What to blend with Merlot (WE)

[Berry Juice]

Hi All, I have a small 1 gal box of Wine Expert Merlot and was wondering what should I or could I blend it with.
Could I blend it with a big box of Cab?
How would it work with Dragon Blood recipe?
Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[sour_grapes]

Welcome, Barry.

Can you explain what you mean by a 1 gal. box of WE Merlot? Was this from a 23 Liter kit, and someone (you?) put 1 gal into a pouch?

Why do you want to blend it? How does it taste by itself?

 

[Berry Juice]

I haven't processed it yet. It's still in the bag. I got a sweet deal on it but I didn't want to make a 1 gal batch, just thought I'd experiment with it by mixing it with something right in the beginning.

 

[jgmann67]

Why not make it and see if you like it? Those kits are quick drinkers, too.

You can blend a Merlot with so many other red varietals, it's almost impossible to go wrong - Cab, Cab franc, zin, PS, PV, Sangiovese...

 

[sour_grapes]

Ah, I see. I almost forgot that they make 1 gallon kits.

I agree with Jim above on blending partners. Personally, I wouldn't blend it into Dragon's Blood, as that is a different kind of animal than a normal dry red wine. OTOH, if you have made Dragon's Blood and like it, I am sure your Merlot would enhance it.

 

[Berry Juice]

Perfect, I will add in to my next batch of DB..

 

[joeswine]

Don't waste it on DB, make it straight up, get a cheap wine kit say sanginovese make it , add the small to the larger in the end its a great blend something worth your time and effort.

 

[Berry Juice]

Not a bad idea.
Never thought of making sanginovese/merlot.
Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[joeswine]

IllI be posting one on line shortly using a MM grape pack. Sanginovese/ Merlot blend.

 

[mainshipfred]

A winemaker once told me if wine was a target Merlot would be the bullseye because everything goes with Merlot. Well red that is!

 

[dcbrown73]

Not a bad idea.
Never thought of making sanginovese/merlot.
Thanks for the suggestion!

Many Super Tuscans are Sanginovese with Merlot/Cabernet/ or Syrah blends. (or just blends of the three latter must)

 

[joeswine]

the MM grape fpac worked out just fine.

 

[Berry Juice]

I've just been reading a few of your post on fpak. when do you add it to the mix? Primary or secondary?

 

[joeswine]

All depends on what you want to accomplish,I also wrote a thread about partnership between the base wine and the blending partner. In the primary the blender becomes part of the mix,in the secondary the blender becomes a background flavor.understand.