The most prolific wine varieties grown in Australia are as follows: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Shiraz, .
Poor old Merlot is suffering somewhat of an image problem in Australia at the moment. The popularity of the variety continues to decline as people continue to scratch their heads and ask "What is Merlot ?". Whilst still one of Australia's most widely planted varietals, Merlot is probably more highly regarded as a varietal to be blended with Cabernet Sauvignon in the classic "Bordeaux blends". Some of Australia's better Merlot's are found in the Adelaide Hills, Coonawarra and Eden Valley. The one characteristic of Merlot that is universal is its fleshy, supple mid-palate. This is the reason why it is widely used as a good blending component where it provides balance and structure. However, as a straight varietal, Australian Merlot can sometimes look simple due to the absence of prominent front and back palates. This is why few great varietal Merlots exist. |
