Merlot we now know who both your parents are !

[Don Giovanni]

Merlot we now know who both your parents are !!!

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Merlot, Malbec, Carmenère's parentage revealed

26 Dec 2008 by Dr José Vouillamoz

Merlot is a natural progeny of Cabernet Franc and a previously unknown red grape named Magdeleine Noire des Charentes, DNA buffins revealed

Merlot was mentioned for the first time in Libourne (Gironde) in 1783.

A few days ago, a group of French scientists (in collaboration with the now retired and famous Professor Carole Meredith at UC Davis) published their unexpected discovery of the other natural parent of Merlot (source: "Parentage of Merlot and related winegrape cultivars of southwestern France: discovery of the missing link", Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research, see here for an online view in advance of print).

Thank you Carol for you passion to learn and to teach...!!!

Additional DNA paternity tests carried out by the same team revealed a handful of other interesting parentages: Cot, also called Malbec in South America, is a progeny of Magdeleine Noire des Charentes and Prunelard, and Carmenère, for long confused with Merlot in Chile, is a natural cross between Gros Cabernet and Cabernet Franc, which makes both Cot/Malbec and Carmenère half-siblings of Merlot!