Honoring Merlot Day: refinement and fruit depth
On November 7 the wine world across the globe pays homage to Merlot, a fine grape variety from France, whose name is linked to the merle, or blackbird in English, similar in color to this dark blue grape.
Merlot is one of the most widely-planted grapes not only in France but also around the world. It is often vinified as a single-variety wine unfolding deep aromatics, marked by plum and blackberry notes along with herbaceous nuances. On the palate it is fruit-forward with silky tannins.
Given its features, it adds complexity to the assemblage when synergized with other varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, to name a few.
Not surprisingly, Merlot is one of Mariano di Paola’s – Rutini Wines Head Winemaker – favorite grapes due to “its fruit intensity and mid-palate elegance, together with its plush and persistent quality”.
At Rutini we craft varietals like Trumpeter, Colección Rutini and Single Vineyard as well as blends, such as Colección Rutini Cabernet Merlot. We continue to grow Merlot in our estates seeking to tap into its potential even further and get the best version possible.
“Merlot is not easy to handle in the vineyard in that it is an earlier-ripening grape and thus picking must be done timely to avoid cooked flavors in the finished wine; we choose to grow vines in high-altitude sites at the foot and on the slopes of the Andes mountain range, which are characterized by a cool climate that ensures freshness and finesse in the glass”.
Merlot thrives in poor soils and requires canopy management so that the strong sunlight does not harm its thin and delicate skin. Similarly, Merlot needs protection from excessive humidity to avoid fungal diseases and preserve its magnificent and sophisticated profile, worthy of this well-deserved tribute.