Clef du Vin Goes Up Against Chateau Montelena and More – Episode #274

July 12, 2007

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Gary Vaynerchuk uses the Clef Du Vin and sees how it works and to see if it is worth it!

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Comments on this episode(228) Post a comment ›

  • “Alright, so I lurk often. I'll post, even though this is an old s…” by Joshua Streeter
  • “You were great!
    The White Zin test was the perfect foil!
    I really th…” by A Keene Byrd
  • View all 228 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Bzikot Puligny Montrachet AcPuligny Montrachet play review at cork'd
2003 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet play review at cork'd

Links mentioned in todays episode.

  • Alright, so I lurk often. I'll post, even though this is an old show. I liked it. Good geek gadgets are always interesting.

    How about a new show that tests out the Venturi?
  • You were great!
    The White Zin test was the perfect foil!
    I really think there is too much going on in the cellar to rely
    totally on the Clef du Vin. However, for a wine party or close friends
    it is valuable; now lets get the price to refleck that value. Question,
    would a new copper penny do the same?
    A Keene Byrd
    en vino veritas
  • Mark Kraus
    Great job... going to start to follow you... I may learn something.
  • Adrian aka AnGkEr
    Fascinating and fun episode. It's nice to have this kind of experiment......great show
  • Chris Lotz
    Gary,
    Love the music in the background, didnt know you were a journey fan?
    i really am the only Vayniac i know, but i always leave comments, past and present episodes.
  • Phil
    Gary, When will we ever learn that instant anything eg. coffee etc. is a sad commentary on our society. Only in our instant society would anyone even think Clef du vin could possibly in one second equal one year. Thank you for saving me from relearning an old lesson the hard and expensive way. Great show. I look forward to viewing your others as I just found it while searching the net.
  • Gary,
    Very interesting presentation. I am partly responsible for importing the clef du vin into the US after the creator brought samples to me. The clef du vin emulates the oxidation/reduction equation catalytically. That is, it combines the short harsh tannin chains into longer soft tannin chains, thereby softening the wine and usually bringing out the fruit.Note it does not change the PH of the wine. What you experienced with the first wine was that the wine went through a "dumb" phase, where it seemed disjointed. At 10 years it was back to its ageing curve. The montelena shows to me that this particular vintage is not an age worthy wine as it fell apart. There was simply not enough fruit and too much tannin. I have personally tested many wines with many growers and winemakers in California and found that it is an excellent diagnostic tool. It basically tells you where the wine will be in the future.
    Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have with regards to gadgets and gizmos in the wine world as I try to keep on top of them via my business Wine Accessories Unlimited http://www.wineaccessory.com
  • Casey Lee
    hey gary thanks for the video...
    ive used this item before myself, my uncle has one it was a gift that he recieved. for me, it doesnt work. it makes the wine have more of a metal taste to it. i didnt enjoy it..it didnt really ruin the wine but it dulled out the taste. kinda added a flavor of metal that shouldnt be there. my uncle doesnt use it himself. . . hes pretty wine smart too. but i wouldnt waste my money on it :P but hey thanks for your opinion thanks for the video always great and fun to watch ! keep em' comin'
  • Dessert Wine Nerd
    Wow. Hands down my favorite episode ( and strangest ) one ive seen out of the first 274. Kind of sad to see it didnt positively change the wines, even if it was just a little bit. Too bad its it costs a Benjamin, or else I'd grab one just to test this out. Liked the surprise ending with the white zin, too. Strange little device, but I think im going to pazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Yes, that was 40 z's. QOTD: I know of no lurkers because I havent yet introduced myself to the Wine Library community.
  • Matt Dixon
    Can anyone else hear Journey - Don't Stop Believin'?
  • thisIslandEarth
    Amazing, fun, interesting episode. Thanks GV. Now I know my spark-plug gap setter works as good (or better) than the Clef.
    LOL :-)
  • Davis
    Great episode, coming out of that dark lurker closet. Being a science student I love a good experiment! And probably won't be shelling out for the device on that evidence. Especially not with the Aussie dollar where it is.
  • spyder47
    Thanks for the (partial) science lesson Dr. Vaynerchuk. Maybe we could all save ourselves $99.99 by getting a penny, scrubbing it up so it's nice and clean, drilling a hole in it, threading some fishing line through the hole and then performing the same experiment.
  • Kristen
    Excellent episode GV...it's snowing outside, so I need something to do- so I'm catching up on old WLTV eps. Counting in Russian was cool. Nice touch.

    And I've tried the Vinturi, it does work (for quick decanting) in my opinion.

    QOTD: I used to be one, but now I post at every episode.
  • David James
    Very interesting...but I guess it's like the difference between bulking up naturally and using steroids: if you use steroids you might look the same, but your bulkiness will be mostly water and not real muscle.

    So with this little thing, it might seem like it's aged but it's not. Still a fun experiment though.
  • NateO
    QOTD: Me
  • Mulie
    First time on the show that I found be Googling the Clef. Great show! I'll be back.
  • Withnail
    Great ep - very interesting/entertaining.
  • Are you done with #300 yet?
  • Two educational episodes in a row!!! Awesome!
  • mcj
    QOTD: I don't know any, but I sure there are tons.
  • 1855class
    fascinating episode. i've been curious about that product, and now i'm not anymore. i recently aquired a wine gadget called the VINTURI- its a wine aerator. i have not done an emprirical studies but it seems to work for me. does anyone else have any experience with this product?

    -word
  • Mike S.
    Hey Gary,

    I was checking out clef du vin's web site and it says that the device is not supposed to accurately age the wine, but rather give you an indication of if the wine can be aged for long periods of time or not. According to their site, some wines do not age well, and some do age well, and the clef du vin will tell you if the wine will age well. If the wine still tastes good after say 5-8 seconds, then the wine can be aged, but if the wine taste bad after 5-8 seconds, then the wine can not be aged and should be drank within 2 years.

    Just thought you may want to know if you don't already. By the way, when is your Temecula wine episode coming?????????

    Mike
  • zerokreap
    gary, i rmember emailing you about that thing 2 years ago and you said it was probably crap...i am glad you finally did a show on it.
    QOTD: i think i am the biggest lurker i know....
  • wine newbie
    why do you have all comments on your main page to watch the episodes? i don't want to wait for all the comments (sometimes 100's!!) to load to my screen. why not have a link to see the comments instead of cluttering your main page? LOVE THE SHOW !!! signed, wine newbie
  • Donald Pipkin
    And its great when you appear to almost puke a little in your mouth prior to tasting that oh-so-elusive 50-year old White Zin.
  • Donald Pipkin
    "The grade skipper" - excellent! Intellectually may be there, but socially awkward.
  • Karl Satirev
    If you want to kill algae in a pond, dump in copper sulfate (you'll probably kill all the fish too if you overdose). Given the sulfur compounds inherent in wine, the device will have a dramatic effect, as all the "oxidation/reduction people" point out. The upshot is that now you know what B.S. tastes like.
    P.S. Your Russian pronunciation has not suffered from disuse. It still is perfect. Slava!
  • Winodontist
    QOTD: I don't think anyone I've told about the site has ever posted, so all my friends are lurkers, they will get called out soon!


    Fun episode, nice way to shake it up. Looks like a big gimmick. Here's a thought, find a clean penny and do the same test. See if a 1 cent item and a $100 item do the same job. Would cause their sales to plummet!!!
  • JayZee
    Way cool episode, Gary. I have toyed with the idea of getting one of those if it had any value. But while your White Zin test may have "sealed the deal" for you on whether it "works" or not, I am not so sure. Read up on it some more. I think it actually does what it claims and it may have value in giving one some insight into the ageability of wines.

    QOTD: I only know one lurker. Well, he may or may not be a lurker because I don't really know if he has ever posted a comment or not.
  • Mason
    Interesting show. I was waiting to see if the Clef had any affect on the color of the wine, which changes with age, as you know. No discernable difference, though.

    QOTD: I think that I am the only person who watches this show in Memphis, TN! I have never seen anyone else on the posts from Memphis. What a crying shame. I need to spread the THUNDER!
  • thabeav! LOL. Don't make Gary's wife jealous!

    QOTD: SInce I'm the only one I know that watches the show, I'm going to have to say me. But I respond when I can. :)
  • thabeav
    Great show. Another classic.

    Has anyone else noticed that Vaynerchuk and Lindsay Lohan were arrested on the same night in LA this year......and she keeps getting mentioned on WLTV.....Hmmmmm...?

    QOTD: Biggest Lurker....Drew Clark...our lab manager at Wash U in St. Louis. I'll give you his address if you want to call him out of the lurker "closet".
  • elvindeath
    Hilarious episode, Gary. Nice job. I second (third ? Fourth ?) the calls for a review of the Vinturi. I actually have one (stocking stuffer last Christmas) and I swear to God it works. I've tried at least a dozen tests with all my wine snob friends (blind test included) and we all preferred every glass poured through the Vinturi. It's got my vote as a great wine gadget.

    Nothing beats decanting, but when you've got to pop and pour, it's a great little tool. And if you've ever seen one in action, no doubt it accelerates aeration.
  • Jeff
    When you get a chance, try it with a sauternes. Sauternes especially turn a beautiful amber color as the years move on. If it's adding that metallic/oxidization. It might help with adding that "petrol" profile that shows up with some of teh older sweeties.

    great episode as usual!
  • Thanks for the interesting episode. Now I'm off to find a bottle of that Puligny Montrachet.

    QOTD: Kallie, my business partner. She's been watching as long as I have, so let's hope she reads the comments.
  • glenn
    great episode, loved the Russian counting! cover the Vinturi next if you get a chance: http://www.vinturi.com/home.html - they are using this @ my golf club now and it also makes a real difference.

    while i'm sure the Clef du Vin folks are mortified thx for saving me the Franklin dude.
  • jodib13
    Jon B. - Here I am - only 3 days late - I have a busy schedule!! But I always catch up!Oxidation can be complicated - this device is copper and what? and the wines have all of their own components - different metals, different natural Anti-oxidants - definitely can there is no guaranteed consistency with it - but nice idea - from the chemist.
  • I love the Chateau Montelena wines but please age them naturally.
    Really fun episode Gary.
  • These clos du whatever people but be out for G-rocks head because of this..he may have to hire the russian mafia to guard his house, or library...
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