Despite Merlot’s decline due to the film Sideways, it’s still the second most planted grape variety around the world, and it’s still coveted by wine collectors when it comes from Bordeaux. However, there is also some Merlot in France outside of Bordeaux.
French Merlot
In Bordeaux, Merlot is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon in the Left Bank and is the primary grape on the Right Bank, often with some Cabernet Franc mixed in. The three big appellations are St. Emilion, Pomerol and Fronsac. Besides satellite Bordeaux appellations like Cotes de Bourg or Montagne St. Emilion, there’s a lot of bargain Merlot in other parts of Southwest France like in Bergerac and Pécharmant. Lastly, there’s a lot of Merlot in the Languedoc, often as cheaper, ripe and fruity bulk wine, labeled as IGP Pays d’Oc.
As always in this blog, I try to find less common varieties or regions for certain varieties. First, I found a Merlot from the Rhone Valley by cult winemaker Emmanuel Reynaud of Chateau Rayas in Chateauneuf du Pape. Reynaud sadly passed away in 2025, but even his labels from humbler appellations are highly sought after by collectors. Most are familiar with his Domaine des Tours Grenache based Rhone blends, but I was surprised to find there’s a Merlot version too. It’s labeled IGP Vaucluse, because Merlot is not allowed in the Cotes du Rhone appellation.
Next, I found a rare Merlot from the Loire Valley. Cabernet Franc is the red grape that dominates in the Loire along with some Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grolleau and Pineau d’Aunis. I’ve even had Malbec from the Loire, but I’ve never tried Merlot from there. This one comes from the Muscadet region. It’s labeled Vin de France since it’s not allowed in Muscadet labeled wines. Let’s taste. 
Tasting Notes
2010 Domaine des Tours (Rayas) Reserve Merlot IGP Vaucluse
From Emmanuel Reynaud of Château Rayas. Biodynamic. 100% Merlot on clay and limestone soil (just like St. Emilion). They use large oak vats. PnP. It already looks and smells moderately evolved. There’s lots of stewed and dried red and purple plum. Fruit leather. There’s some dried herbs and tobacco. Mesquite. On the palate, it is medium+ bodied, round with well-integrated alcohol despite the 14.5% abv. Good acid. Some minerality, licorice and a bit of cocoa at the end. Soft tannic structure still frames the fruit. You can age this longer for more tertiary notes and elegance, but it’s not so far off from a Right Bank Bordeaux of around the same age but with less oak influence and more red fruit tartness, depending on the vintage and producer. It’s also not far off from the other wines of Rayas either, but it’s a little heavier, darker and less floral. 92
2022 Domaine de Bellevue Bretaudeau Ornate Merlot Vin de France
100% Merlot over granite from the Muscadet region of the Loire. Organic and biodynamic. 100% destemmed. Native yeasts. 18 months in 3 year old Burgindian oak with minimal sulfur added. There’s some cocoa and spice to go along with ripe dark berry fruit on the nose. The palate emphasizes the fruit more. It’s round, medium-bodied with nice acidity. Soft tannins and medium well-integrated alcohol. Good length. Overall, a delicious wine that’s easy to drink and like. Compared to the Domaine des Tours Merlot, besides the age difference and hence lack of tertiary notes, it’s darker in fruit profile although the acidity is about the same. It’s a bit lighter-bodied with lower alcohol. It’s more Bordeaux-like because there’s a bit more oak and more elegance, but it’s about what you’d expect from a low-intervention Merlot. It also just feels less Mediterranean compared to the Domaine des Tours Merlot, so like Bordeaux, more Atlantic. At the same time, it’s still not Bordeaux. There’s less oak influence, body and ripeness compared to a modern Right Bank Bordeaux. More like the few Bordeaux I’ve had with mostly or all amphorae aging and native yeasts. It can still open up more and gain complexities, but it’s certainly very drinkable now too. 92+