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Know your merlot
Merlot is the fifth most planted grape in New Zealand. Last year, 2013 is now being rated as one of the outstanding vintages in recent years and you will find many great, reasonably priced wines now available. These wines will age if you want to start a cellar, but are equally enjoyable now.
Merlot is best known as the partner of cabernet sauvignon, which interestingly is now known to be its genetic sibling. When blended together, they produce the most famous wines of Bordeaux.
Merlot offers ripe fruit to balance cabernet sauvignon’s herbal notes, tannins and acidity.