- Last updated on February 1, 2023
This is our Blackstone Merlot review.
Are you after a smooth and easy-drinking Merlot with ripe black fruit aromas and flavors?
And what if I tell you that it pairs well with a vast variety of dishes and it’s very affordable too?
Well, this is the wine you have been looking for! We liked it a lot!
Find below our Blackstone Merlot review along with our food pairings recommendations, serving tips, curiosity, and where you can buy it.
Let’s begin!
Our Blackstone Merlot Review
- Brand: Blackstone
- Grape Varietal: Merlot
- Region: United States, California
- Tasting Notes: Ripe Blackberry & Plum Fruit notes
- Glass & Serving: Bordeaux / 59-64 °F (15-18 °C) / Decant ~30mins
- Storage: 3-5 years
- Price Range: ~$8
- Bottle Size: 750 ml
Blackstone Merlot review: What's its color?
Blackstone Merlot wine has a deep ruby color with fat slow falling legs.
If you want to know more about how to taste wine and the lingo that goes with it, check out this article: How To Taste Wine Like a Pro in 4 Steps.
Blackstone Merlot review: What are the flavors?
Blackstone Merlot is entirely made from Merlot grapes.
On the nose, aromas of blackberry, plum, raspberry vanilla, and hints of spice.
On the palate, it’s a smooth medium-body wine with medium acidity, soft tannins, and flavors of ripe plum, blackberry, raspberry, and vanilla with a spicey finish.
Is Blackstone Merlot wine sweet?
No, it’s not sweet. Blackstone Merlot wine is a dry wine.
Dry wine contains less than 15 g/L.
Learn more about wine sweetness level here.
Blackstone Merlot review: Which food pairs well with it?
Blackstone Merlot is a straightforward Merlot, as such, it will pair with a wide variety of dishes.
Classic appetizers are mushroom pizza, ratatouille, penne alla boscaiola, and bean dishes to name some.
Meat wise you have a wide selection here from turkey, roast and braised veal, pork loin, venison, duck, and burgers for example.
If you are a cheese lover our recommendations for you are bloomy-rind, hard, and blue cheeses like Camembert, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Gorgonzola to name some.
Blackstone Merlot review: What's its alcohol content?
Blackstone Merlot wine’s alcohol content is 13.5%.
In case you wonder about alcohol content or more precisely Alcohol By Volume, i.e. ABV, measure the alcoholic strength of a drink.
There is a direct relationship between the sugar left in the wine after the alcoholic fermentation has taken place, i.e. Residual Sugar or RS, and ABV.
During alcoholic fermentation, the yeast transforms the sugar in the grape juice into alcohol.
Grapes with high residual sugar will therefore produce dry wine with a high ABV.
How many calories are in a glass of Blackstone Merlot wine?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture [1] a 5-ounce glass will contain about 120 to 130 calories.
Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram. So a wine with high ABV will have higher calories per glass than wine with low ABV.
Furthermore, sugar contributes to the calorie count.
A dry wine will usually have 4 calories per gram vs a sweet wine that will have around 20 calories per gram of carbs, which include sugar.
What is Blackstone?
Here is an extract from the Blackstone website:
“From the start, our goal has been to produce smooth, flavorful, harmonious wines with rich fruit, supple texture, and balanced oak.
Over the years, the same passion for consistent, balanced wines has expanded to new varieties bearing Blackstone’s trademark label.
…Blackstone has stayed true to the approach inspired by our California roots – to craft wines that complement food and…
…any occasion in which you celebrate the things in life you can count on.“
Conclusion
This is a nice bottle of Californian Merlot for a very affordable price.
Its smoothness, medium body and acidity, and ripe black fruit aromas will complement many dishes from veggie, pasta, a large variety of red meats, and our beloved cheeses.
Try Blackstone Merlot with mushroom pizza, turkey, burger, or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and it’ll be a delight. At least it was for me!
If you have never tried it, I’m not entirely sure what are you still waiting for?
Once you had it, we’d love to know your opinion, so reach out and let’s know what you think! Enjoy!
FAQ
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Merlot.
What are the Merlot styles?
Regions and winemaking techniques influence Merlot taste profiles. Here is a quick overview of the main regions and what to expect:
- New World: The tendency is to overripe the grapes to get a fuller body, high alcohol, softer tannins, and intense black fruit flavors.
- Old World: The tendency is to harvest earlier to get a medium body, higher acidity, moderate alcohol, and red fruit and herbaceous flavors.
Like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot is usually blended with other grapes to soften their taste profile and structure. Bordeaux wines are the most famous blend.
Where does Merlot grow best?
Merlot is planted all over the world given its versatility. Merlot gives it best in moderate to warm climates.
Climates will have a direct effect on the Merlot taste profile. Here is a quick overview:
- Cool Climates – Bordeaux: ruby color, light-medium body, higher acidity, red fruit (raspberry, cherry) flavors with tertiary notes of spice, leather, coffee, and licorice.
- Warm Climates – California: deep ruby color, medium-full body, pronounced black fruit (blackberry, blueberry, plum) flavors, velvety tannins with tertiary notes of vanilla, coconut, and smoke.
When is the perfect time to drink Merlot?
Given its versatility, every occasion is a good occasion for a Merlot as long as your event is not 100% fish-based.
Even during summertime, if you go for the lighter Merlot version, it’s still very enjoyable and a good alternative to Pinot Noir.
