Meritage

Meritage is a dry, full-bodied Bordeaux-style blend from the United States, usually led by grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Expect blackberry, blackcurrant and plum with cedar, spice and smooth oak flavours. Rich and structured, it’s a natural match for steak, roast beef, burgers, lamb, BBQ food and slow-cooked meat.

Taste:

Think Bordeaux with an American passport.

Red Meritage is typically dry and medium to full-bodied, with structured tannins and plenty of ripe dark fruit. Blackberry, blackcurrant, black cherry and plum are common, often joined by cedar, herbs, tobacco and warming spice.

Oak ageing can add flavours of vanilla, toast, chocolate or coffee, while the exact character depends heavily on the blend. Cabernet Sauvignon can bring structure and blackcurrant, Merlot adds softer plum and fruit, while Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot can introduce everything from herbs and violet to spice and darker fruit.

The result? Usually rich, polished and very comfortable next to a serious dinner.

Food Pairings:

Meritage has enough body and structure to handle plenty of red meat.

Steak is an obvious choice, whether that’s ribeye, sirloin, fillet, steak frites or a peppercorn steak. It also works brilliantly with roast beef, beef short ribs, beef stew, slow-cooked beef, lamb chops and roast lamb.

Planning a BBQ? Try it with burgers, BBQ ribs, brisket, pulled beef, grilled steak, smoky sausages or lamb kebabs. Rich mushroom dishes, mushroom pie, lentil casserole and roasted vegetables are great meat-free options.

Meritage also works well with mature cheeses such as Cheddar, Gouda and Gruyère.

Basically, this isn't really the wine for a cucumber salad and an early night.

Similar Wines:

If you enjoy Meritage, Bordeaux is the obvious next stop. Meritage was created around the same family of grape varieties traditionally associated with Bordeaux.

Cabernet Sauvignon is worth trying if you particularly enjoy the structure and dark fruit, while Merlot takes things in a softer, plummier direction.

You might also enjoy Saint-Émilion or Pomerol if Merlot-led blends are more your style.

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More About Meritage:

Meritage isn't a grape or a region. It's a term created in the United States for wines made from the traditional grape varieties of Bordeaux.

The name – a blend of merit and heritage – is a registered trademark of The Meritage Alliance. Producers using it must meet the organisation's requirements, including making the wine from specified Bordeaux varieties.

Red Meritage can include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and other permitted Bordeaux grapes. There is also white Meritage, generally made using Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and/or Muscadelle.

And before you order it with your best French accent: Meritage rhymes with heritage. Not Meri-tahhhj.

We've just saved you an awkward conversation at the wine bar.