Australian Merlot
Interesting Facts
Merlot is the 3rd most planted red grape in Australia.
In 2000 Australia exported 6 million liters of Merlot. In 2016 that number was at a whopping 60 million liters.
The leaves on the Merlot vines are said to look like small monsters.
How does this style taste?
Based on 18,213 reviews of 1,366 wines
Light
Bold
Soft
Acidic
Smooth
Tannic
Dry
Sweet
- plum
- blackberry
- blackcurrant
- blueberry
- dark fruit
- black fruit
- black cherry
- mulberry
- jam
- cassis
- black plum
- bramble
0 mentions of black fruit notes
- oak
- vanilla
- chocolate
- tobacco
- cedar
- dark chocolate
- coffee
- clove
- mocha
- caramel
- baking spice
- nutmeg
0 mentions of oaky notes
- cherry
- raspberry
- red fruit
- strawberry
- red cherry
- cranberry
- red currant
- red plum
- sour cherry
- pomegranate
- ripe strawberry
- cherry cola
0 mentions of red fruit notes
Grapes
Get to know the style
First planted in Australia in the 1960s, Merlot has had a relatively short - but definitely grand - time on the Australian wine scene.
The grape’s ability to produce very different styles of wine, from smooth and easy-drinking, to more complex and deep, has made it the darling of many wine lovers. These wines have generous flavors of berries, plums and dark cherries, and with a bit of aging can develop delicious savory notes. Not only is this grape amazing on its own, it’s also famed for being a super blending partner with other grapes.
Merlot is planted all over Australia, but especially the cooler climate regions in South Australia such as Coonawarra, Clare Valley, and the McLaren Vale, are known for their high quality Merlot wines.
Its smooth, easy drinking character and medium to bold flavor profile make Australian Merlot a natural pairing with a variety of foods. Try it with roasted vegetables and duck, a cheese platter with some hard, salty cheeses like parmesan and pecorino, or maybe a pie with roasted mushrooms and fennel.