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Merlot is a popular red grape that produces drinkable wines with a velvety texture and a sweet taste. It is grown all over the world, including in Bordeaux, California, Washington State, Northern Italy, and Chile. Despite some criticism, it is considered by some to be better than Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot has a recent dip in sales due to its portrayal in the film Sideways. A blush wine made from Merlot, called Merlot Bianco, is not highly regarded.
Merlot is undoubtedly one of the greatest red grapes. Merlot is largely responsible for the predominant tastes in most wines from the Bordeaux region of France. It produces what are arguably the most drinkable red wines and has enjoyed considerable popularity – as well as some criticism – for this reason.
Because of the drinkability of its wines, the Merlot grape is planted all over the world. Outside of Bordeaux, France, it holds its value in most regions, particularly as the basis for much cheaper wines in the Languedoc region. In California, it is grown as one of the top five red wine varieties and is used to create some truly spectacular wines. Washington State in the United States also boasts some outstanding Merlot grape products, despite some climate issues. Northern Italy and Chile have also put the grape to good use, discovering some of the most complete examples of Merlot to be found anywhere.
Merlot is arguably better than Cabernet Sauvignon, with which it shares a number of characteristics. While both are high in tannin, however, Merlot also tends to make for substantially sweeter wines. This sweetness helps counteract the tannins in the younger examples, making the Merlot much smoother than the sometimes tart Cabernet Sauvignon young wines.
Merlot is best described as having a rather velvety texture, with a fair amount of spice and fruit that varies widely depending on the specific growing location and weather, albeit leaning towards plum. For many people, Merlot is the best choice for an easy, no-nonsense drinking wine, which has drawn a number of comparisons between it and Chardonnay. It tends to be somewhat interesting without being overly complex, is softer than comparable Cabernet Sauvignons and can generally be drunk favorably at a young age, whilst also aging well and resulting in some impressive long lasting wines.
Merlot has seen a recent dip in sales after a somewhat undeserved attack by a character in the popular cult film Sideways. In the film, a character exclaims that he will leave the event they are attending if someone orders Merlot. This is probably due to the perception among some connoisseurs that Merlot is a “simple” wine in a pejorative sense, best left to those who cannot recognize more complex flavours.
There is also a blush wine made from the Merlot grape, usually known as Merlot Bianco. This wine is similar to white Zinfandel and made the same way, allowing for only the briefest contact with the grape skin. It is also treated in much the same way by most wine lovers, being more or less a waste of otherwise good grapes by reducing them to a blander, less interesting wine.
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