Merlot is a black grape variety, whose name derives from the particular predilection that the blackbird has for its berries, native to Gironde (France), from which are born (in blends with Cabernet[unclear]) some of the most prestigious wines in the world (Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux). Château Petrus and Masseto are two examples of prestigious wines obtained exclusively from Merlot grapes. Merlot and Chardonnay are, among the so-called "international" French grape varieties, the most cultivated in every part of the world, also thanks to their high adaptability. In most of the wine-growing areas of the world, Merlot is an inseparable companion of Cabernet Sauvignon; the two grape varieties integrate perfectly: the first giving the wine its full and precocious fruit, the second a greater aristocracy and longevity. In Bordeaux, it is customary, depending on the area, to add a percentage of Cabernet Franc to the composition of the wine, which, in addition to a fruity component, gives it pleasant herbaceous and vegetal sensations. In Italy, Merlot has found ideal environmental conditions in Friuli, Trentino, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna since the end of the nineteenth century, but it is now widespread in many other regions, with sometimes surprising results, even without the contribution of other grapes, such as for example in Sicily and Campania where there are interpretations of pure Merlot of great oenological interest (and consequently commercial), precisely because Merlot , in adapting to this climate with a strong solar imprint, shows another aspect of its versatile personality, with warmer and spicier flavors. It has a medium, pentagonal, three-lobed and five-lobed leaf; a medium, pyramidal, more or less sparse bunch, with one or two wings and a woody, pinkish peduncle; medium-sized, round, blue-black berry with a medium-firm skin covered with abundant bloom. It prefers hilly, cool terrain with good humidity during the summer as it suffers from drought. The most suitable training systems are spurred cordon, guyot and tendon which ensure good shading of the bunches in order to avoid sudden drops in fixed acidity. From Merlot we obtain velvety, intense, rich wines with a beautiful dark ruby color, which tends to become garnet with aging. Aromas of blueberries, violets, blackcurrants, plums, cherries, rhubarb and humus. Sometimes you can also perceive herbs, mint, bay leaves, thyme, oregano and a balsamic note that fades into pine. The characteristic that makes it recognizable is a herbaceous background note that permeates the entire wine. On the palate it is broad and deep, juicy. In the mouth the tannins are full-bodied, but velvety and the herbaceous and earthy flavors create a layered structure interspersed with a pleasantness that you will not easily forget. To be paired with baked pasta, ragù, red meats, risottos with raw materials of the earth such as mushrooms or truffles.
