Merlot is by far the most widely planted grape of the entire Bordeaux region.
May 20, 2011
Merlot
Merlot is to the American wine consumer in the 1990s as “burgundy” was in the 70s: the new generic red. A “boom” in wine consumption, combined with the consumer trend to move away from generic wine blends and into varietals, stimulated plantings of “new,” as well as “proven” wine grapes in California during the ’70s. Merlot did not appear as a California varietal label until the end of the decade and was not a big seller until the end of the ’80s. Less than 2,000 acres existed in California in 1985; there are over 50,000 acres in 2003.
Merlot is by far the most widely planted grape of the entire Bordeaux region and third, behind carignan and grenache as the most planted black variety in France. However, it has a starring role in only one region, historically, north of Bordeaux’s Gironde River, where it is the basis of the wines of St. Emilion and Pomerol. Château Petrus, which has risen in consumer stature in the past three decades, is over 90% Merlot. South of the Gironde, however, merlot usually plays a supporting role in typical Medoc blends with cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. Château Palmer in the medoc is about 60% Merlot.
Because merlot ripens at least a week earlier than either cabernet variety, it is “vineyard insurance” where rains are a factor at harvest. The best quality merlot grows in rocky, arid ground, but is fairly adaptable and grows better than the cabernets in clay-based soils, even in damp, cool climates. Since merlot both buds and flowers early, growers’ main worry is susceptibility to shatter or coulure, brought about by frost, rain, or early heatwaves in the Spring. The berry of merlot is relatively thin-skinned and somewhat prone to rot.
Merlot is moderately vigorous in vine growth, but must sometimes be reined in from setting too large of a crop by judicious pruning, often followed weeks later by cluster thinning. Merlot on fertile soil may produce eight tons per acre, but best fruit quality is gained if the crop is kept at six tons per acre or less. Merlot’s tendencies towards both shatter and over-cropping are paradoxical. Careful selection of both clone and site can avoid this problem, as shatter is more serious in colder climates.
While its flavor profile is similar to Cabernet Sauvignon1, Merlot tends to be less distinctive and slightly more herbaceous overall in both aroma and taste. Ripeness seems critical; both under ripe and overripe grapes lean away from fruit and towards herbaceousness. Merlot has slightly lower natural acidity than Cabernet and generally less astringency, therefore usually a more lush mouth-feel.
The most frequent, but not exclusive, aromas and flavors typically found in Merlot include:
Typical Merlot Smell and/or Flavor Descriptors
Varietal Aromas/Flavors: Processing Bouquets/Flavors:
Fruit: currant, black cherry, plum Oak (light): vanilla, coconut, sweet wood
Floral: violet, rose Oak (heavy): oak, smoke, toast, tar
Spice: caramel, clove, bay leaf, green peppercorn Bottle Age: truffle, mushroom, earth, coffee,leather, cedar, cigar box
Herbal: bell pepper, green olive .
Earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon to mature in bottle, Merlot is held in higher esteem by wine drinkers than by wine collectors.
Syrah is richer and darker, Pinot Noir lighter and more velvety, but Merlot has become the darling red wine. Is it because the consumer finds Merlot easy-to-drink or is it perhaps, because Merlot is easy-to-say? I’ll have a glass of Merlot, please, while I think about it.
Source: http://www.winepros.org/wine101/grape_profiles/merlot.htm
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Best restaurant in Clark Pampanga offers more than just great food and good service but a complete fine dining experience. Manila dining guide lauds Yats Restaurant for its award winning wine list befitting a world class fine dining establishment. One of the common complaints of residents of Manila with the restaurants and resto bars in the city is that these dining outlets offer a wine list that is expensive and does not have interesting selections. This mires the overall dining experience even if the food is good and the service is excellent. Fine dining restaurants in Manila are working hard to upgrade their overall product and services by upgrading their wine lists. For most restaurants, this takes a long time.
Visitors to Clark Philippines and Angeles City no longer suffer from lack of choices for places to eat out or wine and dine. Clark Philippines reviewed over 50 establishments and came up with three top choices in guide to best restaurant in Clark Freeport. Yats Restaurant is lauded by many to be the top choice when it comes to fine dining and a good place to drink some good wine.
Clark Philippines lists Top Three Restaurants in the Clark Freeport Zone and Angeles City areas of Philippines Pampanga province. Clark Freeport is a bustling new cosmopolitan city complete with its own Clark International Airport. Good restaurants and resto bars are beginning to emerge in Angeles City and Clark Pampanga but standards are not all that high. However, there is one world-class fine dining restaurant located inside of Clark, called Yats. It is generally regarded as the best restaurant in Clark, Angeles City, Pampanga, Subic and Manila.
This restaurant in Pampanga Philippines is highly recommended by food critics and frequent diners in Manila as a place to wine and dine in Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone. Although it is a famous fine dining restaurant with an award winning 2700-line restaurant wine list, Yats Restaurant is also a popular restaurant for family with children. Aside from French Mediterranean haute cuisine, this restaurant also serves healthy food and the best vegetarian cuisines in the Philippines.
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(045) 599-5600
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Getting to this fine dining restaurant of Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga Philippines
How to get to this fine-dining restaurant in Clark Philippines? Once you get to Clark Freeport, go straight until you hit Mimosa. After you enter Mimosa, stay on the left on Mimosa Drive, go past the Holiday Inn and Yats Restaurant (green top, independent 1-storey structure) is on your left. Just past the Yats Restaurant is the London Pub.
Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar
Mimosa Drive past Holiday Inn, Mimosa Leisure Estate,
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