Sips & Snacks in March

Josie Hough
Mar 1, 2024
3 min read

Wine of the Month

Merlot

It's starting to warm up here in the Midwest and that is why I decided to start my Sips & Snacks series with Merlot. Merlot is a light/medium feeling red and now that the temps are rising, it makes for the perfect pour. We are thawing out from the heavy bold reds that often accompany our winter temperatures. Cheers to that!

As a grape, Merlot is the teacher's pet. The Merlot grape is the better behaved grape in the vineyard, has less tannins and ripens before her step sister, Cab. The Merlot grape is grown in several countries and usually is at a better price point than many reds. It has had a fall from grace and her crown might have been a bit "Sideways". See what I did there? For movie fans out there, you'll remember when the 2004 film "Sideways" began the backslide of Merlot production and sales. Miles Raymond (played by Paul Giamatti) started the craze with one line: "No, if anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving. I am NOT drinking any F#&!@* Merlot!" It is predicted that Pinot Noir production in California increased over 170% from the "Sideways Effect" on Merlot. It also was said the decline in production and sales of Merlot was from over-production by the winemakers in the late 90s and early 2000s. In my opinion, it's available, approachable, affordable and easy to pair with most foods on a dinner party menu. Win..Win..Win...Win.

The History of Merlot

Merlot is a red wine, black grape variety that is grown primarily in France (Bordeaux), United States (California and Washington), and Italy (Veneto, Tuscany). Merlot loves cool soil, it doesn't need much water so it also thrives in well drained soil. The Merlot grape produces light to medium-bodied wines that often are smooth, full of dark fruit flavors like cherry and blackberry, and very easy to pair with a variety of foods. It is believed to be named after a little blackbird called "merlau" who enjoyed eating the French grapes.

HOW CUTE IS THAT?

A cute little blackbird is who we can thank for our Merlot this month! :)

Cheers to Merlau!

Merlot is best served at 60-65 °F (this is debatable yet not important enough to me to discus a few degrees on either side of this range). This ideal serving temperature can easily be achieved by putting the bottle in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. If you don't finish the bottle in three or four days it will begin to oxidize and it's best used in cooking. I often freeze it in ice cube trays to use later for sauces, braising and other cooking needs.

My two picks this month include my Sweet Spot Pick - Luc Pirlet Reserve Merlot 2021 ($13.99) from the Languedoc Region in France and my Special Day Pick Silverado Merlot Mt George Vineyard 2019 ($44.99) from Napa Valley, California.

Sweet Spot Merlot

Luc Pirlet Reserve Merlot 2021 - $13.99

This one is a lovely surprise. It is the perfect wine to enjoy for an everyday sip. Inexpensive wine doesn't always mean it's bad wine and I'm guilty of this thinking from time to time. It is full of dark plum flavors, spices and a touch of vanilla, yet still feels light. It is awesome with a piece of dark chocolate! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Special Day Merlot

Silverado Merlot Mt George Vineyard 2019 - $44.99

The choices are many at this price point. I decided on this one because it was the last bottle in the store and that made it even more appealing to me. To be honest, I love the "Mt George" part of the name. It sounds so fancy :) This hits more like a Cabernet blend. I got just a hint of the Cab punch and it's a bit more medium to full bodied. It is a perfect wine with a heavily sauced meal like a beef roast with mashed potatoes and gravy or smoky ribs. I loved the blackberry you normally get from a Merlot and it also had a little spice and cocoa. YUM! Enjoy!