Merlot

1. Overview

Merlot is one of the world’s most widely planted black grape varieties, valued for its supple texture, generous fruit, and versatility in both blends and single-varietal wines.
Originating in the Libournais region of southwest France, it now thrives across Europe, the Americas, and the Southern Hemisphere.
Merlot fulfills two major global roles:

• As the core of Right Bank Bordeaux, bringing plush fruit and structure to blends
• As a single-varietal wine, ranging from soft and plummy to powerful and ageworthy

Its early ripening, medium skin thickness, and adaptability make it both rewarding and challenging: underripe Merlot → green/herbal; overripe → jammy and flat. Great Merlot sits in the climatic middle ground.

2. Grape Characteristics

3. Merlot in Blends – Core Roles

A. Softener & Middle-Palate Builder

In Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant blends (e.g., California, Chile, Australia), Merlot provides:

• Softer tannins
• Plush mid-palate weight
• Early drinkability

B. Structural Core (Right Bank Bordeaux)

On clay and limestone soils in Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, and Fronsac, Merlot forms the backbone of iconic blends.

• Dense fruit, depth, longevity
• Cabernet Franc adds lift; Cabernet Sauvignon adds backbone

C. Partner in Super Tuscan Blends

Warm Mediterranean climates (Bolgheri) produce:

• Dark, ripe fruit
• Chocolate/mocha notes
• Luxury Merlot expressions (e.g., Masseto)

In summary: Merlot is not merely a “softener”; in the right terroir, it is the architectural centre of top wines.

4. Single-Varietal Merlot – Styles & Benchmarks

Cool–Moderate Climate

• Red fruit, herbal notes, graphite
• Medium tannin, bright acidity
  Regions: NE Italy, Saint-Émilion satellites, Long Island

Moderate–Warm Climate

• Black cherry, plum, blackberry
• Chocolate, mocha richness
  Regions: California coastal benchlands, Chile coastal zones

Warm Mediterranean

• Riper black fruit, soft structure
• Full and plush
  Region: Tuscany (Bolgheri)

High-Structure & Ageworthy

• Dense palate, firm tannins
• Graphite, truffle, long evolution
  Regions: Pomerol, Washington State (Walla Walla, Red Mountain)**

5. Major Growing Regions & Styles

5.1 France – Right Bank Bordeaux

Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Fronsac

• Soils: Clay, clay-limestone — ideal moisture regulation
• Style: Plum, red/black fruit, graphite, minerality, long ageing
• Key estates:
  • Pomerol: Pétrus, Le Pin, Trotanoy
  • Saint-Émilion: Cheval Blanc (CF–Merlot), Ausone, Canon, Figeac, Bélair-Monange

5.2 Italy

NE Italy (Friuli, Alto Adige, Trentino)

• Unoaked / lightly oaked varietal Merlot
• Soft, juicy, red-fruited

Tuscany (Bolgheri)

• Super Tuscan blends
• Dense, Mediterranean Merlot (e.g., Masseto, Ornellaia)

5.3 United States

California

• Cooler zones (Sonoma, Santa Cruz): structured, balanced
• Warmer AVAs: rich, soft, sometimes overripe

Washington State

• Benchmark New World Merlot
• Black fruit, cocoa, graphite; high diurnals give structure
• Producers: Leonetti, L’Ecole No. 41, Northstar

Long Island

• European-leaning: red fruit, herbs, moderate tannin

5.4 Chile

• Clonal clarification post-Carmenère confusion
• Rounded, plummy wines in warm zones
• Fresher in coastal, cooler vineyards

5.5 Australia

• Margaret River: Cabernet–Merlot blends with herbal lift
• Yarra Valley, Coonawarra: medium weight, structured, savoury

5.6 New Zealand

Hawke’s Bay (Gimblett Gravels)

• Dark fruit, mineral, firmly tannic, Bordeaux-like
  Wairarapa: leafy, structured, cool-climate

6. Viticulture & Production

Viticulture

• Prefers clay-based soils for slow water release
• High vigour managed through canopy control
• Climate sensitivity:
  • Underripe → green pyrazines
  • Overripe → jammy, low acidity
• Hazards: coulure, botrytis, mildew, sunburn
• Training: Guyot (Europe); VSP/cordon (New World)

Winemaking

• Gentle extraction is key
• Over-extraction becomes bitter if skins thicken
• Oak choices shape style (French = spice/cedar; American = vanilla/chocolate)
• Blending with Cabernets adjusts structure, longevity, and aromatic lift

7. Global Style & Climate Table

8. Wines to Seek Out

Right Bank Bordeaux: Pétrus, Le Pin, Trotanoy, Ausone, Canon, Bélair-Monange
United States: Leonetti, L’Ecole No. 41, Duckhorn
Italy: Masseto, Ornellaia
NZ: Gimblett Gravels Merlot blends
Value picks: NE Italian Merlot, Chile coastal vineyards, Columbia Valley Merlot, Bordeaux satellites

9. Visiting the Regions

• Pomerol & Saint-Émilion: limestone plateaus, ancient cellars, UNESCO landscapes
• Tuscany (Bolgheri): maritime influence, iconic Super Tuscan estates
• Washington State: basalt cliffs, desert vineyards, benchmark Merlot sites
• NE Italy: approachable varietal Merlot perfect for comparative tastings

10. Summary

Merlot is one of the world’s most adaptable black grapes, producing wines that range from silky and plummy to powerful and mineral.
Its dual identity—as the backbone of Right Bank Bordeaux blends and a distinctive single-varietal wine—gives it global importance.
Today’s best Merlot combines balance, terroir expression, and refined tannin architecture, reaffirming its place among the world’s great noble varieties.