a superb full bodied Merlot and well worth a try.
We stock an excellent selection of Saint Emillion Gran Cru wines in the €20-€30 price bracket. Why not visit our online store or pop in and browse the shelves and explore the delights the Merlot grape can deliver.
