Why does merlot get such a bad press?!
Why does merlot get such a bad press?
Answers:
A lot of it was down to the mass production of the grape, and with Merlot itself having such a naturally low tannin level, it was like producing alcoholic fruit. No body, no structure etc etc.
The soil in which any grape is grown is responsible for a lot of how it tastes. The best area in the world for growing Merlot is Bordeaux, with St. Emilion and Pomerol producing the greatest styles of this grape. Petrus is the MoFo Daddy of them all.
But to answer your question, mass production produced thin watery alcoholic fruit juices and that is what put a lot of drinkers off.