Merlot

‘Behind every great Merlot, is a great Cabernet Sauvignon’…oh, that’s not how it goes? Well, it’s certainly an improvement on the original. Merlot is CB’s famed partner in crime, but that is not to say it can’t hold it’s own either. If these 2 varieties were to play good cop, bad cop Merlot would definitely be the former; it’s softer, fruitier and just generally easier to deal with.

What am I getting?
If I said ‘fruitcake’ you might think, ‘yes, you sound like one’, but I promise Merlot really does takes on this delicious fruity flavour – plum, blackcurrant, blackberry and blueberry are all getting in on the action too. However, just like its good friend Cabernet Sauvignon, in cooler climates Merlot wines have a grassier tendency, so think along the lines of bell-peppers.

What can I drink it with?
Finding the perfect match with Merlots can be a little tricky as there are so many variations. The fruitier, fuller Merlots are great with red meats and rich sauces, while the lighter wines work really well with pizza and pasta dishes, particularly with tomato sauces.
 
I want it!
Of course you do.
Let’s not go crazy…
Marquis de Belleville 2014 Bordeaux Supérieur (medium, France) £7.99 per bottle
All out…
2012 Ch. Teyssier, Montagne Saint-Emilio (medium, France) £18.50 per bottle