Merlot- Why Such a Bad Rap? - Episode #171

January 22, 2007

episode171

Wines tasted in this episode:

Sideways has had an impact on the Merlot wine market, today Gary tastes the 4 top selling Merlot in the shop for the month of January.

144 Responses

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  1. about 7 months ago

    Grif

    I’ve been working my way from episode #1 forward. This was the first time you did a wine that I had in my collection. It’s the 2004 Trinchero Family Merlot. My palate needs educating so I tried to learn from this. Normally when I open a bottle I pour some into a glass to bring the level down to the wider part of the bottle exposing a larger surface area to the air. But to get the same experience as you I followed your procedure which in this case was only about 2 hours through the neck of the bottle exposing a sub-dime size surface area of wine. I wish I could detect the flavors you can. We did both like the wine. I found with more breathing that the oak monster came out to play. This was fine with me, I love the oak monster.

  2. about 17 months ago

    kd

    OMG….did he say rotten cardboard with a fruit salad on top!! That was hilarious! I have to say if you want a decent merlot….go to the 15-20$ range. The Blackstone Napa Valley Merlot is so much better, you would hardly know it was the same winery. It’s about $17 a bottle.

    Although, my favorite merlot of late is the Summerland Santa Barbara county merlot $16. It’s a softer merlot, so it’s an excellent drinking wine. Not my favorite with food, but it has its moments. And it’s 100% merlot, so you dont get that spicy note from the Shiraz.

  3. about 20 months ago

    Malarkey

    Regusci Merlot, from the Napa Valley, definitely a fruit bomb, and not cheap at 45 “bones” But I’ve enjoyed it immensely.

  4. about 20 months ago

    TR

    Glad to see that I’m not the only one who “got” the Cheval Blanc irony from the Sideways movie. Though it is only @45% Merlot and 55% Cab Franc depending on vintage. QOTD If you can find it Prieure Lalande (lussac-St. Emilion) @$17 ‘00 vntg. is a fantastic value. The 65% Merlot 25% Cab Franc 10% Cab Savgn ratio gives complexity, chewiness, balance and a long finish you’d expect in a $50+ wine.

  5. about 20 months ago

    Jtk

    QOTD: Hi Gary, I’m not a huge fan of merlots in general either. My Favorite merlot that I’ve drunk 3 of in the past year is the 2002 J Lohr Winery Merlot Los Osos Merlot. Most of the cheaper merlot I’ve had gives me a headache after a couple of glasses. This one didn’t, so i like it. Cheers ~ Jtk

  6. about 21 months ago

    YOUNG

    duckhorn merlot
    Shafer merlot

  7. about 21 months ago

    Neil

    I recently enjoyed a Cuvaison Carneros Merlot. Balanced and had a nice acidity. Went well with dinner. I’d buy it again.

  8. about 21 months ago

    Uncle Josh

    QoD: I’ve been 2003 Columbia Crest Grand Estates. $8 and very drinkable.

  9. about 21 months ago

    Miguelo DiMarco

    I always find it hard to believe that Rex-Goliath doesn’t top the budget sales for all their respective varieties. Are the people not trying it? I’m patiently waiting for their Syrah to become widely distributed.

    I’m still drinking Merlot in the supporting role only. ((looking forward to the Lamborghini Campoleone I’ve purchased)) — What can I say - I like Malbec and Monastrell (aka Mourvedre) in dubious amounts as I wish to ’spend’ my liver on ~structure~

    FYI - I was a Merlot basher before Sideways; the female wine newbies definitely like it, but if I’m buying, there are better options to put on the table that they (and I) will go for.

  10. about 21 months ago

    Vinacull

    JW (Post 67): I agree with Joe (post 76) regarding the Matanzas Creek. In the early to mid 1990’s (esp. 92) they did spectacular Merlot. Since they sold (’96 or 97, not sure) the quality has been VG range and the price came down to around the high 20’s range. In short, drink up! QOTD: Years before Sideways we fell away from Merlots because it always seemed that to get something more complex than just cherries and choclate one had to spend 25 to 45 bucks. I think the last merlot we had was in a tasting last year, a ‘99 Newton Epic, which was excellent but was about $50. Otherwise we more often drink Merlot in the context of a special occasion meritage, like Viadur.

  11. about 21 months ago

    Peter

    Great episode,

    Very funny, cheap merlot is cheap for a reason. I am sorry I don’t have a pick for a good cheap merlot, perhaps a good cab/merlot blend from Australia from Dan Phillips or Mollydooker?

    Peter

  12. about 21 months ago

    Colin

    QOTD….I will support comment #101 by thomas korent. The best Merlot I’ve had lately was a Tinhorn Creek ‘02 Merlot out of British Columbia. Great forward berry flavours and nose with a huge finish. I was quite impressed. Based on my experiences with Merlot it looks like Washington and British Columbia do some decent QPR Merlots. Oh yeah, if any other fellow Canadian winos out there are interested check out Jancis Robinson’s recent Canadian wine tastings…very impressive.

  13. about 21 months ago

    CollegeFootballisNumberOne

    Gary,

    I’m surprised that you have not featured Marques de Casa Concha Merlot from Concha y Toro $12-15. The 2001 has held up well in short term cellaring featuring both Bordeaux like qualities of earth, tobacco, and an impressive new world cherry liquer-like fruit quality. 2003 recently tasted and was really impressed, you’ll see where this is going…”Nice dark, dark color…”

    This is an impressive series–keep up the good work.

  14. about 21 months ago

    Justmarsh

    I’m surprised you didn’t taste the Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot. That’s in the same price range and got 90 points from Spectator. I like the concentration and jammy-ness of it, but it feels like it lacks structure. Not too bad for 10 bucks though.

  15. about 21 months ago

    dadobs

    QOTD: Ditto on BigMC’s comment #73 about ‘02 (and previous vintage) Pride and ‘03 Corte Riva. Anyone tried Duckhorn lately? Mentioning these reminds me of a question someone else once asked: why don’t more wineries make (really) good merlot in the $20-40 range? It seems like the market goes right from crappy (dirty cardboard) $10 merlot directly to the (often great) $50+ range. Any insights, Gary?

    Btw, the 2002 Charles Creek Merlot Miradero you pimped really is a solid bottle and easily worth twice the money. The Charles Creek people (of John Deere fame!) hopefully feel like they owe you a favor next year given all the favorable pub you’ve given them.

    Again a little too late to make the top 10(0)…damn….

    p.s. my brother from Minnesota wants WineLibrary to know that his state recently saw the light and has modernized their wine shipping laws (hint to the shipping dept.)….

  16. about 21 months ago

    Shotgun

    QOD– Finally got to taste a Paloma Merlot (2003). Awesome. Not exactly your everyday wine though. Many of its Spring Mountain neighbors do well with merlot, and I have noticed a lot of comments about Pride, Keenan and the like. I agree. The Provenance merlots are pretty good and not horribly expensive.

  17. about 21 months ago

    Claudio

    Merlot drank recently?

    2000 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot - very nice stuff.

    Cheers!

    Claudio

  18. about 21 months ago

    NickG

    QOTD:
    Current favorite merlot - 2003 Chateau Haut-Ballet Canon-Fronsac. Outstanding and a great value at $20.

  19. about 21 months ago

    Capt M

    Wil Neverspit - Montes Alpha is very respectable, I agree

  20. about 21 months ago

    JayZee

    QOD: I love most Washington State Merlots. I think they kick Cali Merlot’s butt big time. My favorite right now is Bookwalter Merlot, but I also really like Januik and Boudreaux Cellars as well as some of the less expensive like Chateau St. Michelle, Columbia Crest and Sagelands.

  21. about 21 months ago

    Spitfire

    Man,Merlot, how thee star has fallen. Anyway, my first try at Merlot was a bottle of Turning Leaf…….yes, I swore it off. Hey, it one of my first bottles of wine. Now, I do like the Columbia Crest, but its a little over $10 here.

    - Ben Lee on the MS Gulf Coast

  22. about 21 months ago

    Justin

    1997 Markham Merlot was awesome. I had this about a month ago at dinner. Was really nice. I havent tried any other years but if they were as good as the 1997 I would buy them again. Other than that I havent had to many merlots recently that were memorable.

  23. about 21 months ago

    Lawrence Leichtman

    Under $10 from CA watch out. Mostly garbage as these tend to be made of excess juice picked over from the good juice.
    For me Corte Rive stands out still working on a mixed case of this over 10 years now. Washington State and New Zealand surpass California for most Merlots but blended it is still outstanding in France though almost never a stand alone grape. Thanks for giving us something to do while you are gone besides just getting soused.

  24. about 21 months ago

    jon777

    QOTD: In the past, Matanzas Creek has made some of my favorite Merlots — dissapointed to see the earlier post that they’ve been going downhill — haven’t had anything from them in awhile — bummer if true.

    Columbia Crest (any of them) are great everyday wines — great to open with a Pizza when I want something inexpensive…

    Snoqualmie Reserve (I think was in one of the early WLTV eps, is very nice)

  25. about 21 months ago

    Gregg Johnson

    1. 2002 Michael Shaps Merlot Monticello - King Family Vineyards
    2. 2002 Keenan Reserve Merlot Spring Mountain District
    3. 2002 Keenan Merlot Napa Valley - Carneros

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