Why does merlot get a bad rap

Like many of the native Bordeaux grape varieties, Merlot is naturally versatile, acclimating to different climate zones and soil compositions, which, over time and a lot of travel, have made it the second most planted red grape on the planet, behind its brother from Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon.

This is where the problem began. In the s California was becoming a big player in the winemaking world—demand was soaring. With irrigation and winery manipulation, Merlot was the easiest to mass-produce.

In s, Merlot grew from less than 30, tons of grapes harvested in California to roughly , tons harvested. Because of its smooth nature, the wine hit an all time high in popularity and it was immediately picked up by the mass market. But like any fad, the sudden popularity of Merlot sowed the seeds of its downfall. With demand so high, growers saw that they could increase yields with strong irrigation, which led to a more herbaceous wine, which needed to be manipulated with significant oak exposure to bring it back to the profile that was all the rage.

They had taken what was special about Merlot, and made it bland for mass consumption. I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot! The others being Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. When tracing back to the origins of Merlot, researchers found that the DNA reveals it is the offspring of Cabernet Franc, being the father grape, and the now-extinct varietal Magdeleine Noire des Charentes, as the mother grape.

Merlot wines tend to sit in the middle of the red wine spectrum, however exceptional Merlots are often so bold that they can be confused with Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merlot grape skins are thinner than Cabernet Sauvignon and much more sensitive to climate. Therefore region and weather have a big impact on the style of Merlot that is produced. For example, a cool climate Merlot from France tends to be more structured, leaner, and has a higher presence of herbal, earthy flavors.

While a warm climate Merlot from Argentina or California usually ends up being more fruit-forward and lush with less prominent tannins. This Merlot features notes of huckleberry, loganberry, and dried fig. It is best paired with carne asada, grilled vegetables, and gorgonzola cheese. Every bottle of our California Merlot helps provide life-changing medicine for a child in need. This Merlot is also dry, but much bolder and more full-bodied than our California Merlot.

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