The name “Merlot” means little blackbird. And it is often thought of as the little brother of cabernet sauvignon, as it is the second most widely planted grape in the world and originates from the same region of France.
Merlot tends to be a softer wine than Cabernet, but has similar rich flavors such as blackberry, cherries, plum, and chocolate. It has a beautiful deep color, full body, and usually low tannin.
The most famous Merlots also still come from the Bordeaux region in France, where it is the leading grape blended into the coveted Bordeaux wines. These are rare and really pricey wines. But less premium Merlot is also produced in regions such as California, Chile, and Italy.
Fun fact – In 2004, the movie Sideways was released in the United States. It was a comedy about two guys taking a weekend road trip through California wine country. The movie was quite successful and sparked an interest in wine culture for many in the U.S. However, throughout the movie the main characters speak glowingly of Pinot Noir, and very disparagingly of Merlot. The movie is widely credited with increasing Pinot Noir sales in the US, which reportedly increased 16% in the year following the release. Unfortunately, it also had the affect of branding Merlot as an unsophisticated, lower class of wine. Quite a shame when you consider the high end wines being produced from Merlot in countries like France. Demand for Merlot dropped in the US, and prices dropped with it. Anecdotally, California winemakers still tell stories of Merlot vineyards being completely ripped out in the years following the movie and replaced with more popular varieties.