Merlot

California and Washington make more than half of our merlot, with Napa and Walla Walla bottles.

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Merlot questions

What does merlot taste like?

Merlot tastes of ripe plum, black cherry and blackberry, with notes of chocolate, cocoa and sometimes herbs or tobacco. It has soft, velvety tannin and medium to full body. Cooler places like Bordeaux make more structured, savory merlot, while warmer regions like California and Chile make riper, fruitier versions.

Is merlot sweet or dry?

Merlot is a dry red wine with almost no residual sugar. Its ripe, round fruit and soft texture can give an impression of sweetness, especially in warm-climate versions, but that's fruit flavor rather than sugar. It's one of the smoothest dry reds, which makes it popular with people new to red wine.

Is merlot a red blend?

On its own, merlot is a single grape variety. But it's the most planted grape in Bordeaux, where it's blended with cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and sometimes petit verdot and malbec. On the Right Bank, in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, it's usually the main grape, as in Château Pétrus, which is nearly all merlot.

Is merlot good for cooking?

Yes. Merlot's soft tannin and ripe fruit make it a good choice for braises, beef stew, red wine sauces, risotto and reductions. Use a bottle you'd be happy to drink, but there's no need to cook with an expensive one. Avoid very oaky or tannic wines, since cooking concentrates those flavors.