Mary’s Favorite Wines
Merlot
The Village's #2 Frequent Flyer
Meet Mary, Catherine’s sister and Vino Village’s #2 frequent flyer. She’s an international jetsetter, always chasing warm, sunny weather.
Mary has a medium build, dresses in ruby red, and gets along well with others, though she’s just as happy with time to herself. Her charisma only grows with age, and between trips she keeps busy as a baker, ballroom dancer, writer, and tennis player.
In wine terms? Mary is Merlot, the world’s second most-planted red wine grape, right behind her sister Catherine’s Cabernet Sauvignon.
Merlot is just as versatile as Mary: it's equally at home as a soft, approachable everyday red or as the backbone of some of the most sought-after wines in the world.
Expect a medium-bodied wine with medium tannins, gentler and more approachable than Cabernet Sauvignon. In the glass, Merlot ranges from ruby to garnet (when aged), and you’ll pick up plum, black cherry, and chocolate and sometimes herbal, earthy notes.
Bordeaux, France is Merlot’s homeland, especially the Right Bank appellations of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, where it’s the star of the show. You’ll also find excellent Merlot from Italy, the US, Chile, and Australia.
Merlot is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc to make a classic Bordeaux Blend. Though it also stands well on its own as a single-variety wine.Now let's find you some bottles she'd actually approve of.
Mary's Top Picks
We picked bottles from Mary’s homeland and beyond. All available on Pop Up Wine Singapore. Click any wine name to shop it.
1. For a casual weeknight
Chapman Grove : Reserve Merlot 2017
Margaret River, Australia | $49 / bottle
Mary says: "Margaret River has that same warm, sunny climate I love, and this was Chapman Grove's very first straight Merlot. Dark red cherry and forest floor on the nose, with a rich, broad palate built to age. A simple but indulgent glass for a Tuesday."
Pairs with: Grilled sausages, burgers, or roasted vegetables
2. For a taste of Right Bank Bordeaux
Château au Pont de Guitres : Lalande de Pomerol 2020
Lalande-de-Pomerol, Bordeaux, France | $59 / bottle
Mary says: "Lalande-de-Pomerol sits right next to Pomerol, the neighbourhood where Merlot really gets to show off. This one's 80% Merlot, generous and jammy with blackberry and a hint of spice, silky on the palate. It picked up a Gold at the Concours de Bordeaux and a Silver at the Challenge International du Vin. This is what I taste like at home."
Pairs with: Roast lamb, beef stew, or a mushroom tart
3. For a taste of Left Bank Bordeaux
Château Larose-Trintaudon : Cru Bourgeois Supérieur 2018
Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France | $59 / bottle
Mary says: "The Haut-Médoc is the Left Bank, my sister’s side of Bordeaux, but this one leans unusually close to me: almost half Merlot, which is more than most of the Médoc. Cassis, plum, cherry, and fine oak, with ripe tannins and a long finish. Andreas Larsson gave it 92 points, and James Suckling and Wine Enthusiast both landed on 91. A great expression of the Left Bank."
Pairs with: Roast beef, lamb rack, or aged cheese
4. Great value-for-money
Baron de Boutisse : Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2019
Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France | $59 / bottle
Mary says: "Château Boutisse was promoted to Grand Cru Classé status in 2022, and this parcel selection is where they show their range. Dried violets, dark plums, licorice, and a touch of chocolate orange, medium-bodied with fine, supple tannins. James Suckling gave it 94 points. That's real quality with an affordable price tag."
Pairs with: Duck confit, mushroom risotto, or a cheese board
5. For a special occasion
Château Marquis de Terme : Margaux 2016
Margaux, Bordeaux, France | $138 / bottle
Mary says: "A Fourth Growth estate dating back to 1661. Thomas Jefferson visited Bordeaux in 1787 and named it one of the 16 best Bordeaux wines he tasted. Cherry, black raspberry, and violets, with supple tannins and a touch of white pepper on the finish, and it's organically farmed too. This is the bottle you save for a truly special night."
Pairs with: Rack of lamb, filet mignon, or a truffle risotto
Merlot Cheat Sheet
| Body | Medium |
| Color | Ruby to garnet (when aged) |
| Tasting notes | Plum, black cherry, and chocolate, sometimes herbal and earthy notes |
| Serve at | 15–20°C |
| Best with | Roast chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, and pizza |
| Avoid with | Very spicy dishes or delicate fish, which get overpowered by its fruit and soft tannins |
| Glass type | A large, oversized glass, to let the wine open up and breathe |
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