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Grape variety : Merlot

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Merlot: Origins and Characteristics of This Grape Variety

As the most widely planted grape variety in France and the second most planted grape variety in the world, how did Merlot become one of the most iconic red grape varieties globally? Follow our guide to discover everything you need to know about Merlot through its history, aromatic characteristics, and the wines it produces. Also, find all our tips for achieving the best food and wine pairings with Merlot-based wines.

Merlot at a glance

  • Color: red grape
  • Origin: Bordeaux (the Libournais), first recorded in the late 18th century; of the carmenet family
  • Regions: Bordeaux's Right Bank (Saint-Émilion, Pomerol), South-West France (Bergerac), Languedoc-Roussillon
  • Profile: supple, round and fleshy wines with velvety tannins; aromas of ripe fruit (plum, cherry, strawberry)
  • Serving temperature: 16 to 18 °C
  • Cellaring: accessible young or suited to cellaring depending on the cuvée

Description and Origins of This Grape Variety

Merlot is a red grape variety from the Carmenets family that appeared in the Bordeaux region at the end of the 18th century, most likely in the Libournais vineyard area. This grape variety is used in most Bordeaux appellations and represents over 65% of the planted surface. For a long time, Merlot was confined to its region of origin, but in recent decades, it has gained international success, becoming the second most planted grape variety in the world after its Bordeaux partner, Cabernet Sauvignon.

Aromatic Characteristics of Merlot

When blended with a minority of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot brings the fruitiness and softness needed to mellow out these more austere varieties. However, Merlot also possesses character and complexity on its own. On the nose, Merlot reveals aromas of ripe, almost jammy fruits (plums, cherries, strawberries), undergrowth, and flowers. The palate is powerful and fleshy, with tannins that are generally velvety.

While Merlot is an accessible grape variety when young, with its fruit-forward profile, it develops notes of truffle, leather, and dried fruits (figs, prunes) after a few years of aging. When aged in oak barrels, it may also show tertiary spicy, vanilla, and chocolate notes.

Main Terroirs Where Merlot Is Cultivated in France

As mentioned, Merlot is the quintessential red grape variety of Bordeaux and often makes up the largest part of blends when combined with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Its ideal terroir is located on the right bank north of the Dordogne, in the Libournais area. It is on these clay-limestone soils that Merlot expresses its full potential through prestigious appellations such as AOC Saint-Émilion and AOC Pomerol.

Outside its Bordeaux stronghold, Merlot is planted in many New World vineyards where it is more frequently vinified as a single varietal, in contrast to French appellations. In France, the Languedoc-Roussillon and South-West regions (particularly in AOC Bergerac) also produce numerous Merlot-based cuvées.

Best Food and Wine Pairings with Merlot

Here are our tips for a successful food and wine pairing with Merlot across the best French appellations:

  • For an appetizer with a charcuterie board, opt for a bottle of smooth and fruity Merlot from an AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux or IGP Pays d’Oc estate. Its red fruit aromas, along with tobacco and cocoa notes and silky tannins, will perfectly complement your slices of cured ham and sausage.
  • For a Tournedos Rossini with beef tenderloin and duck foie gras, indulge in a beautiful bottle from a château in AOC Pomerol or AOC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. With its rich nose of ripe red and black fruits, mocha, and truffle, these cuvées will elevate any red meat dishes.
  • To accompany a salad with gizzards or tagliatelle with salmon, try a Rosé Merlot from a château in AOC Bordeaux Clairet. Its deep pink color, fresh palate, and fruity and floral notes pair wonderfully with these dishes.

Do you want to deepen your knowledge of Merlot by tasting a new cuvée? At Avenue des Vins, each bottle is selected with the utmost care and is available for delivery to your home, directly from the estate or château of your choice. Whether you choose a bottle of Bordeaux wine made from Merlot or from any other region in France, discover our cuvées at the best price with home delivery!

Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon: what is the difference?

These two red Bordeaux grapes often share the same glass, yet they have very different temperaments. Merlot gives supple, round and fleshy wines with soft tannins and generous fruit, pleasant to drink fairly young. Cabernet Sauvignon is more tannic and more structured, sometimes austere in its youth, and rewards a few years of patience. On the right bank of Bordeaux, around Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, Merlot is the king grape; on the left bank, in the Médoc, Cabernet Sauvignon leads the blend. In most Bordeaux wines, the two complement each other: Merlot brings roundness and fruit, Cabernet the structure and aging potential.

Serving and cellaring a Merlot wine

A red wine made from Merlot is best served at around 16 to 18 °C, a temperature that highlights its ripe fruit and soft tannins without hardening the finish. Decanting the youngest cuvées for about thirty minutes opens them up and releases their aromas of plum and red fruit. For storage, keep your bottles lying down, away from light and heat, at a stable temperature. The fruit-forward Merlots of the Languedoc or the South-West are best enjoyed in their youth, when the fruit dominates, while the finest right-bank Bordeaux can age for many years and develop notes of truffle and leather.

Frequently asked questions about Merlot

Is Merlot a red grape variety?

Yes, Merlot is a red grape variety. It is in fact one of the most widely planted in the world and the king grape of the right bank of Bordeaux, where it gives supple, fleshy wines.

What does a Merlot wine taste like?

A Merlot wine is known for its supple, round profile, with plum, cherry and red fruit, and soft tannins. As it ages, it develops notes of truffle, leather and dried fruit.

At what temperature should Merlot be served?

Merlot is served between 16 and 18 °C. At this temperature its ripe fruit and velvety tannins show at their best; a short time in a decanter benefits the youngest cuvées.

What food pairs with Merlot?

Merlot pairs with red meats, charcuterie and slow-cooked dishes. The supple cuvées of Saint-Émilion, for example, suit a tournedos, while a lighter Merlot works with a charcuterie board.