Merlot Wine
Merlot red wine is from this most versatile of red grapes; one easily cultivated, which accounts for why it is the most widely grown of international varietals. It is vinified for everything from the most prestigious Pomerol to young, fruity, easy-drinking house-pouring wines, and is a supreme grape for blending. On Bordeaux's Right and Left Banks, for example, merlot plays a leading and secondary role respectively and is a vital component to most Super Tuscan cuvées. The flavours commonly attributed to the grape range from plum, black cherry, and cocoa to blackberry, herbs, and graphite, often with notes of clove, cedar, and vanilla when oak-aged. As such, it makes an ideal pairing with all manner of red meat grilled or roasted; equally so with pizza and tomato-based pasta dishes.