Merlot Wine

Background

Merlot wine (pronounced mer-LOH) takes its name, which means young blackbird in French, from either the wine's dark-blue color or blackbirds' love of grapes. It is primarily produced in France, where it is the third most planted grape; in Italy, it is the fifth most planted grape; and, it can also be found in California and Romania, and, to a lesser extent, in regions such as Hungary, Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa. While it grows in many regions, the grapes for Merlot thrive in cooler regions, since warmer regions can cause them to ripen too early.

The blends

There are a wide variety of Merlot blends; however, these four (4) are the most popular:

• The Bordeaux Blend (France): When blended with a Bordeaux, Merlot adds softness to the body of the wine. In the Graves and Medoc regions, Merlot often comprises 25% of the blend; however, in the regions of Pemerol and Saint-Emilion, it is often the majority wine. Interestingly, in one of the world's rarest wines, Chateau Petrus, Merlot makes up almost the entire blend.
• The Sangiovese Blend (Italy): Similar to the Bordeaux blends, the Italian version blends Sangiovese with Merlot wine to give it softness. In the 'Merlot wine countries', which reside along the Isono river (a 140-kilometer long river flowing through Western Slovenia and North-Eastern), the Strada del Merlot is a popular tourist route.
• The Bull's Blood Blends (Hungary): In Hungary, Merlot partners with Kekfrankos, Kekoporto and Kadarka to create Bull's Blood, one of Hungary's most famous red wines. It is also made into Egri Medhoc, a wine whose taste balances both sweet and acidic features.
• White Merlot Similar to its cousin White Zinfandel, and first sold in the late 1990s, White Merlot has a hint of raspberry. Sutter Home, Forrest Glen and Beringer market White Merlot wines.

How to serve Merlot

Merlot wines are meant to be smelled, as well as tasted; therefore, serve in a wine glass with a large bowl to better enjoy the aroma. It is recommended that Merlot wines be served at room temperature (60-68 degrees Farenheit).

Aging Merlot wine

Aging depends on the taste preferred. However, Merlots are best within 3-8 years of the vintage, though some may need as much as 10-15 years. Younger wines, for instance, have a more fruity taste and are more aromatic than more mature Merlots.