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SOMMWINE GRAPE LIBRARY
Merlot
Also known as Merlot noir, Merlau, Plant du Médoc, Médoc noir, Crabutet noir, Sémillon rouge
Merlot is an early-budding, mid-season-ripening black grape from Bordeaux whose wines span a wide stylistic range. Bordeaux examples can be light and juicy or concentrated and built to age; Merlot also appears in other regions, including Friuli, where local sources describe a distinct regional expression. Its parentage is established by DNA research, while the finished wine’s body, freshness and texture depend on place and cellar choices.
ColourBlack
ClassificationVitis vinifera
Typical bodyStyle ranges from light and juicy to full-bodied and powerful; the cultivar source describes full-bodied, structured wines, while Bordeaux describes a broad range.
Typical acidityRipe Merlot wines are described by cultivar and regional sources as having relatively low to moderate acidity; freshness varies with site, vintage and harvest.
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At a Glance
light, juicy red
Typical tannin: Often described as supple or rounded, though perceived tannin depends on ripeness, extraction, maturation and blending.
Aromas and Flavours
- cherry
- plum
- fig
- violet
- blackberry
- raspberry
- blueberry
- chocolate or coffee notes may appear with bottle ageing or winemaking choices
Where It Grows
- Bordeaux
- Saint-Émilion
- Pomerol
- California
- Napa Valley
- Sonoma
- Central Valley (Chile)
- Stellenbosch
- Margaret River
- Hawke’s Bay
- Friuli Venezia Giulia
- France
- Italy
- United States
- Chile
- South Africa
- Australia
- New Zealand
Climate and Winemaking
Site response varies. Plantgrape places Merlot budburst two days after Chasselas and maturity 2.5 weeks after Chasselas; Bordeaux.com characterizes it as early-ripening, while the Asti consortium uses a medium ripening category in its own regional description. Plantgrape notes winter/spring frost exposure and risk from intense drought. Do not treat a single calendar category as universal.
Vigor descriptors differ by source: Plantgrape reports moderate to strong, while the Asti consortium describes medium vigor. Both underscore site and management context. Plantgrape notes lateral growth/sucker management and need for trellising/pruning, plus susceptibility to coulure and several diseases; in Bordeaux, clay-limestone and gravel sites are among the established contexts. These observations are source-specific, not universal prescriptions.
Merlot is used as a varietal wine and in blends. Bordeaux describes Cabernet Sauvignon as contributing structure and tannic backbone in blends with Merlot. Plantgrape documents barrel ageing as an option; the WSET specification identifies extraction, vessel choice, oak, blending and bottle ageing as style-shaping options, not mandatory Merlot treatments.
Food Pairings
- Editorial suggestion: lighter, fruit-forward examples with roast pork, baked chicken or mushroom dishes.
- Editorial suggestion: fuller, more structured examples with roast lamb, steak or aged cheese.
Ageing Potential
- Some concentrated, powerful Merlot cuvées are made for extended ageing; lighter, juicy styles are also made. Ageing potential is wine-specific, not guaranteed by cultivar alone.
WSET Learning
Test Your Knowledge
- How do Bordeaux sources describe the range of Merlot styles, and what role does Cabernet Sauvignon play in some blends?
- Why does early budburst matter for Merlot site selection in frost-prone areas?
Related Grapes
Sources and Further Reading
- Merlot — Plantgrape cultivar record
- Merlot — Foundation Plant Services cultivar record
- Merlot — Bordeaux.com
- Merlot — Consorzio DOC Friuli
- WSET Level 2 Award in Wines Specification, Issue 2.1
- WSET Level 2 Award in Wines qualification page
- Discover New Wines of California — Merlot
- Discover the Wines of Italy — Merlot
- Merlot — Vini Asti Monferrato consortium cultivar note
