In this blog post, we will discuss how to serve merlot and provide some tips for enhancing your wine-drinking experience.
Merlot is perfect for any occasion, whether you are celebrating a special event or just relaxing at home with friends.
So pour yourself a glass and let’s get started!
Tips On How To Serve Merlot
To serve merlot, chill the bottle in the refrigerator or wine cooler for at least an hour before serving.
When pouring the merlot, try pouring it into chilled glasses to avoid changing merlot’s flavor before you can sip.
Recork and chill your merlot in-between servings to keep it tasting as fresh as possible.
Consider using a wine preservation system to keep your merlot in fine flavor for longer than you can with a cork.
What Is Merlot?
Merlot is a red wine that is characterized by rich, full flavor.
This is due in part to the grapes used to make it, which tend to be darker and fruitier than those used for other varietals.
Merlot is often described as having notes of berries, chocolate, and coffee, making it a popular choice among red wine lovers.
Many people find that merlot is slightly sweeter than some other wines, particularly though its fruity notes.
Read our related article, What is White Merlot? Discover White Merlot and its unique aroma, flavor, and pairings!
Top 3 Best Merlot Wines To Drink
Merlot is a red wine grape that is used as both a blending grape and as a varietal.
They tend to be soft, round, and velvety, with moderate tannins and flavors of plum and blackberry.
Here are three top merlot wines for you to try.
Read More: Chianti vs Merlot. What are the differences between these often confused wines? We compare these wines in our complete guide!
Chateau Petrus Merlot Wine
This is a world-renowned Bordeaux wine made exclusively from merlot grapes.
The wine is intensely concentrated, with rich aromas and flavors of dark fruit, chocolate, and spice. It is full-bodied, with ripe tannins and a long, elegant finish.
Chateau Petrus is a red wine produced in the Pomerol region of France.
The wine is made from a blend of merlot and cabernet franc grapes, and it is classified as a Premier Cru Classé.
The wines are aged in new French oak barrels for 18 to 24 months before being bottled.
Chateau Petrus is considered to be one of the finest wines in the world, with a price tag to match.
The wine has a deep ruby color, and its aromas include black cherries, plums, cassis, truffles, and chocolate.
On the palate, it is full-bodied and exquisitely balanced, with velvety tannins and a long finish.
Orin Swift Mercury Head Merlot Wine
It is a Napa Valley merlot that was inspired by a bottle of 19th-century Bordeaux found in a Parisian antique shop.
Orin Swift Mercury Head is a wine made by the Orin Swift winery.
This particular wine is created using a blend of several different varietals, including Malbec, Petit Verdot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
It is characterized by its deep purple color and complex aroma, which includes notes of black fruit, cedar, and baking spices with a long, complex finish.
Although this wine is excellent on its own as an after-dinner drink or paired with savory meats and cheeses, it also makes a wonderful addition to many recipes.
Whether used as a marinade for grilled steaks or drizzled over vanilla gelato, Orin Swift Mercury Head wine adds a rare richness and complexity to many dishes.
Read More: What to Pair With Malbec. Here are our favorite meal and snack pairings to complement Malbec wine!
Antinori Tignanello Merlot Wine
This is an old-world Italian Super Tuscan wine that is made from a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.
The wine is full-bodied, with aromas and flavors of dark fruit, spice, and leather. It has a deep color, rich aroma, smooth taste, ripe tannins, and a long finish.
Tignanello merlot wine is an Italian red wine that has gained a reputation over the years as one of the finest and most coveted wines in the world.
With an almost velvety mouthfeel and notes of dark fruit flavors like plum, black cherry, and blackberry, this wine is perfect for sipping on its own or pairing with a variety of different cuisines.
Whether you love to indulge in fine wines or you’re a fine wine connoisseur, the Tignanello merlot is a must-try for any lover of quality wines.
Read More: How to Make Merlot. Interesting in making your own Merlot at home? Here’s how to do it.
What Foods Should I Pair With Merlot?
Merlot is a wine that originated in southwest France and is now produced in many regions around the world.
It is typically made from a blend of several different grape types, but the exact composition varies depending on the vineyard.
The resulting wine is typically medium-bodied and has flavors of dark fruit, spice, and chocolate.
Merlot is often considered to be a versatile wine that can be enjoyed with a wide variety of foods.
However, certain dishes tend to pair particularly well with this type of wine.
For example, merlot’s soft tannins and moderate acidity make it a good choice for red meat dishes like steak or lamb.
Merlot also pairs well with herbed dishes that feature strong flavors like rosemary, basil, fennel, or garlic. It can also be delicious with rich, strong cheeses.
Merlot is hard to pair with dessert because it’s typically a dry wine. However, it goes particularly well with dark chocolate and less-sweet dark chocolate desserts.
How Do I Store Merlot?
If stored properly, merlot can stay fresh and delicious for months or even years.
The key to storing merlot (or any other wine) is to keep it in a cool, dark place. UV rays in light degrade wine, changing the flavor.
The ideal temperature for storing wine is between 55 and 58 degrees Fahrenheit.
But how long can you keep unopened wine at room temperature? Merlot will last around 1 year when stored at room temp (between 68 and 70 degrees).
Store your wine bottles on the side in a wine rack to keep the corks soft so you can remove them in one piece when it’s time to enjoy.
How Do I Serve Merlot?
If you store wine in a fridge, remove merlot about an hour before you plan to drink it because merlot tastes best when it is at room temperature.
If your bottle has been stored horizontally for a long time, take it from the rack and let it sit upright for a couple of days so the sediment settles to the bottom of the bottle.
Serve merlot in a red wine glass that will allow good oxygen exposure to develop the aromas and flavors in the merlot.
Read our related article on How to Smell Wine to get the most out of your drink!
Wrap Up
For those who want to explore the world of merlot, there are many excellent options available from both France and New World producers, each with different flavor nuances.
With so much to offer, it’s no wonder that merlot has become one of the most popular wines in the world.