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Home Varieties Fruit varieties Merlot

Merlot

N

Wine grape variety.

Grappe
Feuille
Apex
Grappe
Feuille
Apex

Origine & Réglementation

Surfaces cultivées

Description

Caractéristiques

Clones agréés
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Origin

The geographical origin of the variety is specified or, if this is not possible, the area in which it is traditionally cultivated. The genetic origin of the variety is also indicated whenever it is known from hybridiser data or from genetic analyses published or obtained by the teams at INRAE in Montpellier (UMR AGAP) and Vassal-Montpellier Grapevine Biological Resources Centre (CRB-Vigne).

This variety is originally from the Bordeaux vineyards. Based on genetic analyses, Merlot would be the result of crossbreeding Cabernet franc and Magdeleine noire des Charentes.

Use

This information indicates the normal and statutory use for the grapes.

Wine grape variety.

Name of the variety in France

Name under which the variety is officially registered in the catalogue of grapevine varieties in France and under which it may be propagated and disseminated.

Merlot

Synonymy

Recognised alternative names that may be used to identify the propagation material of the variety in France or in other member countries of the European Union.

There is no officially recognized synonym in France nor in the other countries of the European Union, for this variety.

Regulatory data

This information indicates on which list the variety is registered (A or B), whether it is classified for wine grapes, and in which member countries of the European Union the variety is also officially registered (for more information, see the "Legislation" menu.

In France, Merlot is officially listed in the "Catalogue of vine varieties" on the A list and classified. This variety is also listed in the catalogues of other Member States of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain.

Evolution of mother vine surfaces

The figures provided are taken from vineyard land registers (IVCC, ONIVIT, ONIVINS), general agricultural censuses (SCEES-INSEE) and the current computerised vineyard register (DGDDI, FAM). Regional vine planting data is available on the following site: https://visionet.franceagrimer.fr/Pages/DonneesInteractivesDocs.aspx?sousmenu=observatoire%20de%20la%20viticulture.

Year
ha

1958

16975

1968

25124

1979

38391

1988

60007

1998

90059

2008

117354

2018

114578

Éléments de description

Only the principal ampelographic elements enabling the varieties to be characterised and identified are provided. They are presented according to the descriptor code recognised by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), the Community Plant Variety Office (OCVV) and Bioversity International (for more information, see the "Ampelographic glossary" menu). The photographs of leaves and grapes were taken in natural conditions, on the vine, in very similar situations in terms of growing conditions (sandy soil, Mediterranean coast): - Domaine de l'Espiguette (IFV), Le Grau du Roi (Gard), - Domaine de Vassal (INRAE), Marseillan (Hérault), - La Gaillarde Campus (Institut Agro | Montpellier SupAgro), Montpellier (Hérault). Only a few photographs, including the tips of bunches, were taken in other conditions.

The identification is based on:
- the tip of the young shoot with a high density of prostrate hairs,
- the green young leaves,
- the shoots with green internodes,
- the wedge-shaped dark green adult leaves, with five or seven lobes, an open U-shaped petiole sinus, with sometimes naked petiole veins, medium teeth with straight or convex sides, no anthocyanin coloration of veins, a goffered, very blistered leaf blade, and on the lower side of the leaves, a low to medium density of prostrate hairs,
- the round-shaped berries.

Genetic profile

The genetic profile of the variety is provided for the 9 microsatellite markers (or SSR markers) selected under the European programme GrapeGen06 (http://www.eu-vitis.de/index.php) and by the OIV. The absolute size values of the alleles may vary slightly from one laboratory to another, but the relative differences between the two alleles of one single microsatellite are constant. The genetic analyses were conducted by the INRAE Montpellier team (UMR AGAP) and the IFV’s Plant Material Centre.

Microsatellite VVS2 VVMD5 VVMD7 VVMD27 VRZAG62 VRZAG79 VVMD25 VVMD28 VVMD32

Allele 1

137

223

239

186

194

260

238

227

239

Allele 2

149

234

247

188

194

260

248

233

239
Cultivation and agronomic skills

The data on suitability are the result of field observations or, if none are available, of bibliography mining and the study of bibliographic references.

Merlot is a moderately to strongly vigorous variety that tends to produce a lot of off shoots and suckers. Its semi-erect to horizontal bearing requires sufficient trellising. Its fertility is good and it is better to prune it short. In certain climatic conditions, there is a risk of coulure. Merlot is well suited to clay-limestone terroirs. This variety is rather sensitive to winter and spring frosts (early budburst) and appears to be not very adapted to intense drought conditions.

Technological potential

The size of grape clusters and berries indicated are based on the following scales: - Wine grape varieties Size : Very small Bunch (g) : ≤ 100 Berry (g) : 1 - Table grape varieties Bunch (g) : 150 Berry (g) : 2 - Wine grape varieties Size : Small Bunch (g) : 100 - 200 Berry (g) : 1,5 - 2 - Table grape varieties Bunch (g) : 150 - 250 Berry (g) : 2 - 3,5 - Wine grape varieties Size : Moderate Bunch (g) : 200 - 250 Berry (g) : 2 - 2,5 - Table grape varieties Bunch (g) : 250 - 400 Berry (g) : 3,5 - 5,5 - Wine grape varieties Size : Large Bunch (g) : 250 - 400 Berry (g) : 2,5 - 3,5 - Table grape varieties Bunch (g) : 400 - 700 Berry (g) : 5,5 - 8 - Wine grape varieties Size : Very large Bunch (g) : 400 Berry (g) : 3,5 - Table grape varieties Bunch (g) : 700 Berry (g) : 8 Remarks concerning the characteristics of the wines are generally based on tastings organised by juries of professionals.

The bunches are small to medium in size, winged and berries are medium in size. Merlot produces round, powerful, rich in alcohol and colored wines with relatively low acidity. These full-bodied and structured wines, with rather supple tannins, can be aged in wood barrels. The aromas are complex and elegant.

Clonal selection in France

In this section, the list of certified clones is given. Information on clone conservatories is also provided.

The twelve certified Merlot clones carry the numbers 181, 182, 184, 314, 342, 343, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349 and 519. A conservatory collection of more than 300 clones has been planted in the wine-growing region of Bordeaux since 1966.

Phenology

The growth stages indicated are the result of obsrvations made at the Domaine de Vassal Estate where the set of these varieties form a collection. The results are indicated compared to the Chasselas vine variety as a reference in order to make comparisons between years and different sites. As such, for information purposes, the dates for the Chasselas B growth stage at Domaine de Vassal are as follows: - Bud burst, 21 March (average over 50 years) - Grape maturity, 14 August (average over 50 years)

Bud burst: 2 days after Chasselas.
Grape maturity: mid-season, 2 weeks and a half after Chasselas.

Debourrement
Maturité
Bibliographic references

Bibliography

- Catalogue des variétés et clones de vigne cultivés en France. Collectif, 2007, Ed. IFV, Le Grau-du-Roi, France.
- Documentary collections of the Centre de Ressources Biologiques de la Vigne de Vassal-Montpellier, INRAE - Institut Agro Montpellier, Marseillan, France.
- Dictionnaire encyclopédique des cépages et de leurs synonymes. P. Galet, 2015, Ed. Libre&Solidaire, France.
- Traité général de viticulture, Ampélographie. P. Viala and V. Vermorel, 1901-1909, Ed. Masson, Paris, France.

Description of clones approved in France

In this section, the list of certified clones is given. Information on clone conservatories is also provided.

  • Clone number
  • Brand
  • Origin

    Region, department or winegrowing region in which the “clone mother plant” was identified and selected.

  • Selection

    Body or bodies which selected the clone. In France, clonal selection is the responsibility of the selection organisations (themselves accredited by the ministry in charge of agriculture), usually in close collaboration with a technical partner working in a winegrowing region. For clones certified after 1999, the name of the partner or partners who took part in the selection work is also included. (NB: CA = Chamber of Agriculture).

  • Year of approval

    Year in which the clone was certified by the FranceAgriMer board further to a proposal by the Vine section of the CTPS (Permanent Technical Committee for Plant Selection).

  • Agronomic Reference

    Region, department or winegrowing region in which the agronomic and technological data were collected.

  • Surface in multiplication

    Surface area in hectares (ha) of stock nurseries used for propagation for the year under consideration (in brackets), which allows the available potential to be evaluated. Clones with a surface area of between 0.01 and 0.10 ha are shown as <0.10 ha. Clones of limited dissemination, but for which we have technical data, are shown as <0.01 ha. Other clones are given as “low-dissemination clone”, which means that the clone has been certified only recently or has not been propagated. In both cases, only the initial material is planted in the selection centres.

  • N

  • 181

  •

  • Gironde

  • INRA

  • 1973

  • Bordelais;
    Languedoc;
    Provence

  • 69.67 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium to high

  • Production level low to medium

  • Cluster weight low

  • Vigor low

  • Berry size low to medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium to high

  • Color potential medium

  • Total acidity medium

  • Tannic structure medium to high

  • Oenological skills wines appreciated in tasting

  • Other information

  • General note more drooping bearing. Clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained.

  • N

  • 182

  •

  • Gironde

  • INRA

  • 1973

  • Bordelais;
    Languedoc;
    Provence

  • 6.93 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level medium

  • Cluster weight medium

  • Berry size medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium to high

  • Color potential high

  • Total acidity medium

  • Tannic structure low to medium

  • Oenological skills supple and balanced wines

  • Other information

  • General note clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained

  • N

  • 184

  •

  • Gironde

  • INRA

  • 1973

  • Bordelais;
    Languedoc;
    Provence

  • 9.68 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level medium to high

  • Cluster weight medium to high

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness low to medium

  • Total acidity medium

  • Tannic structure medium

  • Oenological skills representative wines of the variety

  • N

  • 314

  •

  • Gironde

  • INRA

  • 1973

  • Bordelais

  • 4.54 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level medium

  • Cluster weight medium

  • Vigor low

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium

  • Total acidity medium

  • Oenological skills balanced wines

  • N

  • 342

  •

  • Gironde

  • INRA

  • 1975

  • Bordelais

  • 1.63 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level medium

  • Cluster weight medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium

  • Total acidity medium

  • Oenological skills representative wines of the variety

  • N

  • 343

  •

  • Gironde

  • INRA

  • 1975

  • Bordelais;
    Languedoc;
    Provence

  • 44.11 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility low to medium

  • Production level low to medium

  • Cluster weight medium

  • Berry size medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness high

  • Color potential medium to high

  • Total acidity medium

  • Tannic structure medium

  • Oenological skills structured wines

  • Other information

  • General note clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and its aptitude to produce wines suitable for ageing

  • N

  • 345

  •

  • Gironde

  • INRA

  • 1975

  • -

  • -

  • Other information

  • Agrotecnica note Clone not widely distributed.

  • N

  • 346

  •

  • Gironde

  • INRA

  • 1975

  • Bordelais;
    Languedoc;
    Provence

  • 23.77 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level medium

  • Cluster weight low to medium

  • Vigor high

  • Berry size medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium to high

  • Total acidity medium

  • Tannic structure medium

  • Oenological skills wines appreciated in tasting

  • Other information

  • General note clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained

  • N

  • 347

  •

  • Gironde

  • INRA

  • 1975

  • Bordelais;
    Languedoc;
    Provence

  • 37.66 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level medium

  • Cluster weight medium

  • Berry size medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium

  • Color potential medium

  • Total acidity medium

  • Tannic structure medium

  • Oenological skills wines appreciated in tasting

  • Other information

  • General note clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained

  • N

  • 348

  •

  • Gironde

  • INRA

  • 1975

  • Bordelais;
    Languedoc;
    Provence

  • 36.41 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level medium

  • Cluster weight medium to high

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium

  • Color potential medium

  • Total acidity medium

  • Tannic structure medium

  • Oenological skills wines appreciated in tasting

  • Other information

  • General note clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained

  • N

  • 349

  •

  • Gironde

  • INRA

  • 1975

  • Bordelais

  • 7.94 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility high

  • Production level high

  • Cluster weight high

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium

  • Oenological skills representative wines of the variety

  • Other information

  • General note productive clone

  • N

  • 519

  •

  • Gironde

  • ENTAV

  • 1976

  • Bordelais

  • 20.85 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility high

  • Production level high

  • Cluster weight medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium

  • Oenological skills representative wines of the variety

  • Other information

  • General note productive clone

Other partners