Gary Vaynerchuk goes to Bordeaux (Part 2)

Gary Vaynerchuk goes to Bordeaux (Part 2) – Episode #235

May 10, 2007

Chateau’s visited in this episode:

Chateau Sansonnet
Chateau Brane Cantenac
Chateau Reignac

Watch today as Gary concludes his trip to the Bordeaux region of France.

Having trouble seeing this video? Click here for the Quicktime version

86 Responses

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June 19, 2009

Phredd
I’ve been watching a couple hundred episodes, now, and this set is by far my favorite. I just learned a ton about how wines are made, how they are shown to buyers, how they are blended, and how they are brought to market. This is the “must watch” series.

Wow, Gary. Thanks so much for taking us along on this amazing journey through the pinnacle of wine country. Fabulous, fabulous episodes!
November 10, 2008

Ray Barnes
I just watched this episode out of the archives, and so far, I like it even more than #500 from Napa. Seeing the process of assemblage with M Stephane Derencourt was, like Gary said, simply a humbling experience. The more technical the commentary, the better the learning. I would love to see something similar with Michel Rolland if that is available too. And I hope to try all three wines – especially Ch. Sansonnet.
July 7, 2008

Dessert Wine Nerd
Great job, Gary. Once again I loved the behind the scenes action. QOTD: Maybe sound quality for the other people talking to you, and how about a ratings of the wines you tasted posted at the end of the episode? I bought a 2005 Reignac Bordeaux myself and happy to see you enjoyed them. 2018, here I come!
March 27, 2008

WjT
GV,

Just scored three bottles of the 05 Reignac! Thanks for the episode and the comments. Great help.

Thanks!
February 9, 2008

Tom
Enjoyed this trip, hope to see more travel vids. Thanks again Gary for being out there- T
December 28, 2007

Joe W
QOTD: My answer would be better sound quality. Also, for some viewers a bit of editing for dead air. (personally, I enjoy the details of “uncut” footage)
July 23, 2007

Garret Nagle
Gary! you drank from the same glass as the winemaker at Chateau Sansonet
May 27, 2007

vibemore
To clarify…not subtitles on every word. Just the vintages and blend information. Thanks.
May 27, 2007

vibemore
I really, really, really liked both of these episodes. Thanks for taking us along.

QOTD: I agree with those who have suggested subtitles. Especially when you’re busting through several bottles in a row. But everything here is great.
May 17, 2007

TSchampaert
Wow, blending along with Derencourt … you were damn lucky. Just great to see how important 1-2% can be. This part was even better than the first one. More of this please …
May 15, 2007

TagWorld Brian
Definitely need better sound. Or maybe subtitles. Or at least titles naming the wines you are tasting. A digital version of GV “tasting notes.” And more close ups. Esp. on the wine labels. And maybe leave your discussion soundtrack in place, but edit in some shots of the vineyards and winery. Or leave as is, and everybody will still watch anyway, so it doesn’t matter. Great job on the Bordeaux videaux. Thanks for bringing le thunder!
May 12, 2007

Boston Ben
The window on the world of blending was the most interesting – you don’t hear much about that process or its importance for the wine (it’s all “terroir,” yield, fermentation, etc).

Mostly redundant, but for future trips it would be great for us to be able to identify the winery people, and also to get some form of actual commentary on the wines tasted and what the wines were. We could sort of tell when you liked or didn’t like a bottle, but that’s not much to go on. I realize it might not be terribly polite to give a frank, on-camera evaluation of the wines when the wine-makers have graciously invited you to a tasting at their Chateau. But don’t be afraid to resort to the voice over or screen text Gary – don’t be afraid!

So in short, it was a great learning experience, but as far as the actual bottles tasted, I have no idea after watching these two episodes whether I would actually like those wines or not!

Keep up the good work! Can’t wait for future travelogues.
May 12, 2007

Jeremy Q
Gary, enjoyed the episode more than part 1. The Sansonnet segment was great, especially as I have 2 in my cellar and 4 more on the way. It was amazing to see how the blending and how tricky it is to get the right blend.
Suggestions: (like many who have gone before and my comments on part 1)
1) better sound
2) an intro would be helpful
3) more info on the wines that was tasted, struggle to catch which wine and which vintage at time
4) a summary at the end or maybe a separate episode to wrap up the trip and to recap the highlights / lowlights

Great show, thanks for giving us the opp to learn more
May 12, 2007

PeterL
Gary, I kept thinking about how you set up Part I saying we might be “bored”–are you KIDDING! I could have watched hours. The aging barrels, the blending, the wineries, the conversations… More, More!

QOTD: Yes, improve the sound. Yes, super the names so we know who the other players are. And yes, learn/use a little local language. You are in these people’s homes, drinking their wine. You are an ambassador and it’s the respectful thing to do.

Keep up the great work.

Peter
May 11, 2007

Mr. Quaffy
Hi Gary – awesome segment!

WHO WAS THE INCREDIBLE CRAFTSMAN @ SASONNET?!?!!

It was amazing how he worked, and how you caught yourself when you realized that he can’t be surprised when a blend doesn’t turn out like he first intended it, because he doesn’t blend based on a “first try”, but instead builds a blend up step by step … it was incredible the way he first blended the Merlot’s @ 50/50, just to get an important baseline, and then tweaked from there.

Freaky – I used to master audio for Albums – I remember how I too started out going with a “best guess” and adjusting from there, at first, it seemed like the right thing to do. But over time, I dropped it, in favor of a kind of step by step & “taste” (listen) way – it worked much better: geez … I guess it’s called craftsmanship, because it’s the same damn thing that guy’s doing with wine!

Now I know.
May 11, 2007

Shir-Az
I see Jeffrey Davies makes his second appearance in Part II.
Nice job Gary and very informative!
May 11, 2007

wildebeest
I would just like to say that I love the raw footage as is. Sure, it would be nice if people could be heard a little more clearly, but other than that I wouldn’t change a thing. Some people seem to be asking for packaged snippets, but I wouldn’t like that at all. I prefer to draw my own conclusions. Watching these episodes gave me a far better feel for what goes on behind the scenes than anything you could have put together in a neat package. Some people like that sort of thing; e.g., quick highlights with commentary. But I don’t. I’ll take depth and details anyday. Besides, we’re lucky to be seeing this footage at all. Gary didn’t have to have this recorded for us. It’s a gift. And I’d just like to say, “Thank you.”
May 11, 2007

waibeans
Neil comment #60.. this is exactly what i was thinking about. thx
May 11, 2007

geespot
Entirely fascinating. Thanks for taking us along on your trip.
May 11, 2007

JimVarney01
Very Very cool. Thank you for sharing and the experience must have been tremendous!!! I can’t wait to visit…. someday!
May 11, 2007

DaveyDonut
Really fascinating to watch the blending process at Sansonnet. That was definitely my favorite part of this two day episode. Nice work! As some others have mentioned, I do wish there was some more content about the taste of these wines, instead of just watching your conversations with the people you were visiting. I’m not saying doing so live in those conversations would have been appropriate, but maybe doing an episode on a recap of your visit, talking to the viewers about what you tasted, instead of us just watching your conversations with others. I like the format you did, but I’d like to see an add on episode.

David
May 11, 2007

Lawrence Leichtman
I have to second the comments on lack of understanding for which wines you liked; where there any you didn’t like? The ‘06 vintage is as good as the ‘05 again not clear as the blends are just now being made. I think it is too cool that you are able to participate in the blending experiments and would give anything to be able to do that. I would just appreciate seeing a bit more information about the wineries.
May 11, 2007

NathanN
Thanks for the video it was awesome! My wife even watched over my shoulder for a while. Only comments on how to make it better is the sound and an intro to who you are talking/tasting with.
May 11, 2007

Lb in KS
QOTD…. you asked about the yeild off the vines…I’d be interested in a small snippit on the viticulture of the grapes going into the wine.
May 11, 2007

damon
I love the raw footage. How about doing a show on wines from the maker blender guy from Sansonet!!
France, California, and Spain. I think that would be a great show.