From my experience, French “full-bodied” red wines like Merlot are less full-bodied than American Merlot or Argentinian Malbec wines. Also, some top American Pinot Noirs (even in <50/bottle range) can hold their own against top French Pinots in that price range.
The French don’t produce much, if any, single varietal wines.
They are almost always blends.
I don’t know how you were able to find a French “Merlot”.