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

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January 23, 2007

Capt M
Wil Neverspit – Montes Alpha is very respectable, I agree
January 23, 2007

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.
January 23, 2007

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
January 23, 2007

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.
January 23, 2007

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.
January 23, 2007

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)
January 23, 2007

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
January 23, 2007

Paul
I like the Charles Creek Merlot Miradero 2002 for something with reasonable price. But my favorite is 2003 Rafanelli. You just can’t get it easily.
January 23, 2007

Bill mondavi
Fetzer Valley Oak and Beringer Fouders are my goto wine. If I want to spend a little bit more money I will buy Benziger Merlot, for the price the Benziger is hard to beat..
January 23, 2007

Joe in LA
I was rolling…. watching your pour that swill into your mouth!Why torture yourself!
GREAT reaction to the Blackstone. Shouldn’t they be embarrased to bottle that…?

BEST Merlot under 20…Chateau Joanin Becot ( Bordeau)…usually 80% Merlot anyway. Aren’t most “merlots” not 100% anyway?
January 23, 2007

RandyB
If people judge Merlot by what you were tasting no wonder it has a bad rap. I haven’t had a Ch. Sourverain or Sterling I didn’t like at a price point under $20. If course, with these wines you can’t be afraid of the oak monster.

Ciao
January 23, 2007

Wil Neverspit (formerly Wil H)
Um, he couldn’t congratulate the Bears or Colts, or discuss the games at all, because he recorded this episode before the games were played… I’m guessing the next few episodes will not mention football either.

QOTD: I took a Chilean Merlot, Montes Alpha, to a tasting party several years ago. I liked it alot, and it stole the show. I must admit, I have not ordered Merlot in restaurants, since Sideways. Not totally because of the movie, but because I never thought they were as food-friendly as Pinot Noir or Savignon Blanc (my normal Red-White dynamic duo). Hey, maybe Rex Pickett actually loves Merlot and was just trying to drive the prices down for his own benefit? hmmm? hmmm? it’s possible.

Gary, speaking of Sideways, you should really do your tastings from a styro-foam cup!

Wil Neverspit (formerly Wil H)
January 23, 2007

wine dog
Merlot is great with complex foods. Merlot and a burger is my favorite. Columbia Crest is great for the price.

GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 23, 2007

Keith Miller
My Merlot, inexpensive picks usually come from Cht st. Michelle…My problem with domestic Merlot is that so much of it is blended and I think that really needs to be discussed with the consumer….
10% of this or 15% of that can really push Merlot’s flavor profile’s many different ways. Merlot (sure it’s heavier) is somewhat elegant like Pinot in that a little bit of something else put into it can really change it….I think that is what you expierienced today Gary V….Discussing the blends of wines I think is missing in many reviews…or at least the ones that the blend has changed the wine flavor’s….Good job Gary V.
January 23, 2007

Joe Po
Bad boy, Gary, Bad boy. F-Pinot noir. Although the color of the lettering is great. Did you use some of the wine in the spit bucket to form them?!?!
QOD: I’ve never really cared for Merlot. They seem to be weak.
January 23, 2007

George Costanza
SUSAN: How do you like the Merlot?

ESTELLE: Merlot? I never heard of it. Did they just invent it?

MRS. ROSS: Oh, mother.

GEORGE: She’s, uh, she’s heard of Merlot.
January 23, 2007

Karl B.
QOTD – Merlots from Spring Mountain in Napa are fabulous. I have enjoyed them from Barnett, and of course the Pride and Paloma Merlots get a lot of great scores.
January 23, 2007

GottaGoDrink
Gary- First, A definite thumbs up to all the Saints fans who came to support their team in Chicago on Sunday. Very gracious wishing the Bears well in the SB after the game. You showed there is sportsmanship still left in sports.

QOD- I agree with Canada #57 about the Pipeau and also like the 2000 Ch. Daugay from St-Emilion which is 50% merlot and 50% cabernet franc.
January 23, 2007

ChrisR
Can’t forget Chateau St. Michelle Merlot!
January 23, 2007

DS in DC
Gary, for cherry mustard try: http://www.mustardmuseum.com and search on “cherry.”
January 23, 2007

JBelleJinx
Ronguy…..where are you???
January 23, 2007

damon
I had some Bogle Merlot that was pretty drinkable, if not a bit old for the category. 2001. Its not very often you get to try an $8 wine with 5-6 years on it. nose was smokey with some rasberry on the nose. a little rough in the mouth, but all in all drinkable.
Had the Ch. Mylord ‘05 rescently. Merlot based and a definite buy for the WL price, if not the local $20 price tag.
January 23, 2007

Lynne
QOD: I am not presently drinking Merlot, but the ones that I have tried, enjoyed and written down have been
Charles Creek Merlot Miradero 2002
Casa Julia Reserve Merlot 2002
Corte Riva Merlot 2003
I still have a couple of each left, but I’m on a new kick now. How long can you safely cellar these types?
January 23, 2007

Capt M
Life goes around in cycles. As you once (or more than once) said, Merlot will come around some day, and regain its status. So Concepcion and I are doing the smart thing to do now, which is buying good quality, lowered priced Merlots, and putting them away. We don’t need to put them away, but I believe in the strong characteristics of Merlot, and their ability to evolve and age well. In sideways, this guy would not drink Merlot, I believe, only because it brought it memories of his ex-wife. He was saving a precious bottle of Merlot, I believe, in hopes to some day be able to get back with her. In my opinion, what’s behind this plot in the movie, is just to promote what California produces best, and in particular, the region of Southern California, in this case, Santa Barbara. I don’t believe that Merlot is among the top quality grape grown in California. Pinot noir is up there, and of course, Zinfandels are probably on top. Top quality, I’m talking; not top production. In my opinion, or based on my observation, the scale of quality achieved in California goes more or less like this: Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Cab Sauvignon, and then Merlot. In whites is Chardonnay, of course, and then Sauvignon blanc. To my pallad, or in my brain, Merlot is probably the best companion with cheese, specially some hard or aged cheeses. But definitely a food wine. Some of the Merlots that I’m saving are: Marques de Casa Concha 2005 Merlot (Chile); 2004 Stonehaven Merlot (South Eastern Aus).
January 23, 2007

eugene
Gary,
Thanks for taping this episode for us to watch when youâ€™re away relaxing while whole country is WORKING HARD!

I never buy inexpensive merlot-tried it didnâ€™t like it. If I need inexpensive wine for daily drinking I go to Cote du Rhone or Spain isle.

QOTD:

The one merlot that was pretty good was Rutherford Hill Merlot ($17, I believe).
I hear that some people rave about Italian Merlot but havenâ€™t come across of a good one yet.

Sebastiani at $12 wasnâ€™t bad either.