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

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The Grape Explorer

The Grape Explorer

Күн бұрын

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
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Пікірлер: 52
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 4 жыл бұрын
Hi Everyone. Thoughts on Merlot. Something in your wine rack?
@martinrivero1862
@martinrivero1862 3 жыл бұрын
Just bought a bottle of pascual toso, and Catena
@patriciaelich9702
@patriciaelich9702 3 жыл бұрын
Just got a bottle of Postmark Merlot from Napa. Curious to find out. Love to try new wines and share them with my customers. I'll update soon.
@numanuma20
@numanuma20 3 жыл бұрын
I just joined the Textbook wine club. They have a Merlot and a Bordeaux style red blend. The producer, they don’t own a vineyard, doesn’t sell them for much but the everyday 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is so good and I joined for that reason. I’ve only had Merlot in a Bordeaux blend which is becoming a favorite of mine.
@1hiyasweetie
@1hiyasweetie 3 жыл бұрын
Bought a 2019 Merlot from Chile...described as cherry and cocoa....but I couldn't discern that, but it is DRY and a little 'puckerish'. Did I choose badly?
@ianabroad
@ianabroad Жыл бұрын
My favourite Merlot is Bats Blood - The Legendary Wine from Transylvania. Smooth, velvety and just like me - very fruity!
@johnevans3835
@johnevans3835 Жыл бұрын
McGuigans my local here in Oz. Love it's simplicity, everybody's favourite. Terrific show
@patriciaelich9702
@patriciaelich9702 3 жыл бұрын
Watched the video whole sipping on Muirwood Metlot from Arroyo Seco, Monterrey, California. Very similar in profile as your description from one you were drinking. Just love your videos...and shirts.
@kentvandevender9731
@kentvandevender9731 4 жыл бұрын
Merlot is a grape I’ve been wanting to try more of. If I could get my wife into trying more wines it would help😉. My approach has been to start with old world first then try new world to compare. That way I can see the classic approach to the grape first
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 4 жыл бұрын
Old world New world comparisons are fascinating. Especially for a grape like Merlot.
@CandiceAlane
@CandiceAlane 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for making these. I’m learning so much!
@carengummer9524
@carengummer9524 3 жыл бұрын
I'm so glad to have discovered your channel! Very clear and informative (all the important things i need to know about the grape variety), with some humour added :-D I've watched your other videos too! (Love all your shirts haha) I was a big fan of merlot, and now i'm enjoying malbec and Cab Sauv. Still getting to know other grapes so keep making these great videos :-) Thank you G.E.!
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for being so supportive
@AdityaKumar-xf1xu
@AdityaKumar-xf1xu 3 жыл бұрын
Such wonderful video..Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge in very efficient manner 🙏
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 3 жыл бұрын
Cheers
@josephsantora2007
@josephsantora2007 4 жыл бұрын
Love the channel. Currently studying for the WSET II exam. As for Merlot, not in my rack currently - I think that scent from Sideways is an impediment for me. When Paul Giammati’s character says he isn’t drinking any “F’ing Merlot” - lol - admittedly I have a weak mind. Keep up the good work man.
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 4 жыл бұрын
Hahaha he put off an entire country for a few years back there.
@lipstickonmyglass3297
@lipstickonmyglass3297 3 жыл бұрын
Great video, love your channel
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks very much.
@nicolos25
@nicolos25 3 жыл бұрын
Really enjoy watching you and learning many things about grapes and wine.. thank you very much for real knowlegde..
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching. I appreciate your comment
@jeangarnham2557
@jeangarnham2557 3 жыл бұрын
Yay Hawkes bay New Zealand ❤️🇳🇿
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 3 жыл бұрын
NZ getting a lot of love
@flothoejmand8452
@flothoejmand8452 3 жыл бұрын
you are a great speaker :) on the merlot and the characteristics - the cherries and chocolate and all that... Maybe i will learn to distinquish them, for now i am total newbie enjoying a 2020 "Bree collection merlot". I find it enjoyably dry, fruity without too much sweet and a simple after-taste. But to my best of tasting, i cannot put a single fruit responsible, like you say strawberries or blackberries...
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 3 жыл бұрын
Hi. Thanks very much, I really appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment.
@dmwhitmore
@dmwhitmore 4 жыл бұрын
Really enjoying these, great work with the detail and especially the art work 👍. Any chance of a review of Carménère? Adobe and Montes are my picks but have not tasted that many.
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and yes, Carmenere absolutely incoming.
@isenmileshamson4603
@isenmileshamson4603 3 жыл бұрын
I'm kind of in love with merlot!!🤩🤩🤩🤩😍😍😍😍😘😘😘💕💕💕
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 3 жыл бұрын
All those hearts would suggest so haha
@zitmallik9899
@zitmallik9899 4 жыл бұрын
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 4 жыл бұрын
Cheers
@dj_rhubarb
@dj_rhubarb 4 жыл бұрын
Really enjoying the channel GE! Do you work in wine or is this just a hobby for you?
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 4 жыл бұрын
Hi there. This is all a hobby for me. Maybe one day who knows.
@sumitnegi4623
@sumitnegi4623 3 жыл бұрын
Can you please make some videos on italian regional wines
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 3 жыл бұрын
Hi there. Thanks for the feedback. I'm sure I can do that
@dathursday8494
@dathursday8494 2 жыл бұрын
Awwwww. The offspring off 🤣
@numanuma20
@numanuma20 3 жыл бұрын
Have you seen the movie Sideways? Apparently, that movie turn off people from buying American Merlot, thus killing it.
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 3 жыл бұрын
Yes I read that story. It also hugely helped Pinot Noir.
@numanuma20
@numanuma20 3 жыл бұрын
@@TheGrapeExplorer My thinking is that there must to have been a Merlot craze where every winery in America was trying to commercialize, or brand Merlot, to be this new, exciting wine that is a must have in your wine fridge while leaving pinot noir as an experimental grape in the background.As we all know, cheep value brand wineries and producers also got into the game trying to produce hundreds of bottles of wine only for profit rather than the wine itself thus allowing American wine drinkers to afford Merlot that would end up being hated due to the lack of quality. I think that because of the bad rep, those small wineries in American who where experimenting with Pinot Noir went public with Pinot to see how people would perceive pinot which eventually made Pinot a staple grape in the American wine industry. Since you mentioned Pinot Noir, it leads me to my views on the American wine industry. I feel that the American wine industry has stuck to the commercialization of Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon being the must have grapes for red wine. Wineries in American focus so heavily on those grapes that if you went to an American wine shop/ liquor store and ask for the Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir wines, you’d find thousands of bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir from different wineries. The same thing applies to Chardonnay here in America. You will find thousands of bottles of American Chardonnay when visiting a wine/liquor store. I have no hatred towards Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Chardonnay, I just find the American wine trend interesting.
@eliotbod
@eliotbod 3 жыл бұрын
I’ve just read that Merlot is refused in that film not because it is thought by the character to be poor but that it was his ex-wife’s favourite wine.. although this motivation was omitted in the transfer to the screen I guess giving the audience the impression Merlot’s no good. I like it. Anything approaching dry red and I’m fine. Meh
@sc9433
@sc9433 2 жыл бұрын
If gay is a taste. Merlot will be what it tastes like. Fruity, floral, sweet and easily approachable.
@dathursday8494
@dathursday8494 2 жыл бұрын
*listens* 😐 Okay. Change my mind.
@rickkan4870
@rickkan4870 3 жыл бұрын
Merlittle
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 3 жыл бұрын
That is some gentle comedy right there.
@tjoy87
@tjoy87 4 жыл бұрын
Olive, not an eye on a stick lol
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 4 жыл бұрын
Haha thanks for watching
@dathursday8494
@dathursday8494 2 жыл бұрын
I know that its made out of gea
@maryclairfitzpatrick8135
@maryclairfitzpatrick8135 3 жыл бұрын
VERY FAKE TEETH
@TheGrapeExplorer
@TheGrapeExplorer 3 жыл бұрын
What an odd thing to comment. I've had these for most of my life.
@whome87hathorn85
@whome87hathorn85 2 жыл бұрын
Troll.
@whome87hathorn85
@whome87hathorn85 2 жыл бұрын
Aren't we worried about merlot?
@jennifermarielaracavazosma6234
@jennifermarielaracavazosma6234 2 жыл бұрын
IVE no value of these faces. 1 bottle of low cost Merlot each from my1st brother's (allotmeant). I dont say many grapes nor drink wine. grapes are a good non alcohol beverage.
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