Washington Merlot

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Taste and Tweetup!

Tasting and Tweeting about WA Merlot.

by Mike Supple
published: 12 Mar 2010 | Comments

If you watched the movie "Sideways" and haven't touched a drop of Merlot since then, this is an event for you. If you haven't seen the movie and still don't drink Merlot, then it's time to get with the program and check it out. And if you're already a Merlot lover, then kudos to you. Grab a bottle - or three - of Merlot from Washington State and be ready to join in the fun.

DrinkNectar.com, in association with several other wine bloggers and a few wine retailers, is hosting an online wine tasting event: #WAMerlot. The tasting and discussion will take place on Twitter on Thursday, March 25 from 5:00 PM - 7:00PM (PST), and you're invited to join for any or all! The only cost to you is whatever you decide to spend on the bottle(s) of Merlot that you drink and talk about. The camaraderie, witty banter and education are all free! For complete details, including a short video on how to set up your Twitter and TweetDeck software (free) to make the most of the event, go to http://wamerlot.eventbrite.com.

Why Washington Merlot? Why not! Merlot is a delicious wine that got a bad name in the 1980s when it grew too popular for the wineries to match customer demand. Prices rose and quality dropped, with many wineries blending in inferior quality grapes to increase supply. Suddenly the market was flooded with overpriced, under-delicious Merlot. And FYI, this same thing is happening with Pinot Noir, but it's not limited to the U.S. Several French grape growers were recently arrested for selling cheaper, lower quality grapes to Gallo and telling them it was Pinot Noir.

When well made, Merlot is a fantastic wine. The flavors are rich and lush, with currant, black cherry, raspberry, plum, violet, rose, caramel, clove, bell pepper, vanilla, coconut, oak, smoke, coffee and earth being among its more common characteristics. Similar in flavor to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot is often distinguished by the fact that it can be a little more herbaceous and generally has less of a distinct cassis flavor. Merlot is also less astringent than Cabernet Sauvignon, making it feel softer and smoother in the mouth.

All that being said, Washington Merlots are often the exception to the rule. The cool growing conditions combined with long hours of sunlight help grow Merlot that can be exceptionally powerful. While the rest of the world tends to blend some Merlot into bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon to make the Cab a little softer and easier to drink, in Washington it can often be the reverse. WA Merlot can be lush, rich, full-bodied and have huge tannins, allowing it to age gracefully for years.

So quit stalling, register for the event and pick up some bottles of Washington Merlot. I look forward to seeing you online and hearing what delicious wines I should try next. And if you're not already on it, make sure to join me - @supplewine - on Twitter!