Top Merlot wines have excellent aging potential
Philippines wine supplier Manila wine shop discusses wine by the grape variety Merlot.
About Merlot
Merlot, which enjoyed a meteoric rise to become the darling of the red wine world, has been planted widely on multiple continents, as the grape is very easy to cultivate. But, the grape tends towards high production, and if the viticulturalist is not rigorous about controlling yields, the resulting wines tend to be dull and insipid. We’re afraid that so much dull wine has now hit the market, many consumers have forgotten how remarkable excellent Merlot can be. At its best, Merlot makes a broad, supple wine with medium to full body, showing aromas and flavors of black cherry, plum, dark berries, chocolate and tobacco.
The classic expressions of the grape come from the Right Bank of Bordeaux in the appellations of St. Emilion and Pomerol. Here Merlot is the dominant grape, although producers will include some Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon into the mix. These wines will be characterized by extravagantly rich, sweet fruit, and supple tannins. While in tiny Pomerol, land is scare and prices for wine are correspondingly high, St. Emilion is much larger and offers a greater share of satisfying bottles at affordable prices. Keep in mind that in the latter appellation, especially, these blends will have plenty of Cabernet Franc in addition to the Merlot.
But if Bordeaux is the classic home of Merlot-based winemaking, California provided the locale for the Merlot frenzy of the 1990s. A general rise in American wine consumption, combined with a growing preference for sinlge-varietal wines (and away from generic blends) led to a surge in plantings in California. We can’t help but think that some of the popularity came from the easy-to-pronounce nature of the grape’s name. It’s undeniably less of a mouthful than “Cabernet Sauvignon.” But since Merlot also provides a wine with aromas and flavors similar to Cabernet but also with a softer, fleshier character and fewer tannins, these qualities also likely contributed to its ascent. Unfortunately, many California producers responded to the boom by indiscriminately planting Merlot in wildly inappropriate locations, and a backlash against the grape ultimately occurred–nicely encapsulated by the attitude of the character Miles, in the 2004 film “Sideways.”
Still, many of California’s top Merlots come from plantings that predate the boom, and many of these wines are worth seeking out. We like the wines from Beringer, Duckhorn, and Havens Winery. Some quality Merlot is also planted in Washington State, as well as in Italy.
While some top Merlots have excellent aging potential, most are best enjoyed within four to eight years. Merlot’s fruity, easy-drinking character allows it to pair well with many foods: think charcuterie, roasts, and even hamburgers.
Snapshot:
Recommended Growing Regions: St. Emilion and Pomerol (France), Napa Valley (California), Tuscany (Italy)
Flavor Profile: Medium to full-bodied wines with flavors of black cherry, plum, and tobacco
Food Pairings: Roasts, hamburgers, other grilled meats
Other Notes: Merlot also shines as a blending grape in Bordeaux’s Left Bank and in Tuscany
Recommended Wineries for Merlot
• Chateau Petrus
• Tua Rita
• Arietta
• Chateau Pavie
• Le Macchiole
• Blankiet
• Tenuta dell’Ornellaia
• Bodegas Vina Magana
• Chateau Trotanoy
• Chateau L’Eglise Clinet
Source: http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/merlot
The location is convenient for visitors to go out of town from Manila in a short getaway with family and friends traveling north to Angeles City Clark Pampanga. Traffic along the North Expressway NLEX 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.
Residents of Manila travel north to Clark Pampanga to swim at Clearwater Beach Resort, unwind and relax for family bonding at hotel lake picnic grounds. Fine dining Yats Restaurant offers sumptuous cozy Christmas dinner, for wine lovers, Clark Wine Center provides exciting shopping options. After a hectic day of shopping in Clark Pampanga, visitors seldom pass up the opportunity to wine and dine at this top rated restaurant, generally regarded as the best place to eat and drink outside of Manila.
Residents of Manila, tourists from Hong Kong, Macau, China, Korea and Taiwan arriving in the Philippines looking for famous restaurants serving good food and fine wines travel out of town towards the north to wine and dine in fine dining restaurants in Pampanga, Angeles City, Clark. Highly recommended rest bar and fine dining restaurant near Manila is Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar in Clark, Philippines.
For comments, inquiries and reservations click on Click here for inquiry and reservations
Restaurant@Yats-International.com
(045) 599-5600
0922-870-5178
0917-520-4401
Ask for Pedro and Rechel
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,
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines 2023
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
For any assistance in planning and organizing a wedding ceremony, indoor or outdoor garden reception or to find other wedding service providers, Click here to contact us click here
For assistance in hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines, log on to
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
To buy wine in Manila, Pampanga, Angeles City, Clark or Subic please log on to http://www. ClarkWineCenter.com
To inquire with the highly recommended beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com
For more information about Clark, Pampanga, Philippines log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
