Merlots have soared in popularity in the last decade, as they offer something for everyone: from light and simple wines to full-bodied and complex bottlings. While Merlots are quite often less tannic and more lush than Cabernets, ther are still full-bodied, deep in color and fairly high in alcohol with flavors of cherry, plum and chocolate. Merlot is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and is the dominant grape of St. Emilion and Pomerol. Merlot has also been successfully grown (and frequently blended into Cabernets to produce a more complex wine) in wine regions of northern Italy, California, Washington and the Rogue Valley of Oregon.
