The Wine Reference🍷 SupportMerlot grape
Photo: Mauro Lima on Unsplash
Merlot is a red grape known for plum, cherry, chocolate. Its best-known homes are Bordeaux, Tuscany, Washington.
Origin and history
From Bordeaux, first recorded in the late 1700s; a child of Cabernet Franc and the rare Magdeleine Noire des Charentes.
Where it grows
Bordeaux's Right Bank (Pomerol, Saint-Émilion), Washington State, Chile, Tuscany (Bolgheri), Napa Valley and northern Italy.
Structure
Medium to full body, soft medium tannins and medium acidity: rounder and plusher than Cabernet.
Aromas, young and aged
Young: plum, black cherry, blackberry and chocolate. With age: fruitcake, leather, truffle and earth.
Ageing
Most Merlot drinks best within 2–6 years; great Pomerol (such as Pétrus) can age for decades.
Also known as
Merlot Noir.
Good to know
Bordeaux's most planted grape; it ripens earlier than Cabernet, so it thrives on cooler clay soils.
Wine regions for Merlot
Merlot wines to try
Real bottles from The Wine Library.
Château Margaux Château Margaux
Bordeaux · Margaux · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Perfumed and silky: cassis, violets, cedar and fine tannins that age for decades.
Food: Roast lamb, beef Wellington
Château Lynch-Bages Château Lynch-Bages
Bordeaux · Pauillac · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Rich Pauillac: blackcurrant, mint, graphite and toasty oak.
Food: Ribeye steak, roast lamb
Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1
Yarra Valley · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot
Bordeaux-style blend: blackcurrant, cedar, violets and fine tannins.
Food: Roast beef, lamb
Mission Hill Oculus
Okanagan Valley · Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Canada's flagship Bordeaux blend: dark berries, cedar, mocha and fine structure.
Food: Beef tenderloin, venison, mushrooms
Baron Philippe de Rothschild Mouton Cadet Rouge
Bordeaux · Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Easy everyday claret: red berries, plum and soft tannins.
Food: Roast chicken, burgers, pâté
Cullen Diana Madeline
Margaret River · Wilyabrup · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Biodynamic Margaret River blend: cassis, mulberry, bay leaf and fine tannins.
Food: Lamb rack, beef fillet, mushrooms
Château Siran Saint-Jacques de Siran
Bordeaux · Bordeaux Supérieur · Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Château Siran's approachable red: plum and soft tannins.
Food: Burgers, charcuterie
Château Beaumont Haut-Médoc
Bordeaux · Haut-Médoc · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Classic Haut-Médoc: blackcurrant, cedar and medium body.
Food: Lamb, steak
Château Cos d'Estournel G d'Estournel
Bordeaux · Médoc · Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Médoc red from the Cos d'Estournel team: ripe and supple.
Food: Steak, duck
Château Siran Margaux
Bordeaux · Margaux · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Fragrant Margaux: violets, cassis and fine tannins.
Food: Lamb, beef
Château Lafite Rothschild Carruades de Lafite
Bordeaux · Pauillac · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Lafite's second wine: cedar, cassis and elegance.
Food: Rack of lamb
Château de Pez 2nd de Pez
Bordeaux · Saint-Estèphe · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Second wine of de Pez: firm, fresh Saint-Estèphe.
Food: Steak, lamb
Château Montrose La Dame de Montrose
Bordeaux · Saint-Estèphe · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Montrose's second wine: dense blackcurrant and graphite.
Food: Beef, lamb
Château Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith
Bordeaux · Pessac-Léognan · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Second wine of Smith Haut Lafitte: smoky, ripe and polished.
Food: Duck, lamb
Château La Mission Haut-Brion Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Pessac-Léognan · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Great Graves red: smoke, tobacco, dark fruit and power.
Food: Beef Wellington, game
Château Tour Saint Christophe Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Bordeaux · Saint-Émilion · Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Limestone-terrace Saint-Émilion: fresh, ripe and modern.
Food: Duck, lamb
Château Beauséjour Bécot Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé
Bordeaux · Saint-Émilion · Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Plateau limestone Saint-Émilion: plush fruit and freshness.
Food: Lamb, beef
Château Troplong Mondot Mondot
Bordeaux · Saint-Émilion · Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Second wine of Troplong Mondot: fresh red and dark fruit.
Food: Roast chicken, lamb
Château Troplong Mondot Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé
Bordeaux · Saint-Émilion · Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
From Saint-Émilion's highest point: dark fruit, freshness and structure.
Food: Beef, game
Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé
Bordeaux · Saint-Émilion · Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Limestone-plateau Saint-Émilion: elegant, mineral and long.
Food: Lamb, veal
Château Cheval Blanc Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Saint-Émilion · Cabernet Franc, Merlot
Iconic Saint-Émilion with high Cabernet Franc: silky, fragrant and timeless.
Food: Roast lamb, truffle
Château L'Évangile Pomerol
Bordeaux · Pomerol · Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Opulent Pomerol: plum, truffle and velvety tannins.
Food: Beef, mushrooms
Château La Conseillante Pomerol
Bordeaux · Pomerol · Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Silky, perfumed Pomerol with violets and red fruit.
Food: Lamb, duck
Château Lafleur Pomerol
Bordeaux · Pomerol · Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Tiny, revered Pomerol estate: intense, complex and very long-lived.
Food: Game, beef
Château Siaurac Lalande-de-Pomerol
Bordeaux · Lalande-de-Pomerol · Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Supple, plummy neighbour of Pomerol.
Food: Duck, lamb
Château Mouton Rothschild Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Pauillac · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Pauillac first growth with artist labels: opulent cassis and spice.
Food: Rack of lamb
Château Latour Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Pauillac · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Powerful, long-lived Pauillac first growth.
Food: Beef, lamb
Château Haut-Brion Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Pessac-Léognan · Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
The Graves first growth: smoky, earthy and refined.
Food: Game, beef
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Pauillac · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Seductive, Merlot-rich Pauillac: silky and perfumed.
Food: Lamb, duck
Château Pichon Baron Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Pauillac · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Powerful Pauillac: blackcurrant, cedar and firm tannins.
Food: Steak, lamb
Château Cos d'Estournel Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Saint-Estèphe · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Exotic, spicy Saint-Estèphe second growth.
Food: Beef, lamb
Château Léoville Las Cases Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Saint-Julien · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Classic, structured Saint-Julien built for long ageing.
Food: Lamb, beef
Château Lagrange Saint-Julien
Bordeaux · Saint-Julien · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Saint-Julien third growth: balanced and fresh.
Food: Lamb, steak
Château Cantenac Brown Margaux
Bordeaux · Margaux · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Margaux third growth: firm, floral and dark-fruited.
Food: Lamb, beef
Château Palmer Margaux
Bordeaux · Margaux · Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot
Iconic Margaux: silky, perfumed and complex.
Food: Lamb, duck
Château Talbot Saint-Julien
Bordeaux · Saint-Julien · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Generous Saint-Julien fourth growth: cassis and cedar.
Food: Lamb, beef
Château Batailley Pauillac
Bordeaux · Pauillac · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Traditional Pauillac fifth growth: firm and classic.
Food: Steak, lamb
Mazzei Ser Lapo Chianti Classico Riserva
Tuscany · Chianti Classico · Sangiovese, Merlot
Polished Riserva: cherry, spice and fine oak.
Food: Steak, wild boar
Tenuta Luce Luce
Tuscany · Toscana IGT · Sangiovese, Merlot
Sangiovese-Merlot blend: rich, velvety and spicy.
Food: Lamb, steak
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Ornellaia
Tuscany · Bolgheri Superiore · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Bolgheri icon: opulent dark fruit, spice and fine tannins.
Food: Beef, lamb
Tua Rita Redigaffi
Tuscany · Toscana IGT · Merlot
Cult Tuscan Merlot: dense, velvety and powerful.
Food: Beef fillet, game
Bodega Pirineos 3404 Tinto
Somontano · Moristel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Fresh Pyrenean-foothills red.
Food: Tapas, pizza
Craggy Range Sophia
Hawke's Bay · Gimblett Gravels · Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Bordeaux-style blend from the Gimblett Gravels.
Food: Beef, lamb
Meerlust Red
Stellenbosch · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Classic Stellenbosch Bordeaux-style blend.
Food: Steak, lamb
Vilafonté Seriously Old Dirt
Paarl · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec
Ripe, polished Cape blend.
Food: Lamb, steak
Vilafonté Series M
Paarl · Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon
Plush, Merlot-Malbec Cape blend.
Food: Beef, game
Harlan Estate Harlan Estate
Napa Valley · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Napa cult icon: opulent, layered and long-lived.
Food: Beef, truffle
Falesco Montiano
Velvety Merlot of plum, black cherry and mocha with a fresh, sapid finish from volcanic soils near Lake Bolsena.
Food: Saltimbocca alla romana
Similar red grapes
Explore all grapes in the interactive guide
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