Merlot by Sabrina Moss, in-house wine educator
I was thinking the other day, as I am oft to do, and my thoughts turned to our black sheep of the Washington wine world. That’s right, I thought about Merlot. It’s a funny little grape that I think most of us have pushed to the back of our wine closets.
Well, it’s not so little of a grape. Some of the biggest size grapes in the spectrum of grapes, this big bad boy has the weight of the world on its shoulders. It is the first grape that Washington is known for cultivating. Many awards were thrust upon Merlot. When you thought of Pinot, you thought Willamette. When you thought Zinfandel or Cabernet, you thought Northern California. And when you pictured Merlot, Washington was on the forefront of your mind. As the years have passed, all Washingtonians think about is Syrah. But I think it’s time to recall our past and what has gotten us this far in the wine world.
Merlot is a funny grape in that it is thin-skinned, yet big in measure. Think of the tall, lanky basketball player in high school and you have Merlot. It grows well in Washigton due to our long days of sunshine and cool nights. This produces a flavor of big fruit and a firm structure. The flavors most commonly found in Merlots are similar to Cabernets, yet more herbaceous and with a lower acidity. This produces a lush feel on the mouth without the dryness of tannins like Cabernets.
With scents of violets and bell peppers for the nose and currants, black cherries and plum on the palate, this is a food wine indeed. Versatile with food, you can pair this with scallops and salmon, as well as meats and mushrooms. Perfect with heavy dishes and grilling summer nights! One note of caution though: it is prone to a bitter flavor profile when mixed with spicy foods. This is not your fajita friendly wine.
A few of my favorite Merlot producers in Washington and on Tom Douglas wine lists include: L’Ecole 41 from Etta’s for classic; Andrake Cellars from Lola for meatiness; and Chinook from Palace for lightness. So go forth, dig into your wine racks, bring forth our forefather and enjoy!
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