Wine Talk: Merlot Fights Back

Unfairly maligned, merlot is a noble wine that deserves our respect and admiration

Today, there are many examples of outstanding merlot to be tasted and enjoyed, and that even improve with cellar age. New Africa/Shutterstock

October is Merlot Month. Before you yawn, consider this.

Merlot was ascendant in the domestic wine market prior to the 2004 movie “Sideways.” The movie, filmed in California’s Santa Barbara wine region, glorified (rightly) pinot noir and dissed (wrongly) merlot.