Merlot
Soft, plummy and generous: Bordeaux's most planted grape and a star in Washington, Napa and Long Island. It deserves a second look.
Merlot is the most planted grape in Bordeaux and the main grape in famous Right Bank wines like Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. It's a half-sibling of Cabernet Sauvignon, sharing Cabernet Franc as a parent. It's softer and fruitier than Cabernet, which made it hugely popular in America in the 1990s, before the 2004 film Sideways made it briefly unfashionable. Good Merlot never went away, and it's worth revisiting.
What It Tastes Like
Merlot is plush and generous, with plum, black cherry, raspberry and chocolate, plus herbal and cedar notes. Tannins are soft and velvety. Cooler climates give fresher, more herbal wines, and warmer climates give riper, jammy fruit.
Where It Grows
Washington is arguably America's best Merlot region, from the Columbia Valley to Walla Walla Valley and Red Mountain. Napa Valley and Sonoma make rich versions, and New York's North Fork of Long Island has made Merlot its signature red. Virginia and Michigan's Lake Michigan Shore grow it too.
What to Look For
- Washington Merlot, structured and great value.
- Long Island Merlot, a cooler, more savory style.
- Bordeaux-style blends, where Merlot softens Cabernet.
Where to Find Merlot
Wine regions on American Winery Guide where Merlot is grown or poured: