Merlot

Varieties of the richly coloured and fruity Merlots are among some of the most widely planted grapes behind only Cabernet Sauvignon in the world with wineries producing Merlot and blends in Australia, the United States, France, South America and South Africa. Of particular note amongst our homegrown producers are the stunning wine growing regions of the Margaret River, Barossa Valley and Eden Valley as well as countless up and coming regions. Merlots grow well in both cool and warm climates with the surrounding region impacting on the taste and style of the grape just as much as the vintner. Sample a broad range of great tasting wines from the world and Australia’s finest winemakers with Bottle Stop . Enjoy the lowest possible price across our entire range of alcohol.

Are you looking to buy Australian made wines? Our selection of Merlots will not disappoint. Australian wine made on the Merlot grape variety alone is renowned the world over for its medium-bodied complexity, blackberry flavours and smooth vanilla tones. You’ll also you’ll find Merlots in blended wines in the traditional Bordeaux style and the Italian Super Tuscan wine tradition. While these are unmissable taste opportunities, don’t let traditional European styles and reputations stop you from sampling this single varietal type when you can and to discover for yourself whether tasting notes like blackberry, plum and cedar does describe a straight Merlot. Capable of standing alone as a subtle drink enjoyed with good company or enjoyed alongside a big meal, Merlots are mid-range wines that go with almost everything.

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What is Merlot?

Merlots are luscious and alluring red wines known for their fruity boldness and strong character that can also present as delicately smoky with a smooth vanilla finish. Merlot can be enjoyed while still young and vibrant or they can be aged as well as any fine cabernet sauvignon.

Merlot wine is made with Merlot grape variety, originally grown in France. It first appeared in the Bordeaux region of France in the nineteenth century, known for its rolling hills and fine French châteaux. The name of the grape is thought to have been derived from local blackbirds who either had a fondness for the taste of this particular variety or for the deep, glorious colour of the fruit that each vine bore. Whatever its history, the name rolls off the tongue just as beautiful as its namesake tastes. Merlots are known to offer subtle and gentle full-bodied flavours as well as bold and exciting black fruit tones depending on where it’s grown and how the wine is produced. It’s not unusual to detect faint echoes of dark chocolate and smoky caramel with each wine and producer bringing something new and fresh to each bottle.

Recently, the provenance of the Merlot grape was rocked quite drastically. The French Merlot grape experienced a series of catastrophes in the middle of the twentieth century which actually destroyed the vine until the middle of the 1970s. It was during this decade that the French government finally lifted a five-year ban on growing the vine entirely. The source of the devastation had been a cold snap which had earlier decimated crops and was closely followed by devastating vine losses due to rot. Eventually, the French government was forced to completely eradicate the vine for a short period and allow the soil to recover. During this period, the vine grew in popularity outside of France and when French vintners were finally able to start growing it again, they were keen to revive their classic varieties again. Now there is such a vast variety of Merlot wine to choose from with the French revival wines as outstanding as ever.

Typically used as a blending grape, the single varietal wines of French Merlot actually rank among some of the finest and most expensive wine available today, easily reaching toward the $5k mark for extremely fine varieties. For more casual wine lovers who may not be as interested in spending thousands on a good bottle, there are still plenty of mid-range and fine tasting affordable wines available and we’ve done a stellar job of sourcing them and making them available online at the lowest possible price that you’ll find anywhere.

What to eat with Merlot?

Merlot is a versatile red wine best paired with meat dishes like robust roasts. Pair it with roast beef and fillet mignon or hearty roast and grilled chicken dishes. Try it with pork dishes, particularly pork loin and roasts. It also goes extremely well with a variety of cheeses including blue cheese and cheddar varieties. For vegetarians, pair your Merlots with meaty dishes full of lots of mushrooms, garlic and chunky roast veggies.

Should Merlot wine be served chilled?

Merlots are not fussy wines offering you lots of leeways to experiment. They’re usually beautifully balanced already so perfect for a session wine at any time of the year. Getting the temperature right is important for any wine variety, however, as wines served too warm can taste too spicy and you can lose the complex flavour profile that these wines are capable of offering. When wine is served too cool the scent and flavours can be hidden and you really don’t want to miss the bouquet and subtle spectrum of fruits with Merlots.

Ideally, you’ll want to serve Merlots at just under room temperature. Aim for about 18 degrees Celsius unless the tasting notes specifically advise otherwise. In warm weather, you might want to refrigerate your bottle for a few minutes before serving. In the cooler months, set your bottle near a heat source but don’t leave it for too long.

Order from our range of Australian and international Merlots available now.