Merlot

Merlot is one of the world's most popular and highly regarded black grape varieties, originating in the Bordeaux region of France, where it plays a central role in the celebrated Bordeaux blends alongside Cabernet Sauvignon. Its name, derived from the local word for blackbird, alludes to the dark colour of the berries and to the birds' appetite for its sweet grapes. The variety is loved everywhere for its approachable, round and velvety character, and is often the gateway through which many enthusiasts enter the world of red wine.

In the Republic of Moldova, Merlot is one of the red varieties with the largest planted area, adapting very well to the country's continental climate and fertile soils. Ripening earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, it is found across all three protected geographical indication regions, but expresses itself particularly well in the south of the country, in Valul lui Traian and Ștefan Vodă, where the heat favours full ripening and aromatic concentration, resulting in full, fruity wines.

Characteristics of the wine

Merlot wines have a ruby-red colour and a rich bouquet, with expressive aromas of black cherry, plum, blackberry and ripe forest fruit, completed by notes of chocolate, coffee, vanilla and spices when matured in oak. The tannins are finer and softer than those of Cabernet Sauvignon, which gives the wines a velvety texture and a friendly character, pleasant even in youth. That said, quality examples from well-exposed vineyards can evolve handsomely with age, gaining depth and elegance.

Food pairings

Merlot is a remarkably versatile wine at the table, suiting a wide range of dishes: beef and pork roasts, stews, pasta with tomato and meat sauces, pizza, and also semi-matured cheeses. Its round character and gentle tannins make it a good partner for traditional Moldovan cooking too, from sarmale to home-cooked roast, making it a safe choice for everyday meals or relaxed occasions.

Vinified by almost all the important wineries in Moldova, Merlot appears frequently both as an approachable and enjoyable single-variety wine and in Bordeaux blends alongside Cabernet Sauvignon and the native Rară Neagră, forming a solid pillar of Moldovan red wine production and an essential component of many award-winning blends.