The Famous Cabernet Merlot Blend: Tasting Notes, 10 Best Wines, Prices (2024)

Cabernet Merlot blend wines comprise the world’s two most loved grape varieties - Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. 

The best examples of this wonderful partnership come from Bordeaux, where the Cabernet Merlot blend is used to produce some of the finest and age-worthy Bordeaux reds. In Italy, these grapes are also blended with Sangiovese to create the iconic “Super Tuscan” wines.

In the New World wine regions, the Cabernet Franc grape varietal plays a key role in the blend as well.

Let’s take a look at the Cabernet Merlot blend wines in detail - the taste, characteristics, and food pairings, the 10 best bottles, and the top Cabernet Merlot Blend producing regions.

Cabernet Merlot Blend: Taste, Characteristics, And Food Pairings

Cabernet Merlot blend wines have an affinity for oak - they take notes of cedar, smoke, and spice from French oak, and aromas of coconut and vanilla from American oak.

The Merlot grape varietal adds chocolate and rich, fruity flavors to the wine, while the Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety makes the wine tannic, age-worthy, and powerful. Cabernet Sauvignon also adds distinct acidity and dark-fruit flavors.

Overall, the wines are medium to full-bodied and have medium to high acidity and tannins.

So, a wine made from Cabernet Merlot blend goes best with slow-cooked beef roast, mushrooms, and venison.

10 Best Cabernet Merlot Blend Wines To Buy In 2024

Here are the finest Cabernet Merlot Blend wine bottles:

1. 1899 Chateau Latour, Pauillac, France
2. 1895 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien, France
3. 1996 Golan Heights Winery Yarden Katzrin Red, Galilee, Israel
4. 1929 Chateau Latour ‘Les Forts de Latour’, Pauillac, France
5. 2010 Black Stallion Winery Transcendent, Napa Valley, USA
6. 2015 Kenzo Estate Murasaki, Napa Valley, USA
7. 2006 Sloan Asterisk Red, Napa Valley, USA
8. 2016 Blankiet Estate Paradise Hills Vineyard Rive Droite, Napa Valley, USA
9. 2013 Church Road Tom Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
10. 1990 Gravner Rosso Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

1. 1899 Chateau Latour, Pauillac, France ($18,643)

This red wine bottle has a red fruit flavor on the palate, a black currant aroma with subtle plum, cassis, and toasted oak notes.

2. 1895 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien, France ($5,000)

This wine has a black fruit flavor, remarkable acidity, and spice, vanilla, and black currant notes.

3. 1996 Golan Heights Winery Yarden Katzrin Red, Galilee, Israel ($985)

This full-bodied red wine bottle has a chewy tannin, decent acidity, a palate of dark red fruit flavor, and cassis, toasted oak, and black currant notes.

4. 1929 Chateau Latour ‘Les Forts de Latour’, Pauillac, France ($758)

This Bordeaux wine has a black currant aroma, dark red fruit flavor, and notes of hazelnuts and black fruit. 

5. 2010 Black Stallion Winery Transcendent, Napa Valley, USA ($577)

This red wine has high tannin, brilliant acidity, and tasting notes of black cherry, plum, vanilla, and oak.

6. 2015 Kenzo Estate Murasaki, Napa Valley, USA ($375)

This wine has fine acidity, cherry and spice notes, and a palate of dark red fruit flavor.

7. 2006 Sloan Asterisk Red, Napa Valley, USA ($311)

This red wine has a cherry aroma and the tasting notes of dark red fruit, herbs, and toasted oak - a must-try for every wine enthusiast.

8. 2016 Blankiet Estate Paradise Hills Vineyard Rive Droite, Napa Valley, USA ($300)

This great wine is made from Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. It has a full-bodied palate with tasting notes of plum, spicy black fruit, and black cherry.

9. 2013 Church Road Tom Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand ($248)

This Bordeaux wine from Hawkes Bay has brilliant acidity, cherry aroma, dark red fruit flavor, and a tasting note of toasted oak. 

10. 1990 Gravner Rosso Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy ($245)

This red blend wine has supple tannin, excellent acidity, a tasting note of dark red fruit, and hints of cassis, licorice, and black cherry. 

Cabernet Merlot Blends: Main Wine Regions

Here are the top Cabernet Merlot wine regions where you’d spot the best wines.

A. France

In France, the finest Cabernet Merlot wines are produced in Bordeaux. 

The Right Bordeaux red blend is dominated by Merlot. The wines are rounder, softer, and have less tannin. The Saint-Emilion blends also contain a good quantity of the Cabernet Franc grape.

Left bank blends comprise mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and are more tannic and firm.

Depending on the winemaker and region, the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot grape varieties in the Bordeaux blend could vary. Also, other Bordeaux varieties could also be added to the blend, including Malbec, Carmenere, and Petit Verdot.

B. USA

In California, the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot red blend is called Meritage (a term used for Bordeaux-style red wines.) 

Meritage wines stand out for their high tannin, brilliant acidity, full-bodied richness, and dark fruit notes.

C. Italy

In Italy, the best Cabernet Merlot wines are produced in Friuli Venezia Giulia. 

The wines are sweet and tangy with fine-grained acidity and a brightly structured and medium-bodied palate.

The Bordeaux-influenced Super Tuscans are also made by blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, and Merlot grapes.

D. Australia

In Australia, Cabernet Merlot wines are produced in Coonawarra, Yarra Valley, and Margaret River. 

They stand out for their sappy forest aromas, fruity complexity, remarkable freshness, and a silky-textured palate with chewy tannins.

E. Chile

Chilean Cabernet Merlot wines are loved for their full-bodied richness, spicy tannins, crisp acidity, and notes of dark berries and dark spices.

F. Other Cabernet Merlot wine Regions

Cabernet Merlot wines are also produced in Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, Israel.

Ready to Invest In A Crisp Cabernet Merlot Blend Wine?

Both the Cabernet and Merlot grape varieties lend their special qualities to these wine bottles. They complement each other so well - so be prepared to keep refilling your glass!

You’ll also spot some Cabernet Merlot wines (especially from Bordeaux) at the famed auctions. For instance, the 1989 Chateau Latour fine wine went under the hammer for a whopping $66,408 at a 2018 Sotheby’s auction.

Visit the Vinovest website to discover an easy way to buy, store, and sell authentic Cabernet Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, or any other fine wine bottle from across the globe.