What Do You Know About Merlot?

By Cole Swanson
March 24, 2025

Merlot is a red grape, the name of which derives from the French word “merle,” meaning “blackbird,” which is in reference to the dark color of the fruit. Relative to many other wine grapes, it is new to literature, only having been documented for the first time in France during the 18th century, and only becoming popular to produce in the last few decades. This makes its popularity even that much more impressive, as it is the second most-planted grape in the world, following Cabernet Sauvignon.

Merlot is the child of the red grapes Cabernet Franc and an unusual French variety called Magdeleine Noire des Charentes, which is parent to a handful of French varietals.

It is commonly considered to be a chameleon in the vineyard, because it enjoys both moderately-temperate and warmer climates, resulting in restrained styles meant to be drunk soon after bottling, or those worthy of age.

Typical Structure

I find it necessary to compare Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon because the two are often in discussion when considering common wines to blend together. Additionally, I fully believe that when learning about wine, it is much easier to do so when comparing grapes to one another because it provides a more holistic view.

Though Merlot can be full-bodied like Cabernet Sauvignon, it is definitively less tannic because the grape itself has thinner skins, meaning, when produced as single varietals, Cab Sauv will generally always feel fuller than Merlot.

The “blackbird” is also known to be more fruit-forward, brimming with both black and red fruit qualities. 

Both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon can grow well in warmer climates, such as the Columbia Valley AVA and the Napa Valley AVA. However, Merlot has the ability to produce outstanding wines in more moderately-temperate climates, such as Bordeaux, France. This is because, in addition to its thinner skins, it buds and ripens earlier on the vine than its contemporary, allowing for much versatility in the vineyard.

The thickness of the grape’s skins and growing habits are also why Merlot enjoys regions whose soils are cooler and damper, such as clay and limestone – it doesn’t need as much heat to ripen. Whereas Cab, with its thicker skins and habit to bud and ripen later, needs consistently warm environments that have less water-retentive soils, such as gravel, which reflects additional heat onto the vine while grapes are growing.

These differences between the two grapes are why both are often blended with one another. 

When blended, Merlot’s characteristically plush, velvety tannins, soften the structure of the tannic Cabernet Sauvignon while adding fruitiness.

This type of blend is referred to as a “Bordeaux blend,” a term prescribed to a wine made of a mixture of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and/or Carmenere in any combination percentage.

Typical Flavors

Merlot has the ability to grow in both moderate and warmer sites, each of which can produce phenomenal, ageable wines that are highly sought after. So how does the taste of Merlot change in differentiating heat? 

Typical Flavors - Black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, plum, violets, cedar, chocolate

Merlot From Cooler Climates - Grippier tannins, meaning they have not smoothened out or are under-ripe and may never have the potential to soften well

Merlot From Moderate Climates - Plush, velvety tannins; more herbaceous and peppery

Merlot From Warmer Climates - A more tannic structure that remains soft; juicier, more concentrated fruit and spice; higher in alcohol, which provides a warming sensation

Where Merlot Grows: Moderately-Temperate Regions

Bordeaux, France

Here, Merlot can range from light-to-medium-bodied with medium-to-high tannins and showcase an array of flavors from plum and tobacco, which will evolve into cedar spice, to slightly richer in style with spicier blackberry fruit. 

Like with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot is widely planted in Bordeaux, France. Here, the regions of Pomerol and Saint-Emilion – in an area referred to as the “Right Bank” – produce some of the finest Merlot wines in the world.

Bordeaux is split down the middle by a pair of rivers distinguishing each side, respectively, as the “Left Bank” and “Right Bank.” Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are of high quality in this French region, but grow best on opposite sides because not all wine grapes can grow equally in the same environments.

In the Right Bank, the Merlot grape thrives in the cooler site with its damp, more water-retentive soils. While Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in the warmer Left Bank with its gravelly soils.

Because Cabernet has thicker skins and takes longer than Merlot to fully ripen, it requires a more time in the heat and sun to grow, otherwise it will not blossom to the fullest. Whereas Merlot, with its earlier ripening habits, doesn’t require such an environment for the maturation of tannins and flavors because it doesn’t need as much heat to develop.

Fiuli, Italy; Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand; Ticino, Switzerland

Where Merlot Grows: Warmer Regions

The Columbia Valley AVA and the Napa Valley AVA both receive much more sunshine and heat than Bordeaux, which means that these climates are considered to be warm.

These locations are known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. When planted here, both grapes, when fully ripened, will produce wines that are juicer and more concentrated and with firmer tannins than Bordeaux. 

Like in Bordeaux, these wines can be, and are often, blended together – when done, the blend is still considered a “Bordeaux blend.”

Other Warmer Regions

Chile; Mendoza, Argentina; La Mancha, Spain

Common Winemaking Techniques

Pre-fermentation Maceration - Helps to extract color before fermentation begins. This will happen after crushing.

Careful Color and Tannin Extraction - Because the tannins of Merlot are more supple than Cabernet Sauvignon, extraction during fermentation is not as vigorous

Post-fermentation Maceration - Ensures gentle extraction of tannins as opposed to warm temperatures that may over extract.

Barrel Aging - New oak is often used to enhance complexity