Why do wine snobs hate merlot?

Answer 1

I think that hostility towards Merlot peaked in the movie Sideways. Unfortunately, this has to do with the vinification techniques employed in California more than anything else. California does this to lots of different grapes, producing very "fruity" wines with negligible acid and lots of residual sugar. Before Merlot, it was Chardonnay, which to some degree still continues to bombard the low end market with "plonk," what is known in wine parlance as wine not worth drinking. Interestingly the wine people had a term for it called "ABC" which stood for "anything but Chardonnay." It didn't mean that good chards were not being made, but rather that the low end of the spectrum was deplorable.
The same might be said for the last 7 years of Merlot. California grabbed hold of the grape and produced some low end plonk of gigantic proportions.As a grape, it matures quickly, has wonderful blackberry flavors and fewer tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon. When you see one for a low price you are almost guaranteed a yucky bottle which might appeal to the masses brought up on Coca Cola.
However, drinking something like a Bennett Lane or Duckhorn, to name just two, would make anyone a devotee. Oddly enough the wine that French wine that Miles mentions that he has in his cellar (a stunning 1961 Cheval Blanc) is predominantly Merlot. He drinks it unceremoniously with a fast food burger out of a paper bag. It must have tasted terrible with all that sediment it must have had. I guess that's Hollywood for you.

Answer 2

I'm a wine snob, and I don't hate Merlot. In fact, I just bought two very expensive bottles of Merlot.

However, I don't typically drink Merlot for several reasons - the biggest one is that it is just too mellow. It just isn't complex enough for my palate - it's not a good or bad thing, it's just what I personally care for & don't. When I find one that is much meatier and complex, I enjoy it immensely, but those bottles are few and far between.

The best thing about Merlot, is that it is one of the best wines for beginners to start on because it tastes good even at a $5-$10 level. By good I mean, non-offensive, like a cheap cab or pinot can be. I *will* drink it if I'm at a party with cheap wine - I'll know that it's the safest bet.

Merlot can be a great just sitting around and drinking drink, but again, not for me. I have close to 10 other wines under $15 that I would rather have to a cheap merlot - wines that offer better pairing with food, more 'party' in the mouth, and are just more interesting to me.

It's not quite as low as White Zin on my scale, not even close, but it's not something that I buy unless it is really special. I just prefer more umph to my wine. : )

Answer 3

Most people would immediately think I'm a wine snob because I am a Wine Consultant. I'm not a wine snob but that's what some people think. Anyway, I love Merlot so it's not all wine snobs. Some people don't like Merlot because it tends to be not as complex as a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Zinfandel or a Shiraz but it's still very good wine.

Answer 4

Wine snobs do not hate Merlot. Some of the most highly regarded red wines come from the Pomerol and St Emilion regions of Bordeaux, and these wines are predominantly Merlot. You won't find any wine expert who will frown on a Chateau Petrus, for example. Merlot is also blended with Cabernet Sauvignon in the Medoc region as well. Merlot became popular in the US because it is softer and easier for beginner wine drinkers to like when compared to the more robust Cabernets or Zinfandels, and thus became associated with less-sophisticated wine drinkers. As with any wine, there are great ones and bland ones; it is the bland ones of any variety that "wine snobs" disdain.

Answer 5

Wine lovers do not hate merlot.

Many dislike the way 'merlot became a byword in the US for a cheap sweetish red house wine.

Merlot makes some of the worlds best and most expensive wine. For instance, Chateau Petrus -- which is a merlot --has just announced the price for their 2005 vintage is US $2,400 per bottle.

If you are thinking of the movie Sideways, where the character Miles states he will not be drinking any *** Merlot, understand that he wasn't referring to Merlot per se but he wanted to drink fine wines and he feared his blind date would just ask for house 'merlot'.

Answer 6

Pontac, as always is completely correct.... the one point he missed is that Merlot became hugely popular not too long ago, and resulted in an enormous number of Merlot vines being planted by folks looking to take advantage of the trend. Unfortunately, not all grapes grow well in all places, and most of the Merlot was planted in inappropriate soils and micro climates, resulting in most inexpensive Merlot being horribly inferior wines, bought by people who only know to order Merlot and nothing else.

It is interesting to note that Cheval Blanc, the great bottle of talked abot throught Sideways, is a bend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Answer 7

There's also a correlation between being an accomplished wine drinker and the wine choice.

Many "wine snobs" look for wines that either have more body and complex (typical characteristics of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon) or more subtle, refined, delicate (typical of Pinot Noir).

The taste of Merlot is not as "powerful" as Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, and not as delicate as Pinot Noir.

(If you have an opportunity, I recommend trying the RAIMAT Merlot from Costers del Segre, Spain. It is one of the best Merlot I've had.)

Answer 8

Guess I don't know any 'wine snobs' because everyone seems to like Merlot. The snobbery I have found is with Shiraz. I love it but some don't respect it at all.

Answer 9

Speaking as a semi-wine snob and admitted food snob:

I don't care for merlot because it has very little character. For a red, it is bland and doesn't stimulate the tongue. That makes it appeal to anyone and they think they look smart when they order a merLOT.

I prefer a good cab myself. Shiraz is okay, but it is an Aussie version of Syrah. Syrah has more body. LOL

Answer 10

Wine snobs prefer wines that have been cultivated for many years and merlot wines are fairly new and require more oak barrel processing.