Merlot

The second-most-planted variety in Bordeaux and the dominant grape on the Right Bank (Saint-Émilion, Pomerol), where it produces some of the world's most coveted wines on clay-limestone soils. Merlot is softer, fleshier and more approachable than Cabernet Sauvignon, with plum, dark cherry, chocolate and herbal notes. It ripens earlier than Cabernet, performing well in cooler climates. Globally a workhorse for everyday reds, but at top sites (Petrus, Le Pin, Masseto) it commands prices that rival the most expensive wines in the world.