Winemaker Notes
The wine world is vast and constantly expanding. With shifts in climate, fashion, trands and technology, new regions are constantly developing. Through research and experimentation enologists and winemakers continue to develop an understanding of which varieties work best on which vineyard sites. Often, since these regions have yet to gain worldwide popularity, they are great sources for the savvy consumer looking to try something new and interesting at a budget-friendly price.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.