Originally from Bordeaux , an area where some of the most prestigious wines are born, Merlot is a black grape variety widespread internationally, in particular due to its high adaptability.

Generally these grapes are the most faithful companions of their brother Cabernet Sauvignon , also of Bordeaux origin, and together they create some of the most loved blends. But due to its peculiar characteristics, interpretations of pure Merlot with great personality are increasingly found throughout the world. First of all, in Italy this vine is widespread in every territory: from Friuli to Alto Adige , Veneto, Emilia Romagna, but also in Tuscany , especially in the Bolgheri area , and in Sicily .

Merlot comes in two different versions depending on the climatic conditions in which the grapes ripen. The most common is the one in which the grapes are grown in environments where a warm or moderate climate prevails, giving rise to a wine with characteristic hints of wild berries, mainly black berries such as blueberries, blackcurrants, plums, cherries but also fresh herbaceous notes of undergrowth, characterized by a soft and velvety body in perfect balance with the full-bodied tannins and high alcohol content. The other interpretation is more elegant and is possible in colder climatic conditions which is characterized by greater tannicity and acidity. In both cases, Merlot almost always undergoes an aging process in oak barrels, gaining spicy and fragrant notes of vanilla and coffee.

It is the red wine loved for its persuasive elegance, its soft and rich fruit, its smooth profile, its balanced, long and persistent sip, without sharp edges or roughness. An enveloping and rounded wine, which has conquered the palates of connoisseurs from all over the world. Merlot was born in the Bordeaux area from a spontaneous cross between Cabernet Franc and Magdalene Noir de Charentes. Today it is one of the main grapes of the famous Bordeaux blends.

Merlot in France

If in the Médoc region it is a complementary grape to Cabernet Sauvignon in the Saint-Emilion area it is the most cultivated vine and often offered in purity, especially in the Pomerol area, a true paradise for this extraordinary grape. In this area the gravelly soils of alluvial matrix have sedimented with sands rich in iron minerals and clays, creating a mix that has proved perfect for the needs of the vine. The most famous Merlots in the world are born in this AOC, which stand out for the finesse of the aromas of small dark berries, for their extraordinary harmony and complexity and for a refined evolution towards balsamic and mentholated notes.

The territory of Pomerol was not classified in 1855, but over the centuries a scale of values has nevertheless been created and today the most highly rated labels of all come from: Château Petrus, Château La Fleur, Château L'Eglise Clinet, Château Le Pin, Château La Violette, Château Trotanoy, Château Housanna, Château L'Evangile, Château Clinet, Vieux Château Certan.

Merlot in Italy

Merlot is one of the most widespread varieties in the world and is present in almost all European states, as well as in the countries of the New World. In Italy, it arrived especially after the crisis caused by phylloxera. The need to replant new vineyards has often directed the choice towards the most famous French varieties, which are easier to market than many ancient native vines. The vine quickly settled in the Triveneto area, in areas that reminded me of the pebbly and gravelly soils of Bordeaux, such as the alluvial areas of Greve del Friuli or the Piave area. The vine then spread throughout the peninsula, finding especially in the area of the Tuscan coast, Bolgheri and its hinterland, the pedoclimatic conditions to express itself at high quality levels, with a decidedly Mediterranean, mature, rich and intense face.

It is also cultivated with excellent results in Alto Adige , in particular in the Cortaccia area, the sunniest and warmest in the region, in Veneto in the Colli Berici and Breganze areas and in Umbria. For those wishing to deepen their knowledge of Italian Merlot, we recommend some absolutely prestigious labels, among the absolute best versions of this noble vine: Toscana Rosso IGT Masseto Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, Toscana Merlot IGT Messorio Le Macchiole, Toscana IGT l'Apparita Castello di Ama, Toscana Rosso IGT Redigaffi Tua Rita, Suvereto Docg I'Rennero Gualdo del Re, Delle Venezie Merlot IGT Sante Rosso Cecchetto Giorgio, Veneto Merlot IGT Crosara Maculan, Lazio Merlot IGT Montiano Falesco.