Skyfall For Fall Celebration
The Merlot grape pronounced “Mare-Low,” is one of the wine world’s top reds. Whether sold as a single varietal or blended to soften up or make a wine more approachable and drinkable earlier, it has humble origins. Merle is the word for blackbird in French. In old French, Merlot is supposed to derive from the word for young blackbird and the color of the grape. We shouldn’t dwell on small, though, as it is responsible for some of the most expensive wines on the planet—think of Château Petrus from Bordeaux’s Pomerol appellation.
The Merlot grape has found the perfect home in Washington State. It accounts for one fifth of the state’s grape production. It ripens well in hot dry summers in inland vineyards sheltered from the Pacific Ocean by the Cascade mountains. Characterized by its softness on the palate, wine drinkers look forward to being seduced by the ripe plum, blackberry and chocolate notes in both the bouquet and taste. Due to the soft tannins and medium body, it lends itself perfectly to pairing with turkey and a side of savoury sage/herb stuffing this Thanksgiving weekend. Skyfall Washington State Merlot is a benchmark for the variety and ticks off all the boxes. Wine Enthusiast magazine featured it as a BEST BUY in its Sept.1, 2023 edition.