What is MERLOT - Everything you need to know about this popular Global grape.

What is MERLOT - Everything you need to know about this popular Global grape. In this video I take a look into Merlot Merlot is a dark blue-colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to be a diminutive of merle, the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the color of the grape. Its softness and "fleshiness", combined with its earlier ripening, makes Merlot a popular grape for blending with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, which tends to be higher in tannin. Along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz Cabernet, Malbec and Petit Verdot, Merlot is one of the primary grapes used in Bordeaux wine, and it is the most widely planted grape in the Bordeaux wine regions. Merlot is also one of the most popular red wine varietals in many markets. This flexibility has helped to make it one of the world's most planted grape varieties. While Merlot is made across the globe, there tend to be two main styles. The "International style" favored by many New World wine regions tends to emphasize late harvesting to gain physiological ripeness and produce inky, purple colored wines that are full in body with high alcohol and lush, velvety tannins with intense, plum and blackberry fruit. While this international style is practiced by many Bordeaux wine producers, the traditional "Bordeaux style" of Merlot involves harvesting Merlot earlier to maintain acidity and producing more medium-bodied wines with moderate alcohol levels that have fresh, red fruit flavors (raspberries, strawberries) and potentially leafy, vegetal notes Looking to learn more? Get ‘The BIG Wine Quiz Book’ now - 1000 exam style questions, perfect for studying or keeping your knowledge up to date. Available in Paperback and on Kindle https://geni.us/winequiz Links to the Wine books I use for studying: - The World Atlas of Wine - https://geni.us/atlaswine Wine Folly - https://geni.us/winefolly The Oxford Companion to Wine - https://geni.us/oxfordwine Dont forget to Like and Subscribe for more YouTube -    / thegrapeexplorer   Twitter -   / grapeexplorer   Instagram -   / thegrapeexplorer   Facebook -   / thegrapeexplorer   Contact me for enquiries or collaborations: [email protected] DISCLAIMER - Some links in this description are affiliate links (I earn a small commission)