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(226) Leave a comment ›

  • “Great job… going to start to follow you… I may learn something….” by Mark Kraus
  • “Fascinating and fun episode. It’s nice to have this kind of experiment…” by Adrian aka AnGkEr
  • View all 226 ›

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.

226 Responses

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  1. July 13, 2007

    tomfar

    Remember when the Japanese were experimenting with radio waves to age wine 20 years ago. That was a big story, too (for about 5 minutes).

    Why do people mess with gadgets for wine. Corkscrew + glass = bliss….

    Biggest lurkers that I know are our kids (3 & 6) but they can’t type, yet, so they get an exemption.

    rock on!

  2. July 13, 2007

    Will

    Nice show, Gary! Seems like a very fair review.

  3. July 13, 2007

    E

    There’s an idea … tastin’ Mollydooker and makin’ pancakes!

  4. July 13, 2007

    WMiree

    Thanks for testing the Clef du Vin. My curiosity was about to get the best of me. I had already called one of the catalogue companies that have been selling the product, but the sales person said they hadn’t actually tried it. I told them that bordered on unethical since the ad stated that the catalogue company endorsed the product. She by-passed this by saying they would try it and let me know what they thought. Of course, I never heard back. Anyway….you saved me $99. Thanks! Intellectually, I think most of us knew that something this simple couldn’t possibly duplicate the incredibly complex chemical changes that created the aged wine aromas and flavors….so complex that the most experienced wine technicians and scientists in the world can’t even get close to explaining all that happens in aged wine.

  5. July 13, 2007

    Nate

    Enjoyed the experiment. Maybe a boiled penny might be a fun contrasting experiment! Save $99.99

    Lurker no longer … love the show. Please don’t build it and sell it … stick around till 2047.

    Nate

  6. July 13, 2007

    Robert C from Folsom Prison

    Long time lurker comes out! Nice Job Gary! I have been watching & buying a lot of wine from WL for 10 months now. I would not buy that device – but sounds like a great marketing job. Thought you would enjoy this email I received this morning from a friend. Do not know the Validity of it, but I got a laugh on the Chard $2 buck chuck – - – 98pts in the Best of Class from the Cali state Fair????

    CALIFORNIA BUSINESS MINUTE

    $2 Buck Chuck Wins!
    07-13-07

    Hi, I am Tim Johnson and welcome to the California Business Minute.

    The California wine industry maybe reeling from yesterday’s announcement that the Charles Shaw 2005 California Chardonnay, a $1.99 ‘Two-Buck Chuck’ (made by Bronco Wine Company and sold through Trader Joe’s) was judged the ‘Best Chardonnay from California at the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition.

    The wines are judged in a blind taste test. The wine received 98 points, a double gold and the accolades of ‘Best of California and Best of Class’

    The critics will scorn the decision, the consumer will certainly be amused but the other higher priced wine producers will cringe as the industry that had recently recovered from an over supply that subsequently created the concept of selling wine at ‘very low prices’ for a limited time (hence the nickname) to reduce the volume of the supply now must proceed with how to position and promote their wines against a $2 buck chuck and its award winning ways.

    While I am not a wine connoisseur, the old adage that you cannot judge a book by its cover seemingly draws a parallel here, in that it seems to be apparent you cannot judge a wine by its price. Cheers!

    I am Tim Johnson and this has been the California Business Minute.

    For further information contact Tim Johnson at 916-717-8284 or at econone@sbcglobal.net

  7. July 13, 2007

    cgf

    great show gary. You certainly will not judge something until you try it.

  8. July 13, 2007

    March_58

    Thanks for the show Gary. I’ll buy $100 worth of wine insteasd of the Clef.

  9. July 13, 2007

    Stevo

    Thanks for doing such a great job. No Clef du Vin for me. Any chance you can ship to Hawaii?

  10. July 13, 2007

    L from Cape Cod

    Nice show Mr. V.
    I will not part with $100. for one of those.
    How about a show or update on the shipping laws to different states? How that all stands. I am from Ma. and would love to buy from Wine Library but still can’t.
    Hey the Pats look oh so good this year.You must be a little scared.
    L

  11. July 13, 2007

    Rob B.

    Excellent episode. I may actually go try one just to see what it does to various types of wines.

    I was the only lurker I know, that I know of anyway :) .

  12. July 13, 2007

    Carlitos

    Funny to see you count in Russian! Gary, were you one of those kids that when their parents talk to them in their native tong they respond back in English??? I get a feel you were… ;)

  13. July 13, 2007

    Garret Nagle

    QOTD: My fiancee Karyn George certainly has some gumption to meet you personally in LA, yet still be a lurker…

  14. July 13, 2007

    Jeff

    Hey Gary; great as always!
    I own a wine magnet; different principle, and it works! I don’t use it often, as I usually like the wines as they are and this product does not claim to “age” wine as the oxidizer you tested. What I have found that it does in blind tastings with multiple friends is: softens tannins in harsher red wines, particularly young and less expensive reds; and lessens the “sweetness” in certain whites; such as rieslings (german). There is a definite effect, and I would encourage you to test it; about $40.
    I am the only lurker I know; but I do try–the wristband photo will be sent this weekend! slainte!

  15. July 13, 2007

    aaronT

    Your observation that the little toy was clearly affecting the oxidation of the wine is consistent with the claims posted on the official clef du vin website: “The wine will be oxidising during its evolution, and some do it faster than others. Moreover this phenomenon is increased after the bottle has been opened. This will considerably change the wine’s quality for better or for worse. By using the Clef du Vin you will be able to accelerate maturing in order to work out the laying down potential, knowing that one second of contact is equivalent to one year of “ageing” (of oxidation-reduction).”

    So basically, if anything other than oxidation is occuring as a wine ages, this product will fail to reproduce those other changes.

    I remember seeing another product in a skymall magazine that claimed to do something similar, though it claimed it could do it for all spirits (e.g. scotch) by using a magnet to “align the molecules” or some malarky like that. I’d love to see you test that one, (I’m digging for a link but can’t seem to find any info on it, I’ll post again if I find it).

  16. July 13, 2007

    wayno da wino

    Yo Gary !!!

    You tink dat Clef du Vin gizmo is good, I
    gotta VooDoo Doll I wanna sell ya……..
    :)

  17. July 13, 2007

    NathanN

    Which did a better job the wine on the roof or the clef?

  18. July 13, 2007

    The biggest Lurker ever

    I am the biggest lurker in the WORLD and will never divulge my identitiy – NEVR, Ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, NEVR. You can’t catch me copper!

  19. July 13, 2007

    Shad

    At least we can all put our money back in our wallets, but at the same time, I’m sure some of us are disappointed because we love our gadgets, don’t we. Anyway….I’m over it.

  20. July 13, 2007

    Diablito

    Penny! Penny!! Penny!!!

  21. July 13, 2007

    Lev M.

    I bet I could do some analysis on this thing and figure out the exact composition. Whats funny is that the handle probably costs more to make than the little disc. I am guessing their materials are practically free and they make $90 of profit off these things.
    It looks like the major component is copper and there are other trace metals in the alloy probably. The tartaric acid in the wine reacts with the cuprous oxide on the surface and in turn, oxidizes the wine.
    Gary, youve gotta do an ep. where you dip various (washed!) coins into the wine to see what happens.

  22. July 13, 2007

    An American in France

    I’m with KAHUNA try it with a penny, less expensive too!

  23. July 13, 2007

    Keith Miller

    Hmmmm Gadgets…Those gadgets in the Wine World are kinda of like the Pet Rock from back in the day…You buy them and they sit on a shelf (if there lucky) somewhere in the house…I say put the money (Benjamin’s) on the shelf instead…Or heck put it in your kids Piggy Bank.

    Gary….do a 5 to 8 minute show would ya man, one time…like the old days…lol.

  24. July 13, 2007

    Joe Po

    Gary, you are still the best tease! How long will we suffer before knowing how to get the ‘bands?!?!
    Great episode. I know no lurkers. Sorry.

  25. July 13, 2007

    CabernetNoir

    Gary- Do you have stock in the Clef du Vin?

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