Why merlot wine

And when Merlot is too warm, the alcohol tastes hot while the flavors are muddled. Too cold, and the aromas and flavors are muted. The flavors will stay fresh for 2—4 days. Beyond that, the wine will start to oxidize. At that point, toss it in a braised meat or vegetable dish. One reason people love Merlot is its versatility, thanks to the range of styles and prices on the market. Fruity, easy-drinking Merlot goes great with white and dark meats from chicken, turkey and pork, as well as weeknight pasta, burgers, and pizza.

Fuller-bodied, ripe and fleshy styles, often with higher alcohol, can handle fuller-flavored foods such as beef and lamb, hearty bean dishes, and game meats like venison and bison. Classic, savory styles such as right bank Merlot from Bordeaux go well with roasted meats, duck, and mushrooms. Good question. While Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are different grapes, in blind tastings, it can be hard to differentiate them, especially when grown in cooler climates.

Because they come from the same family of grapes, sharing a parent, Cabernet Franc. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. In This Article Expand. Merlot vs Cabernet. What Is Cabernet Sauvignon Wine? How to Taste Wine When tasting wine , follow these steps to ensure the best experience: Look: Take in the wine with your eyes, examining the color and opacity through the glass.

Smell: Swirl the glass for 10 seconds and take a quick whiff. Then stick your nose into the glass for a deep inhale, gathering your first impressions of the wine.

Taste: Take a small sip and let it roll around your mouth. Note the sugar, acidity, tannins, and alcohol content, then move on to tasting notes fruit, wood, spices and finally the finish. Featured Video. Read More. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for thespruceeats. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. Merlot is an easy-drinking wine that goes with a variety of different foods.

From savory to sweet fare, here are some top suggestions for serving it — wine and cheese pairings included. For starters, consider smoked vegetables like roasted bell peppers as well as salty appetizers such as chips and dip or seasoned Italian olives. Richly flavored cheeses such as cheddar, brie, Gouda, Gorgonzola, and blue cheese make for an excellent aperitif or digestif with Merlot. Main courses that pair well with Merlot's velvety finish and rich fruit notes include grilled or roasted meat, especially beef, pork, or lamb.

Merlot is also great with chicken, roasted mushrooms, and smoky foods. For a sweet finish, enjoy Merlot with fresh or roasted fruits particularly plums, blueberries, blackberries, and cherries that will pick up on the wine's fruity notes. Merlot's richness also pairs nicely with just about any dark chocolate dessert, especially melt-in-your-mouth truffles.

It might sound like a sales pitch, but the type of glass you use to drink makes a difference in how wine tastes. Scientists in Japan discovered that the shape of a glass impacts the way wine vapor rises, thereby affecting the taste and fragrance you perceive.

While a standard red wine glass will do just fine for Merlot, you can also consider a Bordeaux glass. Designed for full-bodied wines like Bordeaux wine blends and Cabernet Sauvignon, this glass has a smaller bowl to intensify the complexity of aromas.

It also has a taller glass to let you swirl before sipping and allow the wine to breathe and release its fragrant notes. As a devout wine drinker, you've likely had the pleasure of sipping on a glass of Merlot. With its dry yet fruity flavors, supple tannins, velvety mouthfeel, and chocolatey finish, it's no wonder that oenophiles around the world can't seem to get enough. With one simple line, movie-goers left the theatre forever questioning their tastes and opinions about Merlot.

Since then, Merlot has had a bad rap for no particularly good reason. With flavors of ripe berries, chocolate and silky tannins, this medium-bodied red is both delicious and easy to drink. Merlot is the second most planted grape in the entire world. In fact, it is the most widely planted grape in France, with the coveted Bordeaux region having more Merlot acreage than any other country in the world!

Merlot is considered one of the three noble grapes in the professional wine world. The others being Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.

When tracing back to the origins of Merlot, researchers found that the DNA reveals it is the offspring of Cabernet Franc, being the father grape, and the now-extinct varietal Magdeleine Noire des Charentes, as the mother grape.