Co-star in left-bank claret blends, leading player in Saint-Emilion and Pomerol on the right, merlot’s red-berry flavours are the perfect foil for the black fruit of cabernet sauvignon and the fresh herbacity of cabernet franc. To those who deride it as ‘too easy’ we say Château Pétrus! Find more affordable pleasure in the petits châteaux of Bordeaux, and, of course Chile.
