The Merlot Grape & Wine Production
Merlot is a classic red grape as ubiquitous with solid reliability as the noble Cabernet Sauvignon is. Merlot is cultivated the world over as a dependable, bold and fruity red. Merlot has made it’s name firstly as the main red grape planted in Bordeaux and more as a New World staple, successfully grown in the huge growth markets of California and Australia. It is a high yielding grape that seems to do well in a variety of climates. It’s age, this speaks for a lot, and is enough to encourage many vineyards to develop plots dedicated to Merlot crops in order to further satiate the low to mid-range world wine market.
Merlot as a drink is not particularly complex. It is enough to say, in fact, that one knows what they are getting when they buy a Merlot, and that usually it’s not half good, although by standards as a whole it is rarely an ‘excellent’ drink. Merlot has a distinct rich flavour, and often a velvety palate. If you enjoy a robust red, you cannot go far wrong, but be warned that it is rarely the most exciting drink on a wine menu.
It is most comparable to Cabernet Sauvignon, although it is possibly the less respected of the two amongst ‘experts’.

Origins and Development
The French slang ‘merlot’ meaning ‘little blackbird’ gives its name to this grape, due to its rich and sleek dark appearance – which gives the finished drink an almost regal air.
Merlot has been recorded in France since the late 18th Century and may have been a genetic mutation of Cabernet Franc. It has developed a wide following amongst Californian producers, with a recent rise in production in both Australia and New Zealand.

Merlot is generally used in France as part of traditional Bordeaux blend, where it accounts for a percentage of the grapes, alongside ‘Graves’ and ‘Medoc’, ‘Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc’ and ‘Petit Verdot’; amongst others. It is used to best effect in St Emillon and Pomerol as a dominant grape, supplemented by either Cabernet Franc or Merlot.
The Chateau Petrus, for example, has an outstanding reputation, although a good vintage will set you back a small fortune! It is possible, however, to find a good wine from a village local to St Emillon or Pomerol for a fraction of the price: a good merchant will be able help you do this, although a trip to the region will yield the best in value.
In the New World, whilst Merlot is often produced as a ‘varietal’ – with wines being produced using a high percentage of the grape (over 75%), many producers have begun to make Bordeaux style blends employing, for example, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. One example of this is the Australian Wolf Blass, Eaglehawk, Reserve Cabernet Merlot (retailing at around £6-7), which mixes the smoothness of Merlot with the richer aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon.
New World Merlot, in keeping with the New World trend tends to be stronger, or used in stronger blends of approximately 13-14% vol. The quality of these wines can vary greatly, and should you develop a penchant for Merlot it is worth experimenting across a broad price range.
Merlot and Food
key here is to combine Merlot with food ‘tough’ or meaty enough to withstand its strong plum flavours and chewable texture. Bolognese and Carbonara fare well here. Merlot also goes well with beef dishes, chicken, lamb, game, pork and grilled salmon. The robust palate finds it particularly suited to strong, heard cheeses such as Cheddar.

Source: http://www.exploringwine.co.uk/Merlot.html

The best hotels outside Manila in Pampanga and Subic are listed here including a beach resort which is a semi-private establishment located in the central business district near shopping, business, entertainment, airport and other conveniences of Philippines Clark Freeport Zone. The beach resorts, leisure parks and vacation hotels in Clark Pampanga offer a unique ambience that supports a laidback relaxing lifestyle. Many visitors travel north to Clark Pampanga from Manila to unwind and relax in these resorts.

This Pampanga resort hotel is different from other hotels in Clark Philippines or hotel in Angeles City. This Clark Hotel has large outdoor space for children to play and adults to enjoy some peace and quiet in the picnic grounds near the lake. Guests like the Hotel’s café breakfast garden which serves the best breakfast in Pampanga. Clearwater Resort has nice ambience and wide space, much better than the other hotels in Angeles City and Manila Philippines.

Traffic along the North Expressway NLEX from Manila to Clark is always light and the new Subic Tarlac Clark Expressway ScTex takes visitors straight into Clark Freeport without going through any towns and cities along the way.

Many guests like staying at Clearwater Family Inn Hotel Room in the picnic grounds of this resort in Clark Pampanga. Some like the trees in the resort camping grounds. One can stay in other hotels in Angeles City but it is not often one finds amenities and ambience like Clark, not like Clearwater Resort in Angeles City Philippines.

Those who are lucky enough to get a room at this lake resort in Clark Philippines will be able to enjoy the magical sunrise across the lake of Clearwater Resort at dawn. This is the only hotel in Clark Pampanga that guests can really enjoy viewing sunrise.

For information as well as assistance with reservations in hotels and resorts in Pampanga, Clark Philippines, click here to contact HotelClarkPhilippines now

Or call us at

Hotel Clark Philippines
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

Email: Info@ClarkPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

To inquire with the beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a HK-based developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine outlets http://www.YatsLeisure.com