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Merlot is a dark blue-coloured wine grape variety used to make varietal wines and blends. The name "Merlot" is believed to derive from the diminutive of "merle," the French name for the blackbird, and is most likely a reference to the grape's colour. Merlot is a popular wine grape because of its early ripening, softness, and "fleshiness."
Although Merlot is produced worldwide, there are usually two primary varieties. Many New World wine regions favour the "International style," which emphasises late harvesting to achieve physiological ripeness and results in inky, purple wines with high alcohol content and smooth, velvety tannins with hints of plum and cherry.
The traditional "Bordeaux style" of Merlot entails harvesting Merlot earlier, even though many Bordeaux wine producers follow this international style. By doing this, the acidity is maintained, and more medium-bodied wines with moderate alcohol levels and notes of fresh red fruit (strawberries, raspberries) and possibly lush vegetation are produced.
Nevertheless, Merlot has a reputation for being a light-bodied wine, a kind of starting wine appropriate for novice wine lovers. Learn about well-known brands!
Top 8 Merlot Wines Brands To Taste
Realm The Tempest 2017
Realm Cellars winemaker Benoit Touquette created a perfect storm of grape varietals to create this Bordeaux-inspired bottle of perfection, The Tempest, a wine to be reckoned with. A bottle that epitomises the promise of Napa's renowned Stags Leap District, led by merlot grapes but surrounded by cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and petit verdot, it demonstrates how Beckstoffer grapes, handled properly, can produce outstanding wines.
Lohr Estates Los Osos Merlot
This winery is a mainstay, a pioneer in the Paso Robles industry. When a winery reaches that level of prominence, it's simple to ignore its well-known label in favour of something fresh and intriguing. Because this clone achieves phenolic maturity, the result is a wine with more juicy acidity than you might anticipate. All in all, lightness and freshness make this a superb wine for the price. Perhaps this is due to early harvesting.
Duckhorn Vineyards Three Palms Vineyard Merlot 2017
The secret lies in the terroir of this renowned vineyard in Three Palms, where the volcanic rock that absorbs daytime heat shields grapes from potential frost, allowing ripening to continue overnight. Deeper tones of plum and blackberry immediately match vibrant notes of vanilla and wood. With a hint of acidity, this wine is dry and robust. It has a beautiful texture and a sophisticated finish.
Gundlach Bundschu Merlot 2016
Gundlach Bundschu has been producing wine in Sonoma Valley for 160 years, spanning six generations. Their Merlot is robust and lively. It's difficult for their vineyards to miss a beat because they've been producing quality products for so long. They have a fantastic 2016 vintage. This robust, spicy, medium-bodied wine has overt notes of plum, oak, and red and black cherries with a subtle tobacco undertone.
Château l'Arrosée Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2010
The Chateau l'Arrosee winery is so French that Pierre Magne, Napoleon III's finance minister, was one of its original owners. The owners still have a lot of influence but are a little less hidden these days. This is the best French Merlot available. A welcoming, mouthwatering acidity balances the robust tannins. A gorgeous jumble of purple and scarlet flowers.
Les Roches de Yon Figeac Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Yes, the Saint-Émilion area of Bordeaux is home to both the Best French and Runner-up Best French (and more to follow). Any merlot from this AOC is worth considering, especially from an estate like Yon-Figeac, which was formerly a part of the renowned Château Figeac estate, one of the greatest producers on the Right Bank. Vibrant scents of plum, cherry, and raspberry are accompanied by delicate, earthy undertones tempered by a medium-bodied body and satiny tannins. Among the best French wines you will ever taste is kosher.
Le Macchiole Messorio 2016
This Messorio merlot, essentially the flagship bottle of the highly regarded Italian winery Le Macchiole, comes straight out of Tuscany. The Messorio continues to get better every year with each new vintage. Not only is it a merlot of distinction, but it's also a highly regarded critical favourite that consistently receives scores of 99 points.
This wine has a lot of nicely defined flavours and smooth, velvety textures. It is juicy, savoury, silky, bright, and just plain amazing. There's nothing quite like it. Remember to wear two pairs of socks at the very least, as this wine will ruin the first pair.
Robert Mondavi Rum Barrel Aged Merlot Private Selection 2017
Robert Mondavi deserves praise for disclosing their winemaking methodology in the wine's name, while other wineries prefer to keep their methods under wraps. This Merlot is a great option for adding mulled spices, making it ideal for the remainder of winter, thanks to the ageing procedure in rum barrels. No one will doubt your intentions when it tastes this fantastic, so if you miss making mulled wine in the winter, do it in the summer.
