Merlot

Merlot

Merlot is the gentle one. Plum, black cherry, a little cocoa; round tannins and no sharp edges. That softness is why it is the grape Singapore reaches for most often — it asks for no decanting, no ceremony, and it does not pick a fight with food.

Every Merlot we sell is a Bordeaux. None of them says so on the label.

This is the one thing worth knowing before you buy. A French label names the place, not the grape. So you will not find a bottle in our shop with “Merlot” printed on the front — you will find Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Saint-Julien. Learn those three words and you can shop Merlot with confidence for the rest of your life.

• Saint-Émilion — the Right Bank: Merlot leads the blend here, on clay and limestone, and this is where its plummy, velvety character is purest. Château la Gaffelière (1er Grand Cru Classé), Clos La Gaffelière, Clos La Madeleine, Château Cadet-Bon, La Fleur d’Armens.
• Pomerol: the plushest Merlot in the world, from one of the smallest appellations in France. Château Nenin, Château Croix de Gay.
• Médoc — the Left Bank: here Merlot plays the other role, softening Cabernet Sauvignon’s frame. Château Talbot, Château Gloria, Château Branaire-Ducru, Château Langoa Barton, Chasse-Spleen, Sociando-Mallet, Château La Lagune, Château Haut-Marbuzet.
• Second wines — the buy we’d make: the same cellar, the same team, the same vineyards, a fraction of the price. Lacoste-Borie (Grand-Puy-Lacoste), Les Fiefs de Lagrange, Les Pélerins de Lafon-Rochet, La Dame de Montrose, Réserve de la Comtesse (Pichon Comtesse de Lalande).

Where a beginner should start

If Merlot appeals to you because it is easy, go to the Right Bank first: a Saint-Émilion is Merlot at its most generous. If you want a little more grip behind a steak, take a Left Bank second wine instead — that is Merlot with Cabernet’s backbone standing behind it.

Free delivery on 6 bottles or more, anywhere in Singapore. See also all our Bordeaux and Cabernet Sauvignon.