Everything you need to know about Merlot: the most planted grape variety in France

Appreciated for its flexibility and fruitiness  as well as  its ability to produce high quality wines , Merlot is one of the most widely planted varieties in the world. It plays a central role in the entire wine industry, particularly in Bordeaux where it is regularly blended with the grape varieties  Cabernet Sauvignon And Cabernet Franc .

In this article, we will explore together the history of Merlot, its origins, its taste characteristics, its main production regions and the food and wine pairings to be made with it. After this reading, you will know everything about this fabulous grape variety!

History and origins of Merlot

Although it is likely that Merlot was grown in the Bordeaux region earlier, it was not until the  end of the 18th century  that the grape variety was formally identified in Libournais. 

If its temporal origins remain uncertain , it is nevertheless now proven  that Merlot is the result of a crossing between Cabernet Franc and a variety that has now almost disappeared: the  Black Magdeleine of Charentes.

Its name would echo the blackbirds (or merleaux) , small birds that love the berries of this grape and have a very dark color, like the variety.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, Merlot experienced a  increasing popularity, until finally becoming the first grape variety of the Bordeaux vineyard . 

After World War II, its ease of cultivation and its ability to adapt to various climates and soils made it a popular choice in many wine regions around the world , particularly in Italy, the United States, Australia, New Zealand,  and in Chile.

Today, with 266,000 hectares, it is the second most planted red wine grape variety in the world behind Cabernet Sauvignon (341,000 hectares). Pretty impressive, right? 

Places of culture  Merlot

With 116,000 hectares , France is the world's leading Merlot vineyard and represents  nearly 43% of its planetary surface. Within our beautiful country, it is located mainly on the Bordeaux region , Or 65,000 hectares are planted, representing more than 55% of domestic plantations of the grape variety.

The variety  notably sets the tempo in the  appellations of Libournais  like Canon-Fronsac, Lalande-de-Pomerol, Pomerol  or even  Saint-Emilion  as well as  its satellite AOCs (Puisseguin, Saint-Georges, Lussac, Montagne etc.). In the Médoc, on the left bank, it is less present but certain appellations such as Moulis-en-Médoc and  Listrac-Medoc  have given it a special place. Finally, it is also found at Pessac-Leognan  as well as in Graves, further south of the vineyard.

Still in France,  This one also flourished in the Southwest as on  Bergerac  or to a lesser extent on Madiran And Cahors  where it is used as a complementary grape variety.Merlot is also firmly established in the  Languedoc-Roussillon  where it covers nearly 30,000 hectares. Finally, the variety is also present in Provence as well as in the Rhone Valley but in much smaller quantities.

Abroad this time, Merlot is grown in almost all major wine regions:  Italy ,  UNITED STATES ,  Chile ,  Argentina  or even  Australia And  New Zealand ...the Libourne grape variety has now conquered the entire planet  !

Merlot represents more than half of the Bordeaux vineyard

The characteristics of Merlot

Merlot is an early grape variety , meaning that it ripens earlier than many other varieties. Therefore, it is suited to relatively cool climates where harvesting can be done before the autumn rains.  However, this precocity also makes it sensitive to spring frosts . Merlot is also susceptible to gray mold as well as other fungal diseases, thus requiring increased attention from winegrowers.  Finally, it's on the clay-limestone soils that this one gives its best. 

When tasting, Merlot is often described as a grape variety giving supple, fruity wines, having  a velvety texture and some tannins  present but rather round . In addition, its average acidity makes its wines pleasant even when young.

In terms of aromas, typical markers of Merlot include: red and black fruits  (strawberry, plum, blackberry, blackcurrant etc.). As it ages, it is able to develop more complex notes of truffle , of chocolate , of leather , and of tobacco .

Of course, all this description is general and does not reflect the great diversity of wines that Merlot is capable of producing! Indeed, depending on the quality of the plant material, the terroir or even the vinification, This great grape variety can offer radically different vintages .

So, a  Merlot worked on pleasure and fruit will give a delicious red aperitif wine while a Merlot from a prestigious terroir and vinified in barrels will give a great wine complex that will only be fully revealed after a long guard ! Similarly, a Californian Merlot with jammy aromas and a high alcohol level will leave you with a totally different impression than a French or Italian Merlot!

  Bordeaux Merlot and California Merlot: very different aromatics and balances!

What are the differences between Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon?

Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon are often assembled  in order to create balanced and harmonious wines. However, the two grape varieties have notable differences.

Firstly, and as already mentioned, Merlot is a rather early  and therefore loving cool climates as well as clay-limestone soils .On the other hand, Cabernet Sauvignon is much more late and prefers warm climates as well as gravelly soils retaining heat.

From a visual and taste point of view, Merlot also has a ruby ​​color, a fruity aromatic profile as well as marked but rather elegant tannins. On the other hand, Cabernet-Sauvignon offers  a darker purple dress, more structured tannins, more marked acidity as well as an aromatic aroma based on black fruits but also on spices or pepper.

In short, there is no point in comparing them...if the two varieties are regularly combined, it is precisely because  their qualities complement each other perfectly !

Merlot vines in the Pomerol appellation  

Food and wine pairings with Merlot

Merlot lends itself to a wide variety of food and wine pairings. Here are some suggestions to enhance your meals.

• Red meats : the fruitiness, the roundness of Merlot as well as its tannic structure often balance very well the powerful flavors of red meats. Here, do not hesitate to open a bottle of a Merlot blended with Cabernet-Sauvignon.  The agreement will be ideal  on a barbecue, a rib of beef or lamb chops!

• White meats  : thanks to its balance, Merlot goes very well with roast poultry (chicken, turkey, etc.) as well as  pork dishes.

• Cheeses  : although cheeses generally pair better with white wines, you can still try pairing Merlot with Gorgonzola or Brie. In this case, choose a young, fruity and low-tannin Merlot! With older Merlots, focus on  then towards Gruyère or Comté.

• Cold cuts : A red aperitif wine made from Merlot (light, fruity and therefore not very tannic) will be ideal to accompany a platter of cold meats! Dry sausage, Grisons meat, country ham and rillettes will indeed go very well with this type of wine!

• Tapas : small appetizer bites (croquettes, tomato bread, potatoes, etc.) will find  also in fruity and low-tannin Merlots  companions of choice.

Finally, in order to fully appreciate a Merlot,  It is generally recommended  to serve it to a temperature between 16 and 18°C . Younger wines can also be decanted before tasting to reveal their aromas. 

  A classic but magical pairing: Merlot and roast chicken

The best Merlots

Although it is very complex to identify the best Merlots, two appellations mainly come to mind when this grape variety is mentioned: Pomerol And Saint-Emilion These two vineyards in fact give pride of place to this grape variety and their respective terroir is ideal for its cultivation.

As such, we recommend the wines of Valois Castle on Pomerol as well as Leydet-Valentin Castle on Saint-Émilion.Both properties belong to the same family (Leydet) and offer great elegant and complex red wines where Merlot is the majority in the blends. The vintages produced can be enjoyed in their youth but are also capable of long aging...to our great delight.  Go for it without hesitation, you won’t be disappointed!

Finally, we also recommend the Cru Bourgeois from  Saransot-Dupré Castle in AOC Listrac-Médoc. Here too, Merlot is in the majority and allows the creation of graceful wines allowing an immediate pleasure like a beautiful guard .

You are now an expert on this magnificent grape variety that is Merlot! All you have to do now is move from theory to practice! Cheers and don't hesitate to contact The Illuminated Cellar for any questions!