By Robert Giles

Oft maligned by many wine drinkers, merlot is one of the most important grapes available to a winemaker.

At one point, merlot was one of the most popular single varietal wines in California. With that popularity came a flood of subpar wines that didn’t have the proper care put into their creation. This explosive growth led to the satirization found in the movie Sideways. While it is often credited for the drop in merlot’s popularity, the movie only pointed to the overabundance of the wine on the market and the drop in quality.

Historically, and another reason why this grape is so important, merlot is used as a blending grape to round out the body and flavors of other varietals. On its own merlot shows medium acidity with medium tannins. When the fruit is harvested early it will show strawberry and red plum while later harvesting will lead to cooked blackberry and black plum flavors. Each growing region will have a slightly different style to it and, sometimes, winemakers will use it almost exclusively as a blending grape.

French Bordeaux uses merlot as one of the two grapes that will be in every bottle. The St. Émilion region uses merlot as the base of their wines, blending it in cabernet sauvignon to increase tannins and then usually a third grape to achieve their desired style. A great example of what to expect from these wines is D de Dassault. This medium bodied wine will reflect the red fruit flavors of merlot and its ability to rein in the tannins of cabernet. If you happen to see it in your travels, Pétrus is a rare, pure merlot wine from within the Pomerol region.

South Africa is a country that is starting to see more prestige within the wider wine community and the quality of their wines justify it. Stellekaya Merlot shows the effect of a slightly warmer growing climate on the resulting wine. Dark fruit flavors of blackberry and plum combine with hints of light red cherry and mint and soft tannins that make for a strongly structured and rich wine.

Australia, with its warmer climate and richer fruit, continues the tradition of Bordeaux in using merlot as a blending grape. Molly Dooker Two Left Feet blends merlot with Shiraz and cabernet to create a smooth rich blend that keeps you coming back for more. With Shiraz as the base, merlot is used to control the vibrancy of the tannins while adding floral aromas and notes of dark plum and mocha.

The United States is known for a wide range of styles in merlot. From the cooler Sonoma region you have St. Francis Merlot with its layers of plum, dried currant and savory spices. This wine has a long, silky finish and a good acidity. In the Napa Valley you get a merlot from a warmer region. Duckhorn Merlot is known for its velvety smooth tannins around layers of dark plum, black cherry, and baking spices. This is the flagship wine of Duckhorn Vineyards and it shows in every bottle.

While the overall popularity of merlot may have fallen in recent years, the importance of the grape remains. Whether blended into another wine or on its own, merlot is a shining example of a grape’s popularity standing the test of time.

These wines are fantastic additions to any evening and worth keeping on hand for special occasions and wonderful evenings at home.

If you want to explore more styles of merlot you can always ask any of our wine specialists and we can help you find your perfect merlot. Cheers!