A Closer Look at the Popularity of Merlot Wine
There are so many variants of wine. There are red wines and white wines, sparkling wines and still wines, and the grapes used for each of them are different as well. Some of the famous grapes used for making wine are the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, and Merlot. These grapes produce the most flavorful world-famous wines that are imported all over the world.
The Merlot wine is one of the most popular variants of red wine produced worldwide. The Merlot grape is a very dark-colored fruit with quick ripening properties, which makes it good for combining with the later ripening Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot wine is most widely planted in the Bordeaux region of France. Because it is easy to plant and grow, the Merlot grape is planted in many areas around the world.
Merlot wine has a flexible taste and has a variety of flavors. Merlot wine has a combination of various hints of fruits which are mostly berries and plum. It also has some notes of earthy flavors like olives, cola nut, bell pepper, fennel, humus, leather, mushrooms, rhubarb and tobacco. Finally, floral hints of flavor include eucalyptus, laurel, mint, oregano, pine, rosemary, sage, sarsaparilla, and thyme. When Merlot wine has undergone oak fermentation, it shows more flavors like caramel, chocolate, coconut, coffee bean, dill weed, mocha, molasses, smoke, walnut and vanilla. There is also White Merlot which has a hint of raspberry.
Usually, Merlot is used as a varietal for combining with Cabernet Sauvignon. The flavors that the combination releases have many fruity hints of berries and currants. Merlot is perfect with medium to heavy dishes like pasta, beef, and chicken. It also goes well with chocolate. By itself, Merlot wine has made a name as well. It is particularly planted in California and Chile. It is easier to plant than the Cabernet fruit, and can also be harvested before it completely ripens. Merlot wine easily ages, so it has been advised to drink it after four to eight years of bottling.