Merlot- Why Such a Bad Rap?

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

January 22, 2007

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.

151 Responses

Pages: « 7 6 5 4 [3] 2 1 » Show All

January 22, 2007

Martin
Honestly, every time I see a bottle of Merlot I think of Sideways and grab a Pinot Noir.
January 22, 2007

Matt B DC
QOTD: I haven’t gotten to merlot yet. I started with (and spent four years) only drinking beaujolais (in the wine world, at least – - it was mostly beer!) Since then, I’ve tried and gotten stuck on a mess of others, noteable cab sauv and muscadet, but haven’t even gotten to merlot.

What’s up with the countdown on the whiteboard? Too long to be the t-shirt contest . . . too short to be the number of work-days left in the year (245).

Thanks for everything!
January 22, 2007

wey
In Sideways he drinks a Cheval Blanc in the end, right? Isn’t that Cabernet Franc?
Anyway, I like Merlots. I like Pinot. I like WINE
January 22, 2007

garyv
COLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLTS!
Thank YOU football gods!
January 22, 2007

Louisiana George
2001 Columbia Crest Merlot on a somewhat regular basis for an under $11 bottle

Finishing some 1999 Chateau Souverain that I had bought on release for $15 that has developed very well in the cellar and which I am liking very much right now.

Louisiana George

PS – Tuned into the “LIVE” show midshow on friday, about 1 minute AFTER you announced free shipping for the weekend. I did not watch the whole taped episode until this morning and I missed the FREE SHIPPING. Kicking myself all day today for that! Don’t hold out on us for too long for another free shipping bonanza like that.
January 22, 2007

Large Format Fever
There are some reasonable right bank Bordeaux that is good for under 20ish dollars. From USA, Columbia Crest Two Vines, 6ish dollars. Cant complain for that price… After a little decanting it is really interesting (in a good way).
January 22, 2007

waibeans
hope you watched some football this weekend GV! if you you must have been pumped after the AFC championships! WTG Colts!

had a laugh about your “Sky Breeze” perfume reference. You should get in touch with Ben Stiller, sounds like a perfect character for Zoolander 2 LOL

QOD: I haven’t had a Merlot or Cab Sav in probably 3-4 years. Before i had _any_ interest in wine, these two were always the one that I picked up at the supermarket. They formed my amalgamated perception of what tastes like. Haven’t had any since, but I’m sure I will find my way back eventually
January 22, 2007

Hugh
No Corte Riva’s in that bunch!!!….of course without Merlot, Bordeaux would be….well…i dunno but it wouldnt be Bordeaux…..I have liked recently Westerly Vineyards Merlot 2002 from Santa Ynez Valley….a very good buy at about $15 bucks, and probably has the right stuff to last another 5 years-try it!!
January 22, 2007

mike volker
Love that Charles Creek you had on the show. I bought two cases of it.

Best,

Mike
January 22, 2007

Orion Slayer
I read that because a wine has to be only 75% pinot noir to be labeled pinot noir, and wineries need to use their merlot grapes, people who pan merlot may be drinking more of it as it gets blended with pinot noir.

QOTD: I am currently trying out merlots to “learn” if I like them. In the past I have only had under $7 merlots. My education has just begun, so I’ll have to answer in a month.

I love the Colts!!!
January 22, 2007

Bill F
The family favorite merlot is Clois du Bois 2001 to 2003. How about including one of these in a future tasing??
January 22, 2007

manual
thanks for throwing one at us while on vacation. though i like Merlot mostly in blends I recently enjoyed both the 2002 Raymond Reserve and the 2002 Ferre i Catasus from Penedes, Spain. cheers!
January 22, 2007

Adam B
I think the blend on Cheval Blanc changes every year, but a good deal of it is Merlot. Funny, I noticed that when I first saw the movie, too. QOTD= I haven’t had it in a while, but I always liked Keltie Brook, and also Waterbrook from Washington State.
January 22, 2007

Dustin
2002 Cakebread!!!!!
January 22, 2007

Bill T.
QOTD – Totally agree about the trashing Merlot has received since Sideways but on a positive note, gotta love the prices for a great bottle of Merlot! My favorite over the last year (thanks to you, Gary) has got to be 2002 Charles Creek Miradero Merlot …serious juice and a fantastic buy at $15!
January 22, 2007

Dominus
I see he’s on early today but will need to watch and enjoy later.

HOW ‘BOUT DEM COLTS!!!!!!!!!

Dom
January 22, 2007

canadian-kid
QOTD: never been a big fan or merlot…always found it very one dimentional and almost like a watered down wine. Although, thats for wines under $25cdn. One of these days im going to buy one of the big merlot producers (Shafer or something similar) that always get big scores so i can give merlot a fair shot.
January 22, 2007

JavaMonkey
Gary, when did you record this episode? Friday night after the server crash? You look pretty beat.

QOTD – I had a 2002 Reininger Merlot that was very good. I haven’t had a lot of Merlots, so I don’t know how it compares, but I did enjoy that bottle.
January 22, 2007

yowens44
Dont know merlot too well but have been into Merryvale (especially 2002) recently
January 22, 2007

yoshi
I thought you were on vacation. Where did you go?
QOTH Dont have a fav merlot
January 22, 2007

Monrovino
I’ve always liked Rodney Strong’s Merlot. It’s got a spiciness not found in most $15 bottles. My wife is not a Merlot fan, yet she LOVES Raymond and Rutherford Hill’s Merlots.

I’d love to get someone’s take on Twomey’s Merlots before I drop $80…
January 22, 2007

Ken
I forgot to mention in my earlier post: another â€œbudgetâ€ Merlot that I have had recently in addition to the Columbia Crest that I mentioned earlier is a Chilean wine named Santa Ema. Not bad but probably not as consistent as the Columbia Crest.
January 22, 2007

Dave R.
Eddie Van Haeln has publicly talked about regularly drinking the Smoking Loon Merlot. I’m sure that has helped sales a bit.
January 22, 2007

Richard A
At the entry level I really like Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot 2003. I was buying it at Kroger for under $7 a bottle. Are really good everyday wine.
January 22, 2007

Lev M.
Gary, you should also mention that Sideways made pinot noir much more expensive. I saw a big price increase the year after the movie. When I went wine tasting in santa barbara county this past august, there were few decently priced bottles of pinot noir.
QOTD – Casa Julia merlot was really interesting- it has that green bell pepper goin on and I like that. Its also got a “Chile taste” or character that I guess can only be described as terroir. I know that bottle is from chile when I drink it because it reminds me of the wines I had when I was there.