Dolcetto vs Merlot

Merlot is fuller and more acidic.

Sweetness, body, tannin and acidity are our rating of a typical dry table wine from each grape.

Dolcetto

Red · Italy

soft blackberry, almond, easy

Merlot

Red · France, Italy

soft, plummy, round

Bone dry
Sweetness: Bone dry; Medium
Body: Full; Medium
Tannin: Medium; Low
Acidity: Medium; 12.5 to 14%
Alcohol: 13 to 14.5%; 15 to 17 °C
Serve at: 15 to 17 °C; Piedmont
Regions: Bordeaux, Long Island, Napa Valley, Sonoma County

Only Dolcetto

Pizza
Antipasti, tapas and mezze
Charcuterie

Both pair with

Pasta with tomato sauce

Only Merlot

Chicken
Pork
Burgers

Sources

Style profiles, pairings and serving figures are our own assessment. Regions and origins: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); see the Dolcetto and Merlot pages.