Merlot
TL; DR
A humble, well-travelled, smooth talker. Totally underappreciated, but doesn't need status or the spotlight to flourish.
So, what's Merlot all about?--red
A soft textured red that embodies the word 'smooth' - when people ask for a smooth wine, Merlot is what they want. Blue fruit, gentle spice and a suave demeanour.
Where did Merlot originate?--aromatic
Once again, France, we're looking at you. Bordeaux is the home region for this grape, where it stands on its own in the regions of Pomerol and St Emilion, but hangs out with its mates Cabernet Sauvignon (and others) in Margaux, Pauillac etc
Who's famous for Merlot?--racy
France - Bordeaux
Italy - Friuli, Veneto
USA - California
Chile - Colchagua
What does Merlot taste like?--aromatic
A big hit of blue fruits here - blueberry, plum and mulberry. Lots of softness to the texture, a hint of clove and vanilla from the oak and then some smooth tannins to round out the picture.
Merlot Wine Styles--cellar
Only in recent years have we seen an emergence of a fresher style of Merlot, but the majority of wines are round and full, with a velvet texture.
What foods pair with Merlot?--plum
Richer wines work well with charred meats - anything on the BBQ really. Softer styles can work with poached salmon or mushrooms with radicchio.
Fun fact--earth
The name is suggested to have been associated with the French word “merle,” which translates to blackbird where both blackbird and the Merlot grape share the similar black and blue colour.