10 wines from the Global Merlot Masters 2024

Merlot may not have a great reputation, but as the Global Merlot Masters proved this year, the best wines really do shine. Here are 10 wines from the competition to refute that infamous line from the film Sideways, and prove “I will drink Merlot!”

BLACK STALLION MERLOT 2020

Producer: Black Stallion Winery

Region: Napa Valley, California

Country: USA

Grape variety: 100% Merlot

ABV: 15%

Approx. retail price: £75

Medal: Master

The site of the Silverado Western Center, the equestrian base at the southern end of the Silverado Trail, is now the Black Stallion Winery. The former riding area now has top quality vines instead of prizewinning horses. This wine is even better than a rosette pinned to a horse’s collar. Almost opaque ruby-black in hue, the wine displays dense, dark fruits with leather, meat and very smoky oak. Sweet fruited, though dry, the full-bodied palate is framed by fresh acidity and firm, fine grained tannins. With lovely balance in the mouth, the wine has layers of intriguing flavours and a mouthwatering finish. A great wine suited to venison steaks or roast partridge.

CHAMLIJA ASTICUS MONS MERLOT 2020

Producer: Chamlija Wines

Region: Strandja Mountains

Country: Turkey

Grape variety: 100% Merlot

ABV: 15%,

Approx. retail price: £55

Medal: Gold

This Merlot, stylish even at 15% alcohol, exhibits intense red forest fruits, blackberry and black cherry, with smoky, almost tarry, oak. Packed with sweet, ripe fruit, the palate is impressive and delicious, with crisp acidity and abundant fine-grained tannins framing the flavours. Notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and smoked meat linger on the finish. Youthful, the wine requires a bold dish, such as slow-cooked oxtail, braised in beef stock with root vegetables and infused with a touch of soy sauce.

HOOSEGG MOUNTAIN DRAGON MERLOT 2019

Producer: Hoosegg

Region: Orange, New South Wales

Country: Australia

Grape variety: 100% Merlot

ABV: 13.4%,

Approx. retail price: £62

Medal: Gold

Although Australia is not well-known for its varietal Merlots, winemaker extraordinaire Philip Shaw has achieved a remarkable wine from high-altitude vineyards. Deep ruby-purple in colour, the wine exhibits Victoria plum, dark cherry and blackcurrant fruit, overlaid with vanilla pod, exotic Indian spices and a touch of leather. Sweet-fruited, the palate is mid-weight and well-defined, with brisk acidity and linen-textured tannins supporting the flavours. A long, peppery finish suggests seared (or barbecued) sirloin steak with roast potatoes or Yorkshire pudding.

ARÍNZANO MERLOT AGRICULTURA BIOLÓGICA 2019

Producer: Arínzano

Region: Navarra

Country: Spain

Grape variety: 100% Merlot

ABV: 15%,

Approx. retail price: £40

Medal: Gold

With an estate that has existed for more than 1,000 years, owned successively by monks, lords and wine families, Arínzano has a long link to wine. Located in the shadow of the Sierra de Urbasa mountains at the centre of a deep Navarra valley crossed by the Ega river and with the cierzo wind from the Atlantic Ocean, Arínzano produces wines evocative of their unique mesoclimate.

This Merlot is an exquisite example. Quite deep ruby in hue, the wine displays plums and ripe red berry fruit with cardamom and allspice accents. The vibrant attack leads onto an integrated, mid-weight palate with brisk acidity, warming alcohol and abundant, velvet-textured tannins framing the flavours. A lovely, savoury wine destined for sautéed lamb’s liver with sage and red wine. Creamy puréed potatoes work really well as an accompaniment.

FLEUR DU CAP UNFILTERED MERLOT 2020

Producer: Fleur du Cap Winery

Region: Stellenbosch, Western Cape

Country: South Africa

Grape variety: 100% Merlot

ABV: 13.8%

Approx. retail price: £15

Medal: Gold

The grapes for this unfiltered Merlot are grown on sandy-loam clay soils in south-facing vineyards at Stellenbosch Kloof and Devon Valley, where the coastal breezes provide cool afternoon and night temperatures. Medium-ruby-garnet in colour, the wine exhibits Victoria plum and raspberry fruit, and chocolate, vanilla pod and capsicum notes. The sweet-fruited palate shows dark fruits, meat and spices supported by fresh acidity and velvet-textured tannins. An evolving wine that will match seared rump steaks with a papaya, cucumber and beansprout salad in a ginger, garlic, coriander and lime sauce.

DOMAINE FANGSI KAIYUN SINGLE VINEYARD MERLOT 2019

Producer: Domaine Fangsi

Region: Ningxia, Helan Mountain East

Country: China

Grape variety: 100% Merlot

ABV: 14.8%

Approx. retail price: £25

Medal: Gold

Located in Ningxia in the eastern part of the Helan Mountain appellation, this winery offers a number of superb wines from Bordeaux varieties. These terraces and plains are the ‘Bordeaux of the East’, where clay and sedimentary layers of soils deliver the moisture that Merlot likes. This beautifully balanced wine shows seductive aromatics of dark jammy fruits with hints of cedarwood and leather. The palate has racy acidity and velvet-textured tannins, with delightful chocolate-mocha and lifted herbal notes adding interest to the fruit and oak flavours. A nicely-integrated wine with spice notes on the finish, it will be perfect with Southeast Asian curries or pork dishes with paprika.

VIGNAMAGGIO MERLOT DI SANTA MARIA 2016

Producer: Vignamaggio

Region: Tuscany

Country: Italy

Grape variety: 100% Merlot

ABV: 14.5%,

Approx. retail price: £48

Medal: Master

Established by the Gherardini family, the estate has been producing wine since at least 1404. Today, Vignamaggio is owned by Italian architect Patrice Taravella and his interior designer wife Emmanuelle Sebillet, who are restoring the original buildings. Organically-farmed and biodiverse, the property has orchards, olive trees and wild boar, as well as vineyards. This Merlot is as layered as the estate. Deep ruby-hued, the wine belies its age, displaying ripe blackberry, blueberry and Victoria plum fruit, overlaid with smoke and spice from wood ageing, and including an intriguing sweet red pepper, and slightly herbal accent. There is great structure of crisp acidity and linen tannins to balance the flavours. An excellent pairing for pumpkin gnocchi, or wild boar sausage in the heart of Chianti Classico.

CHÂTEAU LA FLEUR DE BOÜARD LA FLEUR DE BOÜARD 2020

Producer: Château La Fleur de Boüard

Region: Bordeaux

Country: France

Grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot

ABV: 13%

Approx. retail price: £38

Medal: Gold

Château La Fleur de Boüard is based in Lalande-de-Pomerol, with vineyards on gravel with a clay subsoil, ideal for growing Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Merlot, the dominant variety in this wine, favours early flowering and exudes rose petal and violet essence, hence ‘flower ’ as the name for the elegant wines from this respected producer. This exquisite example has a deep ruby colour, and red cherry and raspberry flavours accented by creamy wood and crushed rose petals. Sweetfruited, the palate flavours are balanced by racy acidity and velvet-textured tannins, with gentle spices leading to a lingering finish. Truly lovely, this wine requires an equally stylish dish, such as sweetbreads in a pumpkin-seed-infused brown sauce.

MT BRAVE MERLOT 2019

Producer: Mt Brave

Region: Napa Valley, California

Country: USA

Grape variety: 100% Merlot

ABV : 14.5%

Approx. retail price: £125

Medal: Master

The Mt Brave vineyard was established many decades ago at high altitude on Mt Veeder between the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Above the fog line, the vines receive plenty of morning sunshine, but the nutrient-poor, gravelly soils give small grapes with concentrated flavours. What an extraordinary wine is this Merlot – practically perfect in every way. Deep purple-black in hue, the wine exudes morello cherry and black plum fruit with perfumed aromatics and gentle toast accents. Vibrant flavours across the full-bodied palate are in seamless balance with good freshness and silky tannins. Opulent but elegant, the wine is complete, textured and layered, revealing a sequence of flavours towards the lingering finish. Sensational.

FREEMARK ABBEY NAPA VALLEY MERLOT 2019

Producer: Freemark Abbey

Region: Napa Valley, California

Country: USA

Grape varieties: 87% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV: 14.5%

Approx. retail price: £60

Medal: Master

Established in 1886, Freemark Abbey was the 16th bonded winery in California. The only producer to have both a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Chardonnay in Steven Spurrier ’s 1976 ‘Judgment of Paris’ tasting, which catapulted Napa Valley into the international spotlight, Freemark Abbey’s ‘classic’ wines have long been recognised as exceptional. Fashioned by Freemark Abbey head winemaker Kristy Melton, the wine is deep ruby in colour, showing red plum and ripe blackcurrant fruit with touches of vanilla buttercream, exotic spices, leather and violet. On the palate, brisk acidity and linen tannins frame the flavours. Packed with layers and textures, the wine will be superb served with a lamb and barley stew with dried figs and olives.

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