Page 77 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL WINTER 2024 SCOTLAND

BY TOM GABLE

Merlot Quality Rising, Not Sideways

erlot is a versatile and widely available at every price level and from a
planted red wine grape that is dozen countries (the Masters and Gold
popular worldwide, either on its winners are listed below).
M own or as For background, the
an essential compo‐ leading countries for
nent in blended Merlot are:
wines, and is recover‐ France – The No. 1
ing from a bit of a grape in Bordeaux, es‐
bad rap. pecially on the Right
It’s not for lack of Bank (Pomerol and St.
quantity and con‐ Emilion), where it is
sumption. At some blended with Cabernet
660,000 acres, it is Franc. It is a key com‐
second to Cabernet ponent of the five-
Sauvignon in world‐ grape Bordeaux blend
wide plantings on the left bank, with
(840,000 acres). Its Cabernet Sauvignon,
sales and reputation Cabernet Franc, Mal‐
have mostly re‐ bec, and Petit Verdot.
bounded in the U.S. Pétrus, a blend of 95%
from declining sales Merlot and 5% Caber‐
following the movie net Franc from
Sideways, in which Pomerol, is one of the
the protagonist pro‐ most expensive wines
claims his disdain for in the world, with the
Merlot and his love for Pinot Noir (No. 9 2022 going for some $4,000 a bottle.
globally, at 285,00 acres). Merlot outsells United States—California leads, most
Pinot Noir by more than two-to-one in the notably with wines from Napa and
U.S. Sonoma. Their wines are widely distrib‐
The rising quality is evident from the uted, and you can find tasty $20 to $30
recent Global Master Merlot Awards. A wines in most supermarkets, national
panel of Masters of Wine, Master Somme‐ wine retailers, and warehouse chains.
liers, and other experts judged the wines Washington state also does well with
blind in the competition in the United Merlot.
Kingdom. The judges noted the depth and Italy—Merlot is often used in "Super
breadth of fine Merlot wines and blends Tuscan" blends, where winemakers create

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