Varietal Intelligence · Red
Merlot
Plum, cocoa, soft suede. Bordeaux's gentler half.
Origin
Bordeaux, France · 18th century
Plum, cocoa, soft suede. Bordeaux's gentler half.
Merlot ripens earlier and softer than Cabernet, giving Bordeaux blends their flesh and approachability. On the Right Bank, on Pomerol's iron-rich clay, it makes some of the most coveted wines on earth — Pétrus, Le Pin — wines of plush plum, cocoa and a velvety, silken finish.
Flavor Profile
The grape, measured.
Six axes describe how the wine sits on the palate. Hover for sommelier notation.
Region Atlas
Where it thrives.
Hover any pin to read the regional dialect. Climate zones are read in tone.
Maritime · France
Pomerol
Iron clay, silken plum.
Sommelier Insights
At the table, in the glass.
Beef bourguignon · Roast pork loin · Mushroom & truffle pasta · Brie & fig
16–18 °C
Right Bank Bordeaux: 60–90 minutes for top vintages.
Approachable young; top Pomerols age 20–40 years.
Right Bank ’00, ’05, ’09, ’10, ’16 are blue-chip cellar holdings.
If it tastes like ripe plum and cocoa with soft tannin — that's Merlot doing its job.
Sommelier-Level Note
"Where Cabernet builds the cathedral, Merlot draws the curtains. Read it for the textural softness, not the structure."
— The Wine Passport · House Tasting Note
Related Discoveries
Bottles, journeys, kindred grapes.
Recommended bottles
Suggested journeys
- The Right Bank softly5 pours · Bordeaux
- Merlot beyond Bordeaux4 pours · Global
Kindred grapes
Your Palate
The grape, against your record.
Tasting trend
Your palate's affinity for Merlot, year on year.