Merlot

• Color: Red (Black/Blue-Skinned)
• Grape Parentage: Cabernet Franc x Magdeleine Noire des Charentes
• Place of Origin: Bordeaux
• Origin of Grape Name: “Merlot” is derived from the French merle, or “blackbird”
• Major Countries of Production:Gironde département: 69,407 ha
  • Hérault département: 10,720 ha
  • Aude département: 10,365 ha
  • Gard département: 6,581 ha
  • Dordogne département: 4,127 ha
  • France: 113,848 hectares (2011, FranceAgrimer)
  • Italy: 24,141 ha (2010, Il Corriere Vinicolo)
  • United States:
    • San Joaquin County, CA: 7,465 acres (2010, the Wine Institute)
    • Napa County, CA: 6,687 acres (2010, the Wine Institute)
    • Sonoma County, CA: 6,109 acres (2010, the Wine Institute)
    • Monterey County, CA: 5,603 acres (2010, the Wine Institute)
    • Washington State: 5,853 acres (2010, Washington Wine Commission)
  • Bulgaria
  • Spain: 13,325 hectares (2007, Observatorio español del Mercado del Vino/OeMV)
  • Australia: 10,073 hectares (2010, WIne Australia)
  • Chile: 10,041 hectares (2011, Wines of Chile)

Note: in 1994, French ampelographers correctly identifed many Chilean “Merlot” vines as Carmenère

• Synonyms: 
  • France: Merlau
  • Historical French Synonyms: Crabutet, Bigney, Vitraille, Sémillon Rouge, Sème de la Canau, Plant Médoc, Sème dou Flube
  • Hungary: Médoc Noir 
• Viticultural Characteristics: Thinner-skinned than Cabernet Sauvignon (Merlot flowers and ripens up to two weeks earlier than Cabernet),  Resistance to Powdery Mildew, Susceptible to Downy Mildew and Botrytis/Grey Rot
• Preferred Soil Type: cool, moisture-retaining soils, such as clay
• Associated Classic Soil Types: 
  • Pomerol: Crasse de Fer (iron-rich clay)
• Common Blending Partners: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

Typical Descriptors and Structure for Right Bank Bordeaux
(Merlot-dominated blends) 

• Visual: Ruby Color with Garnet Tones, Moderate to Moderate Plus Concentration
• Aromas/Flavors: Moderate Plus Intensity
  • Fruit: Blue Fruit (Plum, Blueberry), Red Fruit (Strawberry, Raspberry, Red Cherry), Black Fruit (Blackberry, Black Cherry), Fig/Fruitcake
  • Floral: Purple Flowers, Violets
  • Herbal: Mint, Bay Leaf, Fern, Tobacco
  • Spice: Licorice/Anise, Christmas Spice
  • Earth: Moderate Plus to High Minerality, Clay, Mushroom/Truffle
  • Oak: Moderate Plus to High Use of New French Oak, Chocolate, Coffee, Cinnamon, Vanilla
• Structure: Dry, Moderate to Moderate Plus Body, Moderate to Elevated Tannin, Moderate Acidity, Elevated Alcohol

Typical Descriptors and Structure for Napa Merlot

• Visual: Ruby Color with Blue Tones, Moderate Plus Concentration
• Aromas/Flavors: Moderate Plus Intensity
  • Fruit: Stewed Fruit Character, Ripe/Lush Blue Fruit (Plum, Blueberry), Ripe Black Fruit (Blackcurrant), Lush Red Fruit (Red Cherry, Raspberry), Fig, Prune 
  • Floral: Purple Flowers, Violets
  • Herbal: Fern, Bay Leaf, Sage
  • Spice: Christmas Spice, Licorice/Anise
  • Earth: Low to Moderate Minerality
  • Oak: Moderate to High Use of New French Oak or Mixed Origin Oak, Chocolate, Coffee, Mocha, Sweet Baking Spices, Vanilla
• Structure: Dry (with Ripe Attack), Moderate Plus to Full Body, Moderate Tannin, Diminished to Moderate Acidity, Elevated to High Alcohol