Merlot is a medium- to full-bodied wine with moderate acidity, moderate to high alcohol, and soft but present tannins ¹. The typical taste profile of Merlot includes notes of ripe blue, black and red fruit, often backed by undertones of cocoa, vanilla, and various earth tones ². The wine has a range of flavors, ranging from graphite, herbs and blackberries, to black cherries, plums, and cocoa, often layered with notes of clove, vanilla, and cedar when aged in oak ¹.