Robert Mondavi Private Selection Merlot

Discover Merlot Wines

Merlot is a black and blue grape varietal that produces dry red wine with a softer, medium to full body. It is the most commonly planted and popular red wine grape variety in France's Bordeaux region, as well as the second most widely planted and popular red wine grape variety in the United States.

Merlot grapes, which are traditionally vinified to produce a dry red wine, may have a wide range of flavors depending on the environment in which they are cultivated. Merlot will be used in both red wine blends and single varietal wines in several wine areas known for producing the grape.

Merlot, like Cabernet Sauvignon, has a similar taste profile and belongs to the same grape family (a descendant of Cabernet Franc). Merlot differs from Cabernet Sauvignon in that it has a thinner skin and is less astringent owing to fewer and softer tannins. It also has a fruitier, and sometimes less complicated, body.

While the taste of Merlot varies according on the environment in which it is produced, it usually has overtones of juicy blue, black, and red fruit. Undertones of coco, vanilla, and other earth tones frequently accompany these taste sensations.