Merlot

Shop for Merlot

Merlot still suffers from the negative publicity it received in 2004 from the wine-themed movie Sideways. But even before that movie, Merlot had begun to be perceived as a "beginner wine," soft and simple. We think that’s an unfair conclusion: inferior examples of Merlot wine are usually the result of overprinting in the wrong soil types rather than any intrinsic deficiencies in the grape. In fact, some of the most sought-after collectible wines are Merlot-based, including the great merlot wine brands of Bordeaux of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. A single bottle of the current vintage of Château Pétrus will fetch prices in the neighborhood of $4,000!

How can the Merlot grape manifest itself as both a wine plonk and memorable classic? Seemingly a wine paradox, Merlot’s identify crisis may be cleared up by this oft-repeated winemaker’s adage: The quality of the wine is directly proportional to the quality of the vineyards.