A RED GRAPE · POMEROL & ST-ÉMILION
Merlot
Plush, plum, soft tannin.
What Merlot tastes like
Merlot is a red grape. In the glass it reads as plush, plum and soft tannin. Merlot is full-bodied, with soft, moderate tannin and moderate acidity, finishing dry. A little oak is common. Its home turf, as we hold it, is Pomerol & St-Émilion.
Where Merlot grows
Our appellations table names Merlot in 97 wine regions. The ones with the most wines in our database are Pauillac (France), Pomerol (France), Margaux (France), Saint-Émilion (France), Tuscany (Italy), Saint-Julien (France), Pessac-Léognan (France), Saint-Estèphe (France), Spring Mountain District (USA), Bolgheri (Italy), Oakville (USA) and Paso Robles (USA).
Merlot is grown well beyond that list: 85 more appellations name it as a main grape, which is part of why one bottle can taste so different from the next.
How the place changes the glass
- Pauillac (France): Powerful, structured Cabernet-dominant blends with black fruit, graphite and firm tannin; long-lived. Climate: temperate maritime, moderated by the Atlantic and the Gironde estuary.
- Pomerol (France): Soft, voluptuous reds with plush tannins and dark cherry fruit, emphasizing richness over structure. Climate: warm maritime-influenced temperate.
- Margaux (France): Structured, elegant Cabernet-based blends with cassis, cedar, and fine-grained tannins. Climate: temperate maritime.
- Saint-Émilion (France): Balanced, medium-bodied reds with earthy complexity, lower alcohol than Pomerol, minerality from limestone. Climate: warm maritime-influenced temperate.
What to eat with Merlot
The classic partners are duck, roast chicken and mushroom. It is flexible: it sits comfortably beside a wide range of dishes without overpowering them.
Merlot on menus we hold
- Grilled Beef Balsiger at Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville: paired with Cabernet - Merlot Domaine Salathé (2020). Pencil shavings and an old, serious book.
- Grilled Beef from Les Pléiades at Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville: paired with Cabernet - Merlot Domaine Salathé (2020). A cedar-lined study, a leather chair, a long wait for rain.
Merlot in our cellar
The appellations above account for about 15,345 Merlot wines in the Sommurai database, which is how we know which regions pour it most.
Grapes to try next
If you like Merlot, these red grapes are worth a glass: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Franc and Tempranillo.
Quick answers
What does Merlot taste like?
Merlot reads as plush, plum and soft tannin. Merlot is full-bodied, with soft, moderate tannin and moderate acidity, finishing dry. A little oak is common.
What food goes with Merlot?
duck, roast chicken and mushroom.
Where is Merlot grown?
Our appellations table names Merlot in 97 wine regions, including Pauillac (France), Pomerol (France), Margaux (France), Saint-Émilion (France) and Tuscany (Italy).
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