A smooth station, where you can get off at Cheapside or the more premium side.
Murr-low
Red
Grape
Merlot is easily grown and easily recognised, which makes it a favourite of winemakers, knowing they will get some buyers by having merlot on the label. This means that Merlot ranges from cheap plonk to high end, particularly in America. It’s popular for its velvety, dark, sweet fruit flavours, but that sweetness is sometimes overdone resulting in a ‘jammy’, sweet wine. However, done well (look to Chile and California for some great examples) it’s a smooth, velvety, ripe, plummy red. Merlot is also good at mingling with the other grapes, particularly with Cabernet Sauvignon. Classic bordeaux blends are mostly this combination, the merlot adding flesh to the backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Things you should know
Top Tip: Treat Merlot with a bit of respect and it will give you some back.
Specific Food Match: Merlot is extremely versatile, it's soft enough to not need much food but can easily wash down beef and pork dishes.