We use cookies to make your experience better. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Learn more.
Toggle Nav
Merlot
Merlot is commonly used in Cabernet Sauvignon blends, as it is not very tannic and has a mid-palate weight, nicely contrasting the heavy tannin and doughnut-like palate structure of Cabernet Sauvignon. It also grows in similar conditions to Cabernet Sauvignon, thus making them perfect partners.
By itself, Merlot can produce rich, juicy, fruit-driven wines, but is also prone to over-cropping, which can led to dull wines. Vineyard location and maintenance is important in making the most of this variety.
Read More-
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Left Bank
- Graves
A wine which shows beautiful balance between flavors and expressive aromas. Fine tannins coat the palate, highlighted on the finish by a persistent to... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Left Bank
- Haut-Medoc
An unclassic blend from the region of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon. Soft purple hue with light aromas of cheery, blackcurrant and hints of vanilla. A lov... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Right Bank
- Pomerol
In colour, this is deep purple-red, the aromas being open, very ripe and freshly complex. The wines, which exhibit a luscious structure, are delicate ... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Languedoc-Roussilon
A deep garnet red hue with purple hints. The nose is complex anr rich with rosemary, blackcurrant and black cherry aromas. Full and smooth in the mout... Read More -
- Origin
- Israel
A surprisingly soft and gentle red that exhibits rich plum and cherry fruit aromas with roasted coffee beans and spice on the palate. Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
Sourced from fruit near the town of Le Réole, this lovely example of an everyday claret has great depth of colour good juicy cassis fruits. Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
Red berry aromas fill the nose and carry through to a delightful soft palate. Medium bodied with great balance, the finish is silky smooth. Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
A classic rich and well balanced Bordeaux Superiore with a plum fruit character and a soft, refined mouth feel. Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Right Bank
- Pomerol
A fresh and vibrant wine that is dominated by summer fruit and plum courtesy of a high Merlot content. A traditional Pomerol with superb depth and b... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Left Bank
- St-Julien
A well structured wine with firm tannins and a distinctive black fruit character. Drinking well now but will develop favourably over the next 5-10 yea... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Left Bank
- Margaux
Dark ruby in colour with a toasty/redcurrant nose, leading to blackcurrant and liquorice flavours. Despite it's youth, the tannins are not overpowerin... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Right Bank
- Saint-Emilion
A soft, plummy St Emilion which has a medium body and pleasent, velvety tannins. A superb food wine. Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Left Bank
- Paullac
A wine with generous depth, complexity, and a seductive richness on both the nose and palate. This is a Merlot dominated wine with a fresh dark berry ... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Left Bank
- St-Julien
A well structured wine with firm tannins and a distinctive black fruit character. Drinking well now but will develop favourably over the next 5-10 yea... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Left Bank
- Medoc
Lots of black fruit flavour here with black cherry most detectable. The fruit is supported by supple tannins that make for a medium bodied wine that i... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Left Bank
- Margaux
Still too young to tell exactly how this wine will develop but expect blackcurrant fruit to be surrounded by strong tannin and cedar. Softening with t... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Left Bank
- Paulliac
Blackcurrant aromas are supported by subtle soft spice. The palate brings some blackberry notes with a hint of cedar and tobacco. Whilst not as intens... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Left Bank
- Margaux
This outstanding vintage has all the rich fruit character you'd expect from Marguax with this wine's best arguably still to come. It is a touch more l... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Left Bank
- Margaux
Blackcurrant fruit aromas fill the nose and are supported by hints of berry and even softer hints of spice. this is well structured and well balanced ... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Left Bank
- Pauillac
Medium to full-bodied, supple textured, layered, rich, and long. This marks the renaissance of this fifth-growth Pauillac that is displaying strong si... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Bordeaux
- Right Bank
- St-Emilion
This is a soft well made wine. This wine has a wonderfully fruity aroma of dried prunes and raisins, firm on the palate with a long slightly drying fi... Read More -
-
- Origin
- France
Made from a careful blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat, this is a juicy fruit driven red. Read More -
- Origin
- France
Deeply coloured, medium body in style. An easy-drinking wine from the south of France. Read More
Key Countries and Regions
Merlot is the backbone grape in many Bordeaux wines, and is the dominant grape in the blends of St-Emilion and Pomerol. It is the basic ingredient of some of the most sought-after wines in the world (those hailing from Chateux Petrus, Le Pin and Clinet). Merlot also plays a major role in the New World wines from America (California and Washington State), Chile, Italy (Tuscany), Australia (Margaret River) and New Zealand (Hawkes Bay).
Common Flavours and Ageing
The most prevalent flavours include fruits like cherry, black olive, mulberry and raspberry (even fruitcake); root vegetables like beetroot and rhubarb and natural flavours such as earth, violet and a leaf-like taste. The texture is juicy, velvety, rounded and smooth, being medium-bodied and well-balanced. It can be drunk when young due to its supple and plump character; at such an age, it is very deep in colour, often near-black with purple hints. As it ages, it becomes closer to a garnet-red, and the richer flavours of leather, caramel, bacon, truffle and coffee materialise.
