So... What is wrong with Merlot anyway?
Merlot has been one of the most popular choices for the wine consumer for decades. It is generally well priced, easy to enjoy, and it is on every wine list. It isn't so tannic that it needs years to age, and it often has a pleasant buttery flavor (diacetyl from the malo-lactic fermentation). All told, Merlot has always been safe.
Ask any thrill seeker, safe is boring. Business likes safe bets, so wineries have been pumping out Merlot as fast as they can, and since there is little expectation other than that safe quality, much of the Merlot that is released is indeed boring.
The movie Sideways is changing all that. Eschewing Merlot for the more untamed, but potentially more rewarding Pinot Noir, the wine loving main character has already made an impact on US wine sales. I have already written of the rewards and pitfalls of Pinot Noir in my last posting, so let me just summarize by saying that saying it can be a worthwhile challenge.
Merlot is more often than not blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, even if the bottle says Merlot (and vice versa). In the US a wine only has to contain 75% of the grape named on the label, so this allows the wine makers the latitude to make these blends. When crafted with care, Merlot can be a wonderfully complex wine that rewards moderate aging. It can also be one of the most expensive wines in the world, as is the case with Chateau Petrus and other Pomerols from the Bordeaux region of France.
So Merlot is not always boring. Although, that does allow that Merlot can be boring. If you are looking for a nice safe red wine, Merlot remains a good choice. If you are looking for adventure and new flavors, skip the Merlot and try a Pinot, or a Zinfandel, or a Syrah, or a Petite Sirah or a ...
The fun of wine is in its infinite variety.
Ask any thrill seeker, safe is boring. Business likes safe bets, so wineries have been pumping out Merlot as fast as they can, and since there is little expectation other than that safe quality, much of the Merlot that is released is indeed boring.
The movie Sideways is changing all that. Eschewing Merlot for the more untamed, but potentially more rewarding Pinot Noir, the wine loving main character has already made an impact on US wine sales. I have already written of the rewards and pitfalls of Pinot Noir in my last posting, so let me just summarize by saying that saying it can be a worthwhile challenge.
Merlot is more often than not blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, even if the bottle says Merlot (and vice versa). In the US a wine only has to contain 75% of the grape named on the label, so this allows the wine makers the latitude to make these blends. When crafted with care, Merlot can be a wonderfully complex wine that rewards moderate aging. It can also be one of the most expensive wines in the world, as is the case with Chateau Petrus and other Pomerols from the Bordeaux region of France.
So Merlot is not always boring. Although, that does allow that Merlot can be boring. If you are looking for a nice safe red wine, Merlot remains a good choice. If you are looking for adventure and new flavors, skip the Merlot and try a Pinot, or a Zinfandel, or a Syrah, or a Petite Sirah or a ...
The fun of wine is in its infinite variety.
posted by Wineguy at 10:10 AM
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