Merlot
Originally from the French area of Bordeaux from which the most prestigious wines based on this blend still come today, Merlot is one of the most popular black grape varieties internationally thanks to its great drinkability and high adaptability. Generally the Merlot grapes are processed and vinified with the aim of creating precious blends based on Cabernet Sauvignon where the role of Merlot consists in adding finesse and expressiveness of the fruit by expanding and emphasizing the organoleptic potential of Cabernet Sauvignon. Compared to the origin, Merlot is born in the Bordeaux area from a spontaneous cross between Cabernet Franc and Magdalene Noir de Charentes. If the complementary grape of Cabernet Sauvignon remains in the Medoc region, in the Saint-Emilion area it is the most cultivated and often proposed grape variety, especially in the Pomerol area, a true paradise of this extraordinary grape. Unlike the coastal part where the pebble suitable for the cultivation of Cabernet Sauvignon dominates, in this area the gravelly soils of alluvial matrix are sedimented with sands rich in ferrous minerals and clays, creating a perfect mix 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 the extraordinary harmony and complexity, as well as for a refined evolution towards balsamic and mentholated notes. The Pomerol territory was not classified in 1855, but over the centuries a scale of values was created and today the most highly rated labels ever 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. In addition to this French peculiarity, Merlot remains one of the most widespread varieties in the world, present in almost all European countries, as well as in the countries of the New World. Thus, especially in consideration of its peculiar characteristics, the vinification of Merlot in purity appears increasingly widespread in recent years, offering wines with great personality. In Italy the spread of this grape involves regions such as Friuli Venezia Giulia, South Tyrol, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Sicily. Precisely in the case of Tuscany, the extreme compatibility of coastal climatic conditions with those present in the Bordeaux area has allowed in recent decades the creation of very successful and qualitatively competitive blends despite the maintenance of recognizable specificities. In addition to being subject to very different harvest times, designed to obtain fresher and less alcoholic or more robust wines in consideration of the ripeness of the fruit, Merlot usually comes in two different versions depending on the climatic conditions affecting the grapes. The most common is the one in which the Merlot grapes are grown in environments where a warm or moderate climate prevails, giving life to a wine with characteristic hints of wild berries mainly black berries such as blueberries, black currants, plums, cherries, often followed also from fresh herbaceous notes of undergrowth; the result is a wine characterized by a soft and velvety body in perfect balance with the body of the tannins and the high alcohol content. The other interpretation is more elegant and slender and is pursued with colder climatic conditions that allow Merlot, thanks to the different maturation, to stand out for greater tannins and acidity. In both cases, Merlot almost always undergoes an aging process in oak barrels, gaining spicy and fragrant notes of vanilla and coffee. Versatile and disruptive wine, Merlot is the red wine loved for its persuasive elegance, soft and rich fruit, smooth profile and balanced, long and persistent sip, without edges or harshness. An enveloping and round wine that over time has conquered the palates of connoisseurs from all over the world. In the Italian case, the appearance of Merlot in response to the damage caused by phylloxera depended on the need to plant new vineyards by selecting better known and more easily marketable varieties. The vine quickly settled in the Triveneto area, in areas that could recall the pebbly and gravelly soils of Bordeaux, such as the alluvial areas of the 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 with high quality levels, exhibiting a decidedly Mediterranean, mature, rich and intense profile. It is grown with excellent results also in Alto Adige, in particular in the Cortaccia area, the sunniest and hottest of the region, in Veneto in the area of the Berici and Breganze hills and in Umbria. I Merlot is history, discovery, adaptation: many are the labels that exalt it at the highest levels such as Masseto Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, Messorio Le Macchiole, Apparita Castello di Ama, Redigaffi Tua Rita, Rennero Gualdo del Re.
Buy Merlot online
If Merlot is a wine appreciated by many amateurs and easily available in wine shops, buying Merlot online is often the best way to reveal its full potential thanks to the immediate comparison of labels and origins. By purchasing Merlot online you can take a journey into the universe of this grape, discovering for example the blends from the coastal areas of Bordeaux and trying stimulating comparisons with Bolgheri wines. Before purchasing, you can devote every attention to discovering its fruity scents and let yourself be surprised by their combination by identifying the delicate herbaceous notes that accompany them. For an even more complete tasting experience, you can decide to buy two pure Merlots online which, if distinguished by harvesting period and winemaking techniques, will allow you to discover if your taste appreciates the freshness and momentum or body of the wine more ripe and expertly refined fruit. In short, buying Merlot online means getting to know wine from the right direction.
What are the characteristics of the Merlot grape?
The main characteristics of the Merlot grape include high vigor and high productivity, both conditions which, when the climatic configurations allow it, make it very adaptable and preferable for new plants.
What is the taste of a Merlot wine?
A wine composed of a high percentage of Merlot or made with pure Merlot has hints of red fruits and ripe plums with interesting herbaceous and spicy hints that manage to complete the organoleptic profile giving a fuller and more structured taste.
Which Italian Merlot is a must try?
There are many Italian Merlots that deserve consideration but some pure Merlot wines such as Masseto have gained worldwide fame to the point of rightfully entering the Olympus of labels to try at least once in a lifetime.
Toscana IGT La Lallera 2021 Borgo San Frediano
The Toscana IGT La Lallera pays homage to the song of the same name by the great Florentine chansonnier Riccardo Marasco, which humorously refers to the love life of Florentine girls.
La Lallera is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon with a small percentage of Petit Verdot. The grapes come from Eocene soils, composed of limestone and marl. The carefully selected grapes are vinified separately in stainless steel tanks. This is followed by a maceration process that contributes to the harmonious a...
View product pageBolgheri DOC Guado al Tasso Cont'Ugo 2022 Marchesi Antinori
Bolgheri Cont'Ugo dei Marchesi Antinori was born in the vineyards of the Guado al Tasso estate, located near the medieval town of Bolgheri, in the Tuscan Maremma area.
It is produced entirely with Merlot grapes, which after being selected and harvested manually, are left to ferment for 25 days in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. Subsequently the wine undergoes the malolactic fermentation process at a controlled temperature of 30 ° C for about 25 days, a process that gives the win...
View product pageToscana IGT Merlot Quercegobbe 2022 Petra
The Tuscany Merlot Quercegobbe di Petra was born in vineyards located on the ferrous hills of the Val di Cornia, in the ancient village of Suvereto.
It is produced exclusively with Merlot grapes, harvested and selected entirely by hand. The must ferments in temperature-controlled vats. Subsequently the wine ages in oak barriques and for another 10 months in bottle before being put on the market.
It is characterized by an intense ruby red color. The nose opens with rich hints of red fruits, enriche...
View product pageTrevenezie IGT Rosato Rosa dei 2024 Masi
The Rosato delle Venezie Rosa dei Masi is made from Merlot grapes from the upper Valpolicella, in an area where significant temperature variations lead to the production of wines with incomparable aromas of peculiar freshness.
Once the manual harvesting of the grapes has been completed, fermentation takes place with a short maceration in contact with the skins in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature, in order to preserve the aromas and balance in the taste of the wine.
Rosa dei Masi h...
View product pageToscana IGT 2021 Masseto
Masseto is excellence made wine. A legendary wine, coming from a terroir with unique vocational characteristics. Unanimously considered as one of the most prestigious wines in the world.
Obtained from a masterful interpretation of pure Merlot grapes, coming from three sub-areas of the homonymous Masseto vineyard, namely Masseto Centrale, Masseto Junior and Masseto Alto, favored by the coexistence of a mild-temperate climate and the breezes that blow in the vicinity of the marine expanse. The harv...
View product pageCollio DOC Merlot Graf de la Tour 2020 Villa Russiz
The Collio Merlot Graf de la Tour of Villa Russiz is born in vineyards located in the municipality of Capriva del Friuli, in the province of Gorizia.
It is produced entirely with Merlot grapes, harvested exclusively by hand once they have reached perfect ripeness. Fermentation takes place, with maceration in contact with the skins for 15 days in steel at a controlled temperature. Subsequently the wine is aged for 12-15 months in oak barrels and for a further 5 months in glass, before being market...
View product pageCollio DOC Merlot 2021 Villa Russiz
The Collio Merlot of Villa Russiz is born in vineyards located in the municipality of Capriva del Friuli, in the province of Gorizia.
It is produced entirely with Merlot grapes, harvested exclusively by hand once they have reached perfect ripeness. Fermentation takes place with maceration for 15 days in contact with the skins, in steel and at a controlled temperature. Subsequently the wine is aged for 12-15 months in oak barrels and for a further 5 months in glass.
Villa Russiz's Merlot is present...
View product pageRubicone IGP Merlot 2022 Enio Ottaviani
Merlot Rubicone by Enio Ottaviani is a wine produced in Romagna, precisely in the San Clemente area in Rimini, where the vineyards benefit from an optimal position exposed to the south, south-east. The clayey soil, together with the influence of the Adriatic Sea, gives the wine unique characteristics, enhancing the qualities of the Merlot vine.
The harvest takes place with a careful and selective manual harvesting of the grapes. The fermentation is carried out in concrete to preserve the authenti...
View product pageToscana IGT Rosso Palafreno 2020 Querciabella
Querciabella is an innovative Chianti winery, which has been cultivating its vines in organic farming since 1988. Currently it manages a vineyard park of over 70 hectares, with plots located in the territories of Greve, Radda and Gaiole, surrounded by olive groves and oak woods.
Produced for the first time in 2000, Palafreno is produced from pure Merlot grapes from the vineyards of Ruffoli, Greve in Chianti, Cipresso and Marrone, grown on soils rich in marl. After the classic red vinification wit...
View product pageToscana IGT Rosso L'Apparita 2020 Castello di Ama
The Apparita of Castello di Ama was born in the Bellavista vineyard located on the hills between Gaiole and Radda in Chianti, in the heart of the Chianti Classico area.
It is produced exclusively with Merlot grapes, harvested in mid-September. After a soft pressing, the grapes ferment in stainless steel tanks in contact with the skins for 4 weeks. Subsequently the wine ages in barriques for about 18 months, before being bottled.
It is a wine characterized by a deep red color, with bright reflectio...
View product pageLazio IGT Merlot Sodale 2022 Famiglia Cotarella
The Sodale red wine of Tenuta Montiano is a creation of the Cotarella winemaker.
The wine is made from 100% Merlot grapes which, once in the cellar, are fermented in steel tanks. After a 20% drain, fermentation begins, during which pumping over and délestage are carried out. The wine thus obtained ages in barrique for 9 months.
Intense ruby red in color with violet reflections, it is expressed on the nose with a bouquet reminiscent of licorice, dark chocolate, cardamom and porcini mushrooms. The s...
View product pageTerre Siciliane IGP Hanami 2024 Cantine Fina
Hanami is an elegant rosé made from Merlot grapes grown in central-western Sicily, at an altitude of 850 meters above sea level. The area's soil and climate conditions and the varietal choice bestow upon the wine a particular aromatic finesse and a balanced structure, an authentic expression of Fina's oenological vision.
The grapes are vinified in steel at a controlled temperature for eight days. After fermentation, the wine ages in steel on the lees for about three months. A cold stabilization p...
View product pageLazio IGT Rosso Montiano 2021 Famiglia Cotarella
Montiano is one of the flagship labels of the winery, born from Riccardo Cotarella's passion for Bordeaux varieties and in particular for Merlot. In the Montefiascone area, the vine has found soils of ancient volcanic origin rich in skeleton and beautiful exposures at about 300 meters above sea level, which allow for the production of wines of great elegance.
The vinification is in the most classic Bordeaux style, with fermentation and maceration on the skins for a dozen days and a maturation per...
View product pageToscana IGT 2001 Masseto
Masseto is excellence made into wine. A legendary wine, coming from a terroir with unique vocational characteristics. Unanimously considered one of the most prestigious wines in the world.
Obtained from a masterful interpretation of Merlot grapes in purity, coming from three sub-areas of the homonymous Masseto vineyard, namely Masseto Centrale, Masseto Junior and Masseto Alto, favored by the coexistence of a mild-temperate climate and the breezes that blow in the vicinity of the marine expanse. T...
View product pageToscana IGT 1996 Masseto
Masseto is excellence made into wine. A legendary wine, coming from a terroir with unique vocational characteristics. Unanimously considered one of the most prestigious wines in the world.
Obtained from a masterful interpretation of Merlot grapes in purity, coming from three sub-areas of the homonymous Masseto vineyard, namely Masseto Centrale, Masseto Junior and Masseto Alto, favored by the coexistence of a mild-temperate climate and the breezes that blow in the vicinity of the marine expanse. T...
View product pageToscana IGT 1997 Masseto
Masseto is excellence made into wine. A legendary wine, coming from a terroir with unique vocational characteristics. Unanimously considered one of the most prestigious wines in the world.
Obtained from a masterful interpretation of Merlot grapes in purity, coming from three sub-areas of the homonymous Masseto vineyard, namely Masseto Centrale, Masseto Junior and Masseto Alto, favored by the coexistence of a mild-temperate climate and the breezes that blow in the vicinity of the marine expanse. T...
View product pageToscana IGT 1998 Masseto
Masseto is excellence made into wine. A legendary wine, coming from a terroir with unique vocational characteristics. Unanimously considered one of the most prestigious wines in the world.
Obtained from a masterful interpretation of Merlot grapes in purity, coming from three sub-areas of the homonymous Masseto vineyard, namely Masseto Centrale, Masseto Junior and Masseto Alto, favored by the coexistence of a mild-temperate climate and the breezes that blow in the vicinity of the marine expanse. T...
View product pageToscana IGT 1999 Masseto
Masseto is excellence made into wine. A legendary wine, coming from a terroir with unique vocational characteristics. Unanimously considered one of the most prestigious wines in the world.
Obtained from a masterful interpretation of Merlot grapes in purity, coming from three sub-areas of the homonymous Masseto vineyard, namely Masseto Centrale, Masseto Junior and Masseto Alto, favored by the coexistence of a mild-temperate climate and the breezes that blow in the vicinity of the marine expanse. T...
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