With its supple fruit and easy-drinking style, Merlot is probably the closest thing to a “comfort wine” I can think of. It’s also the most popular red wine in America. But oddly enough, for such a popular wine, Merlot doesn’t have a textbook style: while some are light, quaffable, and straightforward, others are rich, age-worthy, and complex. No worries. Here’s a guide to help you figure out which Merlots suit you best.

食物的梅洛

较轻的merlots
• grilled salmon
•烤鸡
•面食简单的红酱
• grilled vegetables

Medium-weight to richer Merlots
• all red meats, lamb
• duck (avoid sweet sauces)
• 烤猪肉
•切达干酪，帕马尼亚和其他陈年奶酪

Merlot across the globe

Merlot葡萄在凉爽的气候中生长最佳。它在炎热的地方做得不太好，因为它早早成熟并倾向于表现出不受欢迎的，煮熟的味道，如果葡萄藤在葡萄藤上过长。

Merlot plantings worldwide have risen dramatically over the last ten years. As a result, there’s a lot of mediocre Merlot out there. But plenty of good ones can be found. Here’s a tour the world over.

In France, Merlot’s best examples are from Bordeaux.Merlot from Pomerol and Saint-Emilion are capable of true greatness, especially when blended with the Cabernet Franc grape. Châteaux such as Pétrus, Le Pin, Cheval Blanc, and Ausone are some of the greatest Merlot made anywhere—and some of the greatest red wines in the world, for that matter.

For everyday drinking,从波尔多的卫星通讯中寻求良好的价值，例如Fronsac和Lalandede-Pomerol。在波尔多之外，梅洛（Merlot）在法国西南部的朗格多克地区大量生产。尽管不像波尔多表兄弟那样好（或昂贵），但这些国家的梅洛特中最好的菜单提供了一杯多汁，成熟的水果和巨大的价值。谁还能要求更多？

In the U.S.,从纳帕山谷和索诺玛县等著名的称呼中可以找到各种风格的梅洛，从轻便，易于富裕，需要十年或更多的衰老。每种口味都有加利福尼亚的梅洛（California Merlot），但是您需要熟悉生产商的特定风格，以避免平庸的东西（请参阅右边的建议）。有了加利福尼亚梅洛（California Merlot），价格频谱的提高通常会带来更好的质量。

Washington Stateproduces many outstanding Merlots that boast ripe, intense black fruit flavors and bright acidity. Look for Washington Merlots bottled both as a single variety and in Cabernet blends. Both can be first rate.

In Australia,Merlot is the second most widely planted grape after Shiraz. Here the country’s talented winemakers make juicy, fruit-forward wines in every price range that are long on flavor and good values. Also look for Merlot-Shiraz and Merlot-Cabernet blends.

Argentina and Chilehave long been two of the better sources for value-priced Merlot. Bright, youthful fruits and supple textures characterize these wines, as does a touch of earthiness.

The Cabernet-Merlot connection

葡萄酒饮用者通常将Merlot与Cabernet Sauvignon联系在一起，因为这两个葡萄经常混合在一起，肉质的Merlot被用来软化更苗条，更坦率的赤霞珠，尤其是在波尔多。当瓶装瓶装时，赤霞珠往往是一种更大，更集中的葡萄酒，单宁蛋白更牢固。教科书梅洛（Merlot），如果有这样的东西，比赤霞珠的水果，单宁柔软，单宁柔软，酸度较低，这就是为什么它对广大观众如此吸引人的原因。

Merlot styles

较轻的merlots
• strawberry
• red raspberry
• herbs
• light oak
• soft tannins

中等重量
•红色和黑色水果
• herbal elements
•烟雾缭绕的笔记
• firmer tannins

Richer Merlots
•深色水果
• herbs
• baking spices
•发音新橡木
• medium to robust tannins

Merlot to savor

Less expensive
•Fortant de France vin de pay d'oc;中等重量
• Carmenet Cellar Selection Merlot, California; medium weight
• Blackstone Merlot, California; light, fruity
• Columbia Valley Merlot, Washington; light, fruity
•阿根廷的小号手梅洛（Merlot）；中等重量
• Jacob’s Creek Merlot, Australia; light, fruity
• Casa Lapostolle Merlot, Chile; medium weight with some tannins

更昂贵
• Murphy-Goode Merlot, Alexander Valley; fruity but rich, with some tannins
• Swanson Merlot, Napa Valley; rich and robust
•L 'Ecole No 41 Merlot, Washington; rich and robust
• Beringer Merlot Bancroft Ranch, Howell Mountain; one for the cellar
• Chateau L’Angélus, Saint-Emilion; another one for the cellar