Cabernet's softer partner
Merlot is the gentle, plummy counterpart to Cabernet. Riper and softer, it gives wines that are smooth and easy to love — which is why it's one of the world's most planted grapes.
- Larger, thinner-skinned berries mean softer tannin than Cabernet.
- On Bordeaux's Right Bank (Saint-Émilion, Pomerol) it takes the lead.
- It ripens earlier, so it suits slightly cooler or clay soils.
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Signature flavour
Plum and black cherry, with chocolate and a soft, velvety texture. Think 'rounder and juicier' next to Cabernet's firm blackcurrant.