Merlot has a rich history, with the earliest mention of the grape noted in Bordeaux in 1784. But in our modern wine drinking era, the variety’s reputation has been on a roller coaster of social acceptance. Merlot went from being abundant to awkwardly ignored after one infamous line screeched by Paul Giamatti’s character in the 2004 movie “Sideways.” But the grape still remains important to the world of wine and shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s been making excellent wine since at leas...
