merlot

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noun, often capitalized mer·lot \ mer-ˈlō , mər- \

Definition of merlot

:a dry red wine made from a widely grown grape originally used in the Bordeaux region of France for blending; also :the grape itself

Recent Examples of merlot from the Web

Picking a favorite color from the collection is like trying to choose between merlot, rosé, and prosecco — which is to say, impossible — because each is scrumptious and perfect for (almost) any occasion.

— sophie wirt, Allure, "Charlotte Tilbury's New Liquid Lipsticks Are Every Starlet's Hollywood Dream Come True," 10 Aug. 2017
Polished and sophisticated, the three varieties range from $79 for the sauvignon blanc to $159 for the merlot.

— michele parente, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Destination spas offer luxury to the masses," 25 June 2017
Taste the 2015 Cabernet Franc, blended with cabernet sauvignon and merlot, 100 percent estate-grown.

— sara schwartz, USA TODAY, "Northern Virginia's vineyards shine," 24 June 2017
The red is heavy on merlot, and includes cabernet sauvignon and syrah.

— andy perdue, The Seattle Times, "A Seattle winemaker has created the perfect red and white blends for P.F. Chang’s," 8 June 2017
Our favorite red, the Cheval d’Acier, is a soft, juicy Bordeaux-style blend of merlot, cabernet franc and petit verdot, with cola and vanilla flavors.

— mary orlin, The Mercury News, "Oakland wine tasting: Brooklyn West and Urban Legend Cellars," 1 June 2017
This one is 91 percent Merlot with Petite Sirah and Syrah mixed in for good measure.

— cleveland.com, "National Wine Day: 11 different bottles to celebrate (photos)," 25 May 2017
Merlots are tough to peg in one general swoop of a description.

— cleveland.com, "National Wine Day: 11 different bottles to celebrate (photos)," 25 May 2017
Made of 87 percent merlot, this one was floral and toasty, with notes of black cherry and black licorice.

— michael austin, chicagotribune.com, "15 wines that will help you understand Washington (the state, not the swamp)," 10 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'merlot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of merlot

French

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First Known Use: 1926

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