| <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { | | | | but when treated properly this grape can be part |
| margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> | | | | of some of the most pricey wines ever |
| When it comes to buying red wine there are so | | | | –Chateau Petrus wines are based on the |
| many different types on offer. In this article I am | | | | Merlot grape and this rare wine often fetches |
| going to try and describe one of the more | | | | huge amounts of money when it becomes |
| popular types of red wine available. Merlot is a | | | | available |
| wine that you see on the supermarket shelf, on a | | | | However you don’t have to be a millionaire to |
| restaurant wine list or online at an independent | | | | enjoy the delights of a good bottle of Merlot. In |
| wine retail site, but what does it taste like and | | | | Italy Merlot produces a great table wine, mixed |
| what does it taste good with? | | | | with the Sangiovese grape the wine is soft in its |
| Merlot is actually the name of the grape ad well | | | | tase and is essential with a plate of pasta or |
| as the name of the wine that is produces. It is a | | | | antipasto. |
| grape that is used on its own to produce wine or | | | | In Hungary they use the grape when producing |
| is also used as a grape for bleding with other | | | | their classic Bull’s Blood. Maybe not to |
| grapes to make different types of wine. It is | | | | everyone’s taste but again it shows the |
| often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon to create | | | | versatility and range of flavours that can be |
| a rich red wine. Merlot is one of the most popular | | | | produced by this grape. |
| red wine grapes in the world. | | | | Because of the diversity of the wine that the |
| Red wine produced from the Merlot grape is | | | | Merlot grape can produce it can also work well |
| different from Cabernet Sauvignon. The grape is | | | | with a wide range of foods. It can have deep fruit |
| redder in colour, ripens earlier, has a thinner skin | | | | flavours of plum and blackberry which |
| and fewer tannins. It is a grape that grows well in | | | | complement a wide range of meat dishes or it |
| colder soils and because it is quicker to ripen is | | | | can be more silky and soft in its taste when |
| ideal for countries with a shorter warm season. | | | | blended with the cabernet sauvignon to make a |
| Merlot is an essential ingredient in the wines made | | | | classic claret. And don’t forget that Merlot is |
| in the Bordeaux region of France – in fact it is | | | | one of the varieties of grapes most loved by |
| found in about 25% of the wines produced in that | | | | wine growers across the globe so there are |
| region. Even some of the most expensive wines | | | | fantastic types of Merlot found in Australia and |
| produced in the world have the merlot grape as | | | | Chile as well spicy Italian reds which give any |
| part of their make up. So remember it may be | | | | pasta dish an edge! |
| something you can find in most stores and online | | | | |