1/5
SweetnessDrySweet
The grape archive
Merlot
mer-LOH
Plush fruit, moderate tannin and an affinity with clay soils make Merlot both approachable young and capable of profound ageing.
Typical flavour register
01Plum02Black cherry03Chocolate04Cedar05Dried herbs
In the glass
A visual taste profile.
These scales describe a representative dry expression. Climate, harvest date, yields and winemaking can move an individual wine in another direction.
3/5
AciditySoftFresh
3/5
TanninSilkyFirm
4/5
BodyLightFull
5/5
FruitSavouryFruit-led
Where it grows
From origin to the wider vineyard.
The first country is the grape’s principal reference point; the remaining countries show important established cultivation rather than a complete planting census.
France
Core countryPomerol · Saint-Émilion · Napa Valley
Italy
EstablishedSmaller but established plantings
United States
EstablishedSmaller but established plantings
Chile
EstablishedSmaller but established plantings
China
EstablishedSmaller but established plantings
Three useful expressions
Fresh & fruit-led
Juicy fruit, moderate extraction and little oak emphasise immediate pleasure.
Classic regional style
The grape’s familiar balance of fruit, structure, spice and place.
Structured & age-worthy
Lower yields, selected sites and careful ageing build concentration and longevity.
Handling
Serve15–18 °C
GlassLarge Bordeaux glass
Decant30–60 minutes
Cellar3–20+ years by quality
At the table
Pair it by weight, freshness and aroma.
Why Merlot matters
Merlot ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon and often brings flesh and mid-palate richness to Bordeaux blends.
The best examples balance the grape’s natural character with climate, soil and cellar choices. Treat the profile as a compass rather than a fixed recipe.
Reference databases and further readingVIVC · Variety database ↗OIV · Vitivinicultural data ↗Wine Folly · Grape guide ↗