Back to Red Wines
Red Wines
Merlot
Softer and earlier-ripening than Cabernet, Merlot gives plush, generous reds and is the backbone of Right Bank Bordeaux.
In detail
- Origin
- Bordeaux, France.
- Major regions
- Saint-Émilion & Pomerol · Washington State · Tuscany · Chile's Colchagua
- Grapes
- Merlot
- Flavour profile
- Plum, black cherry, chocolate, bay leaf and a soft, velvety finish.
- Body
- Medium to full
- Acidity
- Medium
- Sweetness
- Dry
Recommended Glass
Bordeaux Glass
The tallest of the red wine glasses, with a long, straight-sided bowl that gives high-tannin wines maximum contact with air.
About this glass →Serving Temperature
16–18°C (61–64°F)
A little cooler than room temperature for reds; properly cold but not frozen for whites and sparkling.
Food Pairings
- Roast chicken
- Pork tenderloin
- Mushroom risotto
- Gruyère
- Tomato-braised beef
Notable examples & brands
- Château Pétrus
- Duckhorn Napa Merlot
- Masseto