Welcome to the sixth part of The great grapes of wine. After meeting the powerful Cabernet Sauvignon, we now turn to its close relative and partner in the glass: Merlot. Where Cabernet can seem tight and reserved in its youth, Merlot reaches out a hand right away. It is soft, fruity and approachable, and that is precisely why so many fall for it.
In this part we look at where Merlot comes from, how it tastes, and why it works both on its own and as an indispensable part of some of the world's most classic blends. You will also get an idea of what it pairs with at the table.
Hvad du lærer
- Where Merlot originates, and which regions are the most important
- How to recognise the grape's soft, fruity style
- What role Merlot plays on its own and in blends
- What Merlot pairs with when you set the table
Where Merlot comes from
Merlot has its origin in Bordeaux in France, and this is still where the grape has its most important home. It is a dark grape of the species Vitis vinifera, but with a relatively thin skin, which gives wines with a slightly lighter colour than many other dark grapes.
In Bordeaux, Merlot thrives especially well on the clay soils, and it shares terroir with its neighbours in Saint-Émilion, where clay in particular shapes the soil. One of the grape's great advantages is that it ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. That makes it a safe choice in cool or wet years, where a late grape can struggle to reach the finish line.
From Bordeaux, Merlot has spread across the entire wine world. It is grown in California and in many other countries, and in Spain it was introduced as an international grape during the modernisation in the 1980s and 1990s, where today it is part of blends in several regions.
How Merlot tastes
Merlot's signature is softness. It typically gives medium to full-bodied red wines with a fruity and approachable character, where the classic flavour of plum runs throughout. Many experience Merlot as round and friendly, and that is a big part of its charm.
An important reason for the soft feel is the grape's tannin. Tannin is the substances from skins and seeds that give red wine its astringent, slightly dry feel on the tongue. Merlot has a medium tannin level, that is neither tight nor entirely absent, and that helps make the wine accessible even at a young age.
Fruit, oak and body
The ripe, plummy fruit is often at the centre, but the style can vary depending on where the grape is grown and how the wine is made. Time in oak for a few months can add notes of spice and a softer texture, while wines without much oak character show more pure fruit. As a practised wine drinker, this is exactly where it becomes interesting to compare a cooler and a warmer origin in the same glass.
On its own and in blends
Merlot is one of the few grapes that truly shines in both roles.
As a pure varietal, that is a wine made predominantly from one grape, Merlot gives a soft, fruity red wine that is easy to approach. It is often a good entry point into the world of fuller red wines, because it does not require many years of ageing to show its friendly side.
But Merlot also has a classic role as a blending grape. Its softness is used to round off harder wines, and here the interplay with Cabernet Sauvignon is the most famous. Where Cabernet contributes structure, tannin and ageing potential, Merlot fills in with fruit and roundness. The result is a wine that stands in better balance than either grape would on its own.
In Spain you see the same line of thinking. Here Merlot is included in limited amounts as a blending grape, among other things together with Tempranillo, where it can contribute softness to the local style.
Classic regions and styles
Bordeaux is Merlot's most important home, and it is worth knowing a couple of the classic expressions.
Pomerol and Saint-Émilion
In Pomerol, Merlot is the main grape, and this is where you find some of the most sought-after expressions of the grape. The clay soils suit it well, and the style is typically full-bodied and soft with deep fruit. In the neighbouring district of Saint-Émilion, Merlot also plays a big role on similar clay soil.
The rest of the world
Outside Bordeaux, Merlot is grown widely, among other places in California and in several Spanish regions. In Spain it turns up as a blending grape in everything from fresh, fruity wines to more ambitious blends, and in a few places it is even grown in high-altitude vineyards, where the cooler air can give fresh fruit and fine balance.
It is this range that makes Merlot so rewarding to explore: from round and light in the everyday version to deep and concentrated in the more serious expressions.
How to drink Merlot
Merlot's soft tannin and fruity style make it one of the most food-friendly red wines you can have on the shelf.
A young, fruity Merlot works fine with everyday food such as pasta with meat sauce, light meats and mild cheeses. The fuller expressions, preferably with a little oak character, suit beef, lamb and dishes with a bit more power. Because the tannin is moderate, you rarely need a heavy piece of meat to make the balance work.
Serve it preferably at cool room temperature. If it is too warm, the alcohol steps forward at the expense of the fruit, and if it is too cold, the fruit closes up a little. A simple rule of thumb is that it should feel slightly cool when you pour.
Kort fortalt
- Merlot originates from Bordeaux, where it still has its most important home, especially on the clay soils of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion.
- The grape gives soft, fruity wines with medium tannin and a classic flavour of plum.
- It ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon and is often used to round off harder wines in blends.
- Merlot works both as a pure varietal and as a blending grape, classically together with Cabernet Sauvignon.
- It is food-friendly and accessible, and pairs with everything from everyday food to more powerful meat dishes.
Ofte stillede spørgsmål
Is Merlot a light or a powerful wine?
Both can occur. Merlot typically gives medium to full-bodied red wines, but the soft character and the moderate tannin mean that even the fuller expressions seem accessible. The style depends a lot on origin and on whether the wine has spent time in oak.
What is the difference between Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon?
Merlot is softer, more fruity and ripens earlier, while Cabernet Sauvignon is tighter, more tannic and better for long ageing. That is precisely why the two are often blended, so that fruit and structure balance each other.
Klar til næste skridt?
Now that you know Merlot's soft and approachable side, it makes sense to move on to a quite different type of red wine. In the next part we explore Syrah: Dark, spicy and powerful, where we move towards a more intense and spicy style.
If you like, you can dive into the selection of Merlot and blends in our range and taste the difference between a cooler and a warmer origin yourself. And remember that the best combination is always the wine you like with the food you like.
