Merlot

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

Generally these grapes are the most faithful companions of the brother Cabernet Sauvignon , also of Bordeaux origin, and together they create among the most popular blends. But due to its peculiar characteristics, there are increasingly interpretations of Merlot in purity of great personality all over the world. First of all in Italy this grape 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 life to a wine with the characteristic hints of berries, mainly with black berries such as blueberries, black currants, plums, cherries but also fresh herbaceous notes of undergrowth, characterized by a soft and velvety body in perfect balance with the body of the tannins and high alcohol content. The other interpretation is more elegant and is possible in colder climatic conditions which is distinguished by 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.

It is the red wine loved for its persuasive elegance, its soft and rich fruit, its smooth profile, its balanced sip, long and persistent, without edges or roughness. An enveloping and round wine that 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 cuts. If in the Médoc region it is a complementary grape compared to the cabernet sauvignon in the Saint-Emilion area, it is the most cultivated grape variety and often offered in purity, especially in the Pomerol area, a true paradise of this extraordinary grape. In this area the gravelly soils of alluvial matrix have sedimented with sands rich in ferrous 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 berry fruits, for the extraordinary harmony and complexity and for a refined evolution towards balsamic and menthol notes. The Pomerol territory was not classified in 1855, but over the centuries a scale of values has been created and today the most quoted 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 . Merlot is one of the most popular varieties in the world and is present in almost all European states, as well as in New World countries. In Italy, it came mainly after the crisis caused by phylloxera. The need to replant new vineyards has often directed the choice towards the most famous French varieties, easier to market than many ancient native vines. The vine quickly settled in the area of Triveneto, in areas that I could remember 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 above all in the area of the Tuscan coast, Bolgheri and its hinterland, the soil and climate conditions to express themselves on high quality levels, with a decidedly Mediterranean face, ripe, rich and intense. It is also cultivated with excellent results in South Tyrol, in particular in the Cortaccia area, the sunniest and warmest in the region, in the Veneto region of the Berici and Breganze hills and in Umbria. For those wishing to deepen their knowledge of Italian merlot, we recommend some labels of absolute prestige, among the best versions of this noble grape variety: 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.