Clef du Vin Goes Up Against Chateau Montelena and More

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

July 12, 2007

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
2003 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet

Links mentioned in todays episode.

226 Responses

July 12, 2007

Corrado
THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS EPISODE!!!

Gary Vaynerchuk, WLTV Mythbuster!
July 12, 2007

Norcal
Will enjoy the Wine Key episode…
July 12, 2007

joel
numero tres #3

might try that montelena later
July 12, 2007

brooklyni
welcome back!
July 12, 2007

E-Rock
Top 10?? Been away a while. It’s good to be back.
July 12, 2007

RandyB
Didn’t get leave comment button or I’d been #1
July 12, 2007

sfgiants55
This should be interesting.
July 12, 2007

Diablito
Top 10? First time!
July 12, 2007

half century
that’s a big box for such a small tool…hmmm where have we heard that before?
July 12, 2007

Randy
BRING THE THUNDER!!
July 12, 2007

italianwinelover
YAHOO!! in the top ten!!! first time!!
July 12, 2007

Randy
AAAAAH DEAD MICROPHONE BATTERY!!!
July 12, 2007

Randy
My bad, gotta love the volume control on my headset!
July 12, 2007

KAHUNA
Nice Job on the JOURNEY in the background- Will be jamming to it later tonight!!! Shame it got spoiled by having to look at the fishtank logo with the pint of blood in it!LOL You da Man GV
July 12, 2007

KAHUNA
Lets hope this episode doesnt end like the glass tasting episode- Now that I think of it that episode ended better than the Sopranos did- The comments were up in arms no one knew if the glasses really made a difference.
July 12, 2007

KAHUNA
Try it with a penny and see if it does the same thing.
July 12, 2007

Randy
OMG, it’s Journey over and over and over and over and over…
July 12, 2007

KAHUNA
By the way- your seconds counting are about 35% quicker than the actual seconds on the player timer.
July 12, 2007

TheDumbPhase
CBC’s representing!
CELL BLOCK CREW!
Good episode, but I think I aged 10 years watching it. Will the Clef du Vin make my time here at Rikers go quicker? I think you should send me that one either way so I can use it as a shank to defend myself from unwanted affection.
July 12, 2007

Lars
DON’T put that thing in your mouth!!! You’ll be over-the-hill in a matter of seconds.
July 12, 2007

Shadowbird
QOTD: I don’t know any lurkers…
July 12, 2007

DRHamp
Glad it didn’t seem to work — saved me a hundred bones!
July 12, 2007

wolfie
this went pretty much as expected. i figured the metal would have some effect… i mean put a penny in your mouth and see what happens. strange. anyways fun stuff…

qotd: my wife!
July 12, 2007

Serge Laporte
Welcome to : Frankenstein meets the Son of Gimmick, do they include the Ronco
hairmaker spray as well .
There’s a sucker or a wine gimmick buyer born every second
July 12, 2007

Eric S.
Cool Ep Gary. I’ve wondered if that thing worked or not….and I’ve often wondered if you could count to 50. Now I know the answer to both!
July 12, 2007

Lb in KS
QOTD..I don’t know anybody, lurkers or otherwise, on the board here. Although, I did gain a new MySpace friend from Oklahoma as a result of the ASS question.
July 12, 2007

Karl Laczko
That Puligny Montrachet sounded great enough without the CdV – and you didn’t convince me the change was an improvement.
The Montelena seemed to show the CdV having an anit-tannin effect, but that doesn’t mean ageing.
Taking a White Zin to 50 – you are cruel, better to pour it away surely?

You realise of course the Clef du Vin people will be asking you to recant.

QOTD – I know no lurkers.
July 12, 2007

Lb in KS
BTW…nifty little wristband, G.
July 12, 2007

Ferrigno
ALRIGHT!!!!!!! GREAT EPISODE, OF COURSE I WAS HOPING THAT THE CLEF WOULD GET PAZZZZZZZZED!!!! THAT THING OBVIOUSLY COULDN’T BE REAL!!!!! THANK YOIU GARY AND NO I DON’T KNOW LURKERS !!! BYEEEEE
July 12, 2007

Diablito
Fifty million dollars in sales and you can’t afford a $10 timer!?
Come on Gary! Try it with a penny and save us a 100 bucks!
July 12, 2007

amgryger
Weird

QOTD: I don’t know any lurkers at the moment.
July 12, 2007

Ferrigno
Oh and I got SUPERPUMPED with the russian counting !!! AMAZING!!! hahaha
July 12, 2007

half century
that’s the most fun i’ve had watching a grown(?) man count.
July 12, 2007

Justin
GV,
how many sniffs are we supposed to give the wine before the sniffy sniff? The montrachet sounded yummy!!! with the temperature lately, I have been rocking on the whites! But i think i will pazzzzzzzzzz on the clef de vin…100 bones is too much..i could use that to pick up some bottles!

Thanks for teaching us counting in Russian!

See you monday night!

QOD- Biggest lurker I know is my Mom! She watches.. Somedays she calls and asks if I watched yet!

And whats up with the new wristbands??
July 12, 2007

Randy
Wow, cool that it’s a gadget worthy of playing with if you have the disposable income. What to get for the person who has everything.

Me? I don’t know any lurkers, though I have managed to make a friend or two from people who AREN’T lurkers here…
July 12, 2007

keelegl
Another interesting experiment, but I think I will passzzz on the Clef du Vin. Fun show to watch though. Gary, can you comment on how the 2006 Bordeaux futures are doing? This has been a hot topic on some other sites and I would love to hear your take as someone on the â€œinsideâ€ of the wine biz. Thanks!
July 12, 2007

Eric
QOTD: I don’t know any lurkers, if I knew them, they wouldn’t be lurking. . .

Bravo for the Arnold Palmer reference today. Everybody always cringes at the thought of iced tea and lemonade, until they taste an Arnie. Then it’s on. Captivating episode (really, I almost couldn’t fast forward through the 50 year count up.)

Cheers!
July 12, 2007

hugh
Great, now I’ve got The Count stuck in my brain singing “Doing the Batty-Bat”
July 12, 2007

CindyW
QOTD: I know no lurkers.

Cool new wristband.
July 12, 2007

hugh
p.s. i like the change to the conventional green board…no bad reflections
July 12, 2007

waibeans
hahaha.. GREAT stuff today GV!

can i sit through you counting to 100 again.. pleaaaaze .. maybe you _should_ have had mott use the watch

seriously tho.. loved you taking the ager to task. this was really informative. hope to see more like this in the future!

lata
July 12, 2007

OrionSlayer
Hopefully you have saved several people $100.

QOTD: No KNOWN lurkers are within my sphere of influence.
July 12, 2007

Cliff and Darcey
KEWL episode!

CLIFFâ€™S NOTES:

Hey Gary, why is WLTV only the 19th most popular??? Is there anything more we loyal Vayniacs can do to help improve this rating?

I really liked your proposal to go fifteen years on the Bzikot Puligny Montrachet Ac, then relapse to twelve â€¦ you wimped-out on it, but it was cute.

Counting in Russian was quite cool! Someday Iâ€™d like to see a show where you speak only Russian with English subtitles.

Weâ€™re so glad and fortunate that you take the time, effort, and money to experiment with these things so we donâ€™t have to! In this case it was an episode well worth watching to see this new-fangled thingy-dingy in action, and NOW I donâ€™t have to bother wondering about it when I see it advertised! Thanks for that, Man!

â€œGrade-skipperâ€ â€¦ nice!

The Clef du Vin appeared very awkward in use; it seems to me that the shape could have a better design for its purpose, perhaps a longer stem so that oneâ€™s hand isnâ€™t halfway in the glass; it just seems kinda dumb, IMHO.

DEFINITELY among the weirdest of WLTV episodes thus far.

Was that Journey I heard playing in the background?? You ARE a product of the 80s, huh!

QOTD: Probably everyone I have told about you is a lurker right now; Iâ€™ll get on their cases!

Thanks again for all that you do, and please keep it up!
July 12, 2007

Steve-o
aww gary, it’s a shame you didn’t get the photoshopped into image i made for for this episode! it would have been PERFECT. ah well

and WHAT is with TEASING us with those sexy new wristbands?!?!?
July 12, 2007

Nathan
I love Journey
Don’t stop believing Gary!
July 12, 2007

wine lush
I know a couple, but they are not daily lurkers, I’m working on getting them up to daily status.
July 12, 2007

badgerlake
Hundred bones is a lot of money to ruin a montelena… loved the show tho.
July 12, 2007

Fco.
I liked the change-up on this episode, thank you for doing this test. Certainly entertaining, to watch you count while the head is bopping all over the place.

And I know no lurkers.
July 12, 2007

TD
Very cool show. Your counts were way off, but in the end the white zin showed that none of that really mattered. Bring on some more double blinds – it’s my favorite thing in the wine world.

QOTD: Whatsisname.
July 12, 2007

RandyB
Nice wristband..new version?

I’ll pazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz on that device as well.

QOTD: Mike W and Glenn R!
July 12, 2007

mczinger
GV,

Did you know that you say “Let’s give it a whirl” when you taste and (note with the White Zin) you say “Let’s give this a taste” when you whirl/smell it.

Sorry, I’m annoyingly attentive to detail.

QOTD: Viv

QFGV: We need a pic St. Loup episode and an AligotÃ© episode (not to mention, still, the CÃ´te de Nuits). When we gettin’ ‘em?
July 12, 2007

DirtBag
“Clef Du Vin” just turns me on…………….. biggest lurker is Paris Hilton – she thinks your hot – true story.
July 12, 2007

AnthonyS
Was that Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ in the background? I hope this wasn’t the last episode ever. Thanks for the episode. It’s great to be back.
July 12, 2007

yowens
GV- Thanks for the heads up on the 100 dollar piece of copper- its a paZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZz for me. QOTD: my girlfriend. She sits next to me and watches every episode with me. Has she delurked? Once, maybe twice. Disappointing.
July 12, 2007

Martin
Michael Bolton: You think the pet rock was a really great idea?
Tom Smykowski: Sure it was. The guy made a million dollars.
July 12, 2007

matthews
not suprising to see you pazzzzz on the clef du vin i didnt have to much hope for it. never the less im glad to see you put it through the motions.
QOTD-dont really know any lurkers per se but i did recently introduce my sister to the show hopefully shes been watching the last couple days and will see this and it will inspire her to post. do it sara do it.
July 12, 2007

Matty B
QOTD: My wife. HIYO!
July 12, 2007

Pastore
That will be a big pazzzz for me as well.

QOTD: Lurkers… We don’t need no stinkin’ lurkers.
July 12, 2007

Ben N.
Great show today, I don’t think I will be buying the wine key.
QOTD: I don’t know any lurkers.
P.S. nice wristband
July 12, 2007

Mr. Cabernet
Another one where I would have liked to seen a blind tasting.
July 12, 2007

KenP
Of course, having two different vintages of the same wine and ‘aging’ one to the ‘age’ of the other might prove instructive (just barely). Good ep, GV.
QOTD: don’t know any.
July 12, 2007

Eddie Brown
I dipped a penny in a glass i’m drinking right now, and it had the exact
effect you describe…but mine was a hell of a lot cheaper.
oh,…copper has always been known effect alcohol in some weird way. who hasn’t herd the o’l put a penny in your mouth if you get pulled over trick??
July 12, 2007

Bossman
I’m elated the Berringer White Zin didn’t rule the trio, I’m still having nightmares over that Franzia best of show.

Hey, if the treated Beer-ringer “tastes so good” after a 50 sec immersion, and the bottle is $4.20, and the wine mood-ring is 100 bones, and I’m averaging $35 per bottle I can break even and start reaping $’s after 3 1/2 bottles….. oh wait, life is too short to be drinking crap gimmicked up wine isn’t it?

Okay yesterday was seeped wine, today was the 00’s equivalent of 70’s Boones Farm, can we expect pig vomit on the couch tomorrow?

You’re certainly dying for our sins…… hey, anybody in for a W.W.G.D. wrist band?
July 12, 2007

SoCal
Instant Classic!
Wine Magnets/Copper thingys and White Zin Tasting…..that made my day.
One of the most entertaining eps by far bro.
Well done!
QOTD: my buddy down here that owns a wine shop
July 12, 2007

Ben
Last lurker I was aware of was myself.

I haven’t done a lot of research but I found this tidbit (first google result):

The Clef du Vin also acts on the aromatic components: the esters, ketones, aldehydes and on the tannins.

The aromatic components are “protected”, “inhibited” by sulphured components (atoms of sulphur “S”), very sensible to oxidation.

The Clef du Vin acts in a similar way on the aliphatic chains by modifying the simple connections of carbon, sulphur and hydrogen.

…

It’s apparently multiple metals. Any metallurgists out there with access to a mass spectrometer?

I think I may try a similar test with an old penny. There are other concepts whereby you can strip some electrons away. Massive magnets? Radiation?

So, the other day I was visiting someone and they were storing a red wine in the fridge. She took it out, plopped it in a coffee cup and microwaved it for 12 seconds. She then poured it into a glass and handed it to me. It was kind of crap wine anyway, but I wonder if this caused any changes in the wine…
July 12, 2007

Plminer
Unreal episode. They really know how to market Americans don’t they, we’re so impatient now their coming up with ways to insto-age wine (conjecturely speaking). That thing reminds me of some bad device which supposedly saves you from a DUI if you suck on it as the Officer walks to your car.
QOTD: I know a lurker named Darin, he introduced me to WLTV but he’s too L.A. and cool to post comments. What a heal.
July 12, 2007

BigBob
well maybe the CdV only works on real wine? There are long thread on the Mark Squires BB going back to 2004….

QOTD: I don’t know any lurkers. I don’t get out much.
July 12, 2007

Casey
Hey Lb in KS, I think you might be referring to me. Thanks for “friending me up”!

QOTD: My husband is a major lurker. I really need to work on that.
July 12, 2007

Cam
QOTD: My fiance Ben was a major lurker until yesterday, when he finally commented. So now I don’t know any lurkers.
July 12, 2007

John Blue Label
GV,
Glad you did the Montelena, I’m planning on having this for a dinner party. Seems like a good choice. I’ll pass on the CDV.
QOTD: Don’t know any lurkers.
July 12, 2007

Harley Stan
Gary, cool episode, I think i will save my 100 bones for soemthing else like WINE!!!
QOTD- I don’t really know any lurkers but if I find one I will out them.
July 12, 2007

Boozer
Okay too strange…Sticking metal in wine. As for people suggesting put a penny in your mouth of glass of wine, have you seen where those things get stuck.

QOTD: Just caught a lurker behind episode 138, up at the top of the screen on the right. Run off before I could get the needed info.
July 12, 2007

TimF
Great episode today! You need to bring a bottle of that Burg with you to Napa.

FWIW — I always thought flabby and acidic were opposites.

QOTD: I have no idea.
July 12, 2007

Chris C
Great episode Gary! I had heard and read about the Clef du Vin and wondered what the hype was all about. You proved that it really is nothing but weird science. True aging has to happen in the bottle. There is no substitute for that.

QOTD: I was the only major lurker that I knew of.

Thanks for the discounted schwag!!!!!!!
July 12, 2007

Deb
Kudos for the best debunking episode. Great show.
July 12, 2007

mastersommelierflorian
love episode… great vinos and fun. Clef kinda came along as we knew it.
Journey in the background was awsome….
July 12, 2007

Tommy Mack
Great episode….thanks for saving me 100 bones.

QOTD If I told you, she would kill me.
July 12, 2007

diego de la p...
CLASSIC EPISODE!! this was great!! a big pazzzzzz to the clef du vin, that was fun!!
QOTD: i dont know any lurkers!!
July 12, 2007

Totte
Crazy episode…Not sure if the Clef is available in sweden…will check and will let you know.

QotD : I dont know anyone whoÂ´s watching…but IÂ´m trying to get all of my friends into wine…and Gary ofcourse…

Swedish T
July 12, 2007

Suzanne
I’ve never really been into gadgets. QOTD: Lurkers? Where? If the Lurkers were out in the open, they wouldn’t be Lurkers!
July 12, 2007

JimKay
Don’t waste your money! Get the Clef du Jim:
tv.winelibrary.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=118489#118489
July 12, 2007

Totte
Never had a White Zin….maybe something to try when IÂ´m in NYC…

Swedish T
July 12, 2007

E
Wait, if there are 18 wine shows on the internets more popular than this one, why have I never heard of any of them? (At least I don’t think I’ve heard of any of them, because I have no idea what they are.)

Bzikot? Is that Basque or something?

I’m gonna have to come down firmly on the side of the sniffy-sniff. I don’t care what the neighbors say.

I thought white zin was a mid-70s innovation. How’s anyone supposed to know what a 50 year old one would taste like? (And what’s there to oxidize in that stuff anyway?) The fact that it goes for $4.20 is, I am sure, total coincidence.

That is a strange QOD. The moment we see them, they cease to be lurkers, don’t they?

Looking forward to seeing the couch again.
July 12, 2007

TROC
Whew, all that for a white zin final. Can’t wait for the 7up in the liebfraumilch episode.(grin)
July 12, 2007

Robin
Fascinating show. Great Mythbusting!
I’m writing from Willamette Valley – small vacation for my husband and me. we’ve tasted at Domaine Drouhin, Archery Summit, Torii Mor, Panther Creek (we’re staying within blocks of the Panther), Domaine Serene, we had a bottle of Penner-Ash for dinner in the new Riedel Oregon pinot glass. Really a good time. Also saw the Spruce Goose.
QOTD: no knowledge of any truly great lurkers.
July 12, 2007

Jon B.
Wow interesting stuff… Thanks for giving that a try for us I’ll definitely pazzzzzzzz.Qotd my sister I’m Trying to get her to change her ways,we’ll see.
July 12, 2007

Tom (vtjones)
Glad it was your money on that thing.

QOTD: My wife has not lost her lurker status by commenting on an episode yet. I guess I will have to work on that one.
July 12, 2007

Madrone
Fun episode but perhaps BEFORE you play with the CDV (and maybe you have already done this in past episodes) is to talk a little about what people actually think happens during aging. I know it can be a little speculative but maybe bring in some wine geek-scholar from UC Davis or something and talk about tannin enchainement or the relationship, if any, of acidity to longevity…stuff like that. THEN play with the copper thingy.

QOTD: Me for about 50 episodes.
July 12, 2007

Dominus
Enlightening show and thank goodness a piece of metal cannot transform my cellar at a moment’s notice to it’s prime. I’d rather wait and let my Haut-Brion or Dominus come into it’s own by way of “au naturel.”

QOTD: I know no lurkers though the wife can be considered a “closet lurker.” She watches from behind closed doors.

Off to “sniffy sniff” some Mollydooker Boxer.

Cheers
July 12, 2007

John Witherspoon
cool episode…you gotta love the magic of copper!!!

QOTD: biggest lurker, probably my wife, she watches with me all the time but doesn’t comment on her own, what is up with that. haha

As she watches over my should now and shouts “HEY!!!”

See ya on the couch.

J DUB
July 12, 2007

RieslingRon
Loved this episode….I think you did the wine drinking public a great service by trying out this product. Why anyone would blow 100 big ones on a piece of metal is beyond me, but I’m sure many would. Save your money and spend it on more wine and let it age naturally.

Sorry, I don’t know any lurkers
July 12, 2007

wineSmith
The only lurker I know is myself, and I will never give away his identity
July 12, 2007

Susan
Gary-VERY interesting topic since we tried this gadget at our May get together in Raleigh. None of us was especially impressed with this metal gadget. Glad to see that you agree!!! Couldn’t stop laughing when you were counting in Russian!!! Very cool!!
QOTD: Don’t know any lurkers!!!! I have told many about WLTV. I will continue to tell everyone I meet.
July 12, 2007

Ninjaneer
I wonder if a penny would do the same thing. I mean if it’s just the copper changing the wine, why pay $100 when you could use $0.01?

Interesting episode.

Biggest lurker I know is the guy who got me into this show and is still a lurker (even if he talks to you on the F-book)
July 12, 2007

Ray
My wife says that I’m the biggest lurker. But since I’ve written this comment, I’m lurking no more. We enjoy the show so much that we watch it every night. I’ve also put together a template that lists the episode, the wines being tasted, Gary’s rating and the cost of the wine. Someday when I have a chance, I’m going to get to the store and buy a whole bunch of wine. For now, I try to see if any of the wines mentioned are sold locally. You and a very little bit of me are changing the wine world!! Aren’t we? Thanks for a great show, Gary.
July 12, 2007

Taco John
A White Burgundy, a classic Cali Cab, White Zinfandel, a $100 gadget, t-shirts everywhere. This was a classic.

Gary Vaynerchuk: Destroying classes of wine in the pursuit of truth since 2007.
July 12, 2007

CNW
Hi Gary – Nice little spur on the “Time” comment… wink wink! You totally were in a mood tonight – with your Sniffy sniffs and your russian counting! Lots of fun stuff in this episode. LOVED the Journey background musak!

Digging the new wristband! Can we get one?? Of course, I haven’t taken my photo yet with my old one!! ha! Sorry… it’s been one heck of a week around here!

I’m so glad you did this episode… I wandered about this thing several times now but I’m super happy I didn’t waste the dough! I’d MUCH rather buy another great bottle to age au-naturale’ in my cellar!

I COMPLETELY appreciate Bossman’s comment about you dying for our sins! I LOVE the WWGD comment to! Totally made me laugh tonight!

QOTD: Ha! I used to BE a lurker…. so nope don’t know any more…. but really how do we know they are lurkers if they don’t fess-up! Of course, ever since I stopped lurking I’ve only gotten you to talk to me or answer my questions ONCE! Geez,really great incentive to NOT be a lurker now isn’t it GV?? But I suppose with 1K emails a day, you have to pick and choose.

ps- at least we all know you can count to 50 now!!:)
July 12, 2007

GottaGoDrink
Instant Classic GV. You seemed open enough to the idea of the CDV to try it by the numbers and rather graciously, I thought, exposed it for the complete piece of ripoff crapola that it is. Well done!

QOTD- TimM
July 12, 2007

Jen
VERY interesting episode – I always wondered about those aging gadgets!
QOTD: I don’t know any lurkers; I mean I don’t know anyone personally who watches besides myself, (and not because I don’t spread the thunder… I do indeed!) so therefore I don’t know anyone who lurks. Hey, if I succeeded in getting any of my peeps to watch WLTV and they are currently lurking… you better show yourselves! Don’t make me look bad!!
July 12, 2007

Freddy
gary, i’m surprised you didn’t go with old school backyard football “mississippi” count for the clef du vin, although i don’t think it would have made much difference. just goes to show nothing is better than time and patience.
i’ll give a shout out to the lurkers. nothing more satisfying than leaving a comment to rip on gary!
gary, maybe you can tell us about how the couch burned up? interested to see if it’s brand new or if there’s just a big burn mark.
thanks for all the hard work and tastings, gary. keep it up!
July 12, 2007

KW
Real fun show! Enjoyed it. Thanks for clarifying the mystique.
One more not to buy item on the list.
July 12, 2007

Shirazzle Dazzle
BWAHHAAA!! OMG…when Gary busted out the Beringer White Zin….I got flashbacks to high school!!
July 12, 2007

Nico
dude, that was super awesome and super funny! totally dugg!

What’s up with the new wristbands? Same deal? Email in?

-Nico
July 12, 2007

MikeyB
LOVE these episodes where we learn a lot!!! Keep em comin.
July 12, 2007

nougat
Two bucks worth of metal and copper and 98 bones of pure bulls*%^%!
Heyohhhh! Just as I suspected. Thanks for doing this episode. Hey, here you go…..

One sweetass WLTV wine tote – $5.99 (for a limited time)

One bottle of Beringer White Zinfandel – $6.99

One Clef du Vin wine aging gadget – $100

Gary’s Episode 274 – Priceless!
July 12, 2007

GR8Wine
Great episode Gary,
QOTD: I was a lurker and know lots of them – but that’s their option.
I avoided the 100 bone investment because one of them “lurkers” made the investment in a CDV. We did a lot of experimenting with it and I came to the same conclusion as you; it definitely does something to the vino but I wouldn’t equate it to aging.
Great new wristbands – Is that part of the discount scwag?
July 12, 2007

MaryS
Hey Gary. Know what I’m thinking of this episode??? I’m sitting here watching you and drinking a riesling and what do you do but start busting on my fave. And to think I used to like you…………….;-)
July 12, 2007

Rick "The Model" M
incredible episode today man. Hasta manana.
July 12, 2007

Grapedigger
Clef Du Vin demystified…GREAT fun episode!!! Thanks GV…
Cheers
July 12, 2007

SteveW
Great Episode, but I think you should of aged the White Zin for 100 years as I’m sure many of your viewers would like to know what a Century Old White Zin tastes like.
QOTD : Myself in my previous life.
July 12, 2007

Oleg I.
LOL LOL LOL, great episode Garry. Work on your Russian. S
ounds like it would do more good to very tannic wines then well balanced. Wonder how it would go with ChÃ¢teau Flaugergues 2003 where WS gave 92, and so much tanninsâ€¦.
Great finishâ€¦.. But you should count slower.
I think makers would disagreeâ€¦ or may be they would say: â€œDrink the pink thing now while it is â€˜hotâ€™..â€ And I am not bashing it, I mean the pink, love it while it is hot (weather), good things came in as of late.
July 12, 2007

TommyBoBo of WI
OUTSTANDING!! once again. Think of the revenue you just saved us that we can now spend on wine???? Think of it. And all for just 2 cents a day… YOU ARE THE MAN!!

Need one of those new wrist bands….. hint hint
July 12, 2007

Mattpan
HAHA…this episode was awesome, people will buy anything if it’s marketed well. Enjoying a Vernaccia di San Gimignano as we speak, doing “research” for my wife’s and my trip to Tuscany in September.

QOTD: Me, until yesterday.
July 12, 2007

JoeinLA
I’ve forgotten my Organic Chemistry from 16 years ago but I’m thinking the copper simply affects the various acids and/ or sulphur compunds or something along those lines. No way would it be able to duplicate the integration that occurs in the bottle for 10 years in some chateau in Bordeaux. I’m sure there are some brilliant Chemists in the Vayner nation who could nail it down.

a Big PAZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

QOTD; My friend Lori who needs to jump in and swim
July 12, 2007

JonE
G-Man your my hero. Simply put one of the best. PS: Sparky’s new 06′ Mollydooker is coming into the market. I would love for you to reserve some time to either shred or exalt this brand new syrup. You know yah wanna.Was the ‘clef du vin’ oringinally a non-surgical cure for clef palette? Yah gotta wonder right?

QOTD: Nathan Bond of Wilmington, North Carolina
July 13, 2007

jaye
Was mesmerized watching you count :LOL: ! Unfortunately I totally related to your grade skipping analogy (totally screwed up my school age years socially).
July 13, 2007

tarheel17
That was totally worth listening to Journey for 20 minutes! Thanks, GV.

I bet your one in 10 people that has ever drunk a Beringer white zin out of Reidel. That’s why we love you!
July 13, 2007

jason
i know it is for shits and giggles, but that thing is STUPID! most of all, it just saddened me that you wasted a half a bottle of beautiful 2005 white burgundy on that. best thing is to go natural and put it in your cave. if you want to open the puligny in 12 years, call me up and we will do it right. we will even cook some lobster tails with that bad boy!
July 13, 2007

Grape Expectations
Fascinating and fun.

QOTD: My brother. (You out there, bro?)
July 13, 2007

Vic Simianu
G-love, it’s not too late for you to jump in the presidential race! I’d vote for you over Hillary, thats for sure. I liked this episode: both my parents are biochem phd’s so I’ve been raised up in a chem lab my whole life and I can appreciate that you’d give the Clef a pazzzzz due to the crap it does to a good wine. Good work. peace.
July 13, 2007

Justin S
QOTD: My wife
July 13, 2007

Seth - MacGeek
Why not try to drop a penny into the wine and see what happens?

…. lurking …..

seth
July 13, 2007

Link Love: http://tv.winelibrary.com at jerrychacon.com
[...] Today’s show is definitely worth watching. [...]
July 13, 2007

WES L...
If you think the wine tastes a little base ball batish, try putting a aluminum baseball bat in a glass for 10 seconds and see what happens… been lurking for a while and have flogged myself relentlessly for the last ten hours in repentance….
July 13, 2007

Eric C
QOTD: ME!!!

I’ve been watching since around ep.60 (watched the first 60 in about a week) and have watched every episode since. That makes me over a year old lurker!!

…back to lurker status…
July 13, 2007

vibemore
Thanks for the fun. See you tomorrow.
July 13, 2007

Jon B Lodi
We commonly add Copper Sulfate to wines that get “stinky”, usually from H2S or other sulpher compounds. A very small addition really zaps the problem and most of the copper just drops to the bottom of the tank.

In my home winemaking days, if your wine got stinky, just whip out that copper penny and drop it in the 5 gallon carboy. Supposed to be a last resort though.

Let’s see…

$100 for Clef du Vin or both of those bottles of great wine you sampled today?
July 13, 2007

Elliot Essman
Nice touch — Ð¾Ñ‡ÐµÐ½ÑŒ Ñ…Ð¾Ñ€Ð¾ÑˆÐ¸Ð¹ — adding in that Russian. For a non-scientist, you were fairly methodical. Aren’t some of those metals toxic?
July 13, 2007

Christopher
Good fun.
July 13, 2007

Chris Fehnel
Great episode Gary, although I don’t think I ever want to hear that song again.
July 13, 2007

Rick McQ
Gary:

Loved this show!!! I have not heard Russian since Hunterdon Central . Mr Labashkas class 1986. Ps Just had Baby #2 -Maeve Rose McQuarrie – Newest Vayniac on 7/1/7 and getting ready to turn the big 40 on 7/17/07.

Keep bringing the Thunder!
July 13, 2007

Daniel O
Woohoo! Awesome show Gary. You just saved me at least $100 (I’m sure if I found the Clef here in Toronto it would cost more than that.)
July 13, 2007

Brandon
Great epsiode of course!
However, a word of warning when dabbling with “dipping” and alcohol consumption.
Watch how much your drinking, homeboy.
I can see this quickly degrading into Gary’s Wine Teabagging episode.
“ok….now let’s try the right side!”
“yep, the white zin still tastes the same…”
gross.

Actually i was really hoping at the end you were gonna say:
“guys, after 50 seconds of aging, this White Zin tastes exactly like Dal Forno!”
July 13, 2007

NathanN
Thanks for showing me the clef. I’ve been wondering what the heck it does.

QOTD: I know a couple of lurkers in Q-town. Paul,Harry, Dad,….ect.
July 13, 2007

MD20
I am wondering if I apply the Clef Du Vin to my teenager son’s forehead if he will mature any, maybe I can save me some headaches that way.

QOTD: Erica S.
July 13, 2007

David McWherter
Great episode. Along those lines, you might want to try out the Wine Clip (www.thewineclip.com), which tries to do a similar thing with magnets. They sell it all over here in Pittsburgh.

As a member of the CKC and a lover of Mr. Wizard, I’m betting that the Clef du Vin works via an electrolytic reaction, much like a lemon-battery science experiment. I’m betting the silvery part is galvanized (”zinc-plated”) and the coppery part is copper — and when you dump it into the acidic wine, you get both oxydation and reduction (Check out the Wiki article on “Lemon Battery.”). There may be, as the company claims, other metals, such as gold in the thing, but since gold is one of the least-reactive elements out there, I doubt it does anything.

I’ll try making a WineLibrary clef-du-vin for a couple dollars and I’ll let you know what it does…

QOTD: With only one post, I’m lurker enough.
July 13, 2007

David McWherter
I also wanted to say that my girlfriend and I now covet that Puligny Montrachet. Time to start saving pennies!
July 13, 2007

Paul
Okay, the science geek comes out.
1) Needed to be tasted blind.
2) As somebody else here noted, compare it to a spoon or a penny

Anyway, great ep. Wasn’t planning on spending $100 on this, rather buy wine.

The white zin was the kicker, since it was the only wine one could consider a control. And I was hoping it would make it taste like a well-aged Ridge Zin!!

Where do I get this version of the wristband? Don’t want to be behind the current fashion trend.
July 13, 2007

yoshie
I’m very very interested in Clef du Vin!
I want to try it!!
Now I’m wondering if I’ll buy it…
July 13, 2007

David Canada
That was really cool….I never really thought it would work but it is good to see you put that into action….
QOTD – Tim Burnham….he loves your show, is a buddy of mine and I never see him comment. How about you send him an email to get him on board. Email me and I’ll forward it to you.

Dave
July 13, 2007

ChrisR
I’ve never been more entertained by watching someone count to 50!

Thank you thank you thank you for doing this ep! I have seen this metal mystery in wine mags for years and wondered what it does. This was truly an original and informative ep. LOVED IT.

QOD: MsLurker you know who you are!
July 13, 2007

wineaddict
The Myth buster of the year award goes to the one and only Gary Vaynerchuk!

Excellent Episode! Gary, do you realize you just changed the Wine World!!

With a lot of you today, Now didn’t you..

QOTD: I was one, 15 episodes ago.

MB
July 13, 2007

Rob B.
Finally the Journey has stopped. I hope that doesn’t stick in my head all day.
Seriously great episode.
QOTD: I don’t know of any lurkers.
July 13, 2007

Jayhitek
QOTD: Probably me.
July 13, 2007

gary pacheco
wow…… that was a very entertaining show on the CLEF! Bottom line.. its a peace of crap….. and your fine store shouldn’t offer it for sale. Drinking wine is fun… playing science games with it with a shiny metal shoe horn is not!

Love the store…… excuse me while i go drink.

P.S. i think you are ready for Food Network.. i’d use that show as an audition tape!
July 13, 2007

eatapc
Although a double-blind test would have been nice, it seems clear that the Clef du Vin isn’t dependent on a placebo effect (like many high-end audio and alternative medicine products). However, if the Clef du Vin isn’t junk science, it certainly is a junk product, as it clearly doesn’t do what it claims — help us predict how our wines will age. Thanks for doing this test!

BTW, Gary, were you pronouncing it “vin” as a joke?
July 13, 2007

SS Chris
Great episode….loved how you said “internets”

Two quick SS Questions:

You said that you would have rated the White Burgundy a 92-93…please confirm.

What is your rating for the Montelena?

(BTW, the ratings are based on your tastings of the wines without the “Clef Du Vin”). thanks, SS
July 13, 2007

Jerry Chacon
Great and informative show. Thanks for saving me the $100 bucks. My girls’ college fund thanks you.

QOTD: Not me. I may not be in every comment box, but I am digging you and talking you up on twitter and pownce.

Oh, I note from my “mint” package that you are using Wordpress. Nice choice.

Thanks for the visit to my blog this morning and thanks for the nice words about my daughter Kailen (a couple of weeks ago on twitter)…yeah I think she is pretty cute too. Both my girls are pretty cute.

Have a good weekend.
July 13, 2007

hasbeen
Thanks for another public service.
July 13, 2007

italianwinelover
Thanks for a great episode! Now I can save the 100 bucks and buy some more wine!! You are so informative and interesting…love to see you count to 50!!!

QOTD: Don’t know any….glad I’m not!!!

vino italia!!
July 13, 2007

Sassodoro
I love the experiments, Gary! I would like to see some psychology experiments, too. For example: Why are blind tastings recommended? Is is because we taste what we expect to taste? What would happen if somebody screwed with your expectations by misidentifying the wines (say, by pouring some of the wines into empty bottles that had incorrect but plausible labels)? Would you discern the same characteristics as when the wines were correctly labeled? (And by “you” I don’t mean specifically you, of course. I’m sure that we are all affected by our expectations.)

The Clef du Vin website doesn’t tell what metals are in their product. They say only, “What does the alloy contain? The answer forms the basis of four international patents.” However, I have found a number of websites that recommend using copper or silver to correct wines that are “reduced” and have sulfur-derived off-smells (e.g., burnt rubber; see http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor1/tswa060120.phtml). Tom Ciocco also talks about reduced wines (http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/02/12/reduction-augment-your-understanding/), but he doesn’t mention copper or silver.

Great show, Gary!
July 13, 2007

CabernetNoir
Gary- Do you have stock in the Clef du Vin?
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.
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.
July 13, 2007

An American in France
I’m with KAHUNA try it with a penny, less expensive too!
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.
July 13, 2007

Diablito
Penny! Penny!! Penny!!!
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.
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!
July 13, 2007

NathanN
Which did a better job the wine on the roof or the clef?
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……..
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 wineâ€™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 â€œageingâ€ (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).
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!
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…
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…
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 .
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
July 13, 2007

Stevo
Thanks for doing such a great job. No Clef du Vin for me. Any chance you can ship to Hawaii?
July 13, 2007

March_58
Thanks for the show Gary. I’ll buy $100 worth of wine insteasd of the Clef.
July 13, 2007

cgf
great show gary. You certainly will not judge something until you try it.
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 yesterdayâ€™s announcement that the Charles Shaw 2005 California Chardonnay, a $1.99 â€˜Two-Buck Chuckâ€™ (made by Bronco Wine Company and sold through Trader Joeâ€™s) was judged the â€˜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 â€˜Best of California and Best of Classâ€™

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 â€˜very low pricesâ€™ 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
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
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.
July 13, 2007

E
There’s an idea … tastin’ Mollydooker and makin’ pancakes!
July 13, 2007

Will
Nice show, Gary! Seems like a very fair review.
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!
July 13, 2007

Iron Man
Gary great show…de Clef de pass, gotcha!

QOTD Greatest lurker unknown….easy John Mackey.
July 13, 2007

Bruce Macksoud
Gary,

Great show! I have wondered about that little gadget for some time now, as it intriques me. Now I have seen it in action, and will ignore any further temptations to buy. Everytime I watch WLTV, I learn something new; and get amused and entertained at the same time. I don’t always agree with your view on a particular wine, but what a boring world it would be if we always did. You have always said but wine that you enjoy, and that’s what I try to do. You rock, buddy. Even if you do like the JETS and I like the PATS, we can still share the love of wine!
July 13, 2007

JimW
Great show Gary!!!! I won’t waste my money on this now. I have been a long time lurker and finally decided to post.
A=30
S=M
S=IL
July 13, 2007

MrTC
So why Zinfandel is *the* answer (referring to the price)…

I’m the kind of guy who will zap away the second any commercial starts (or nowadays fast forward – have to love digital TV with built-in recording), yet I just watched an internet vlog in which the host was counting for about 200 seconds (including a 50 second stretch) – and yet I never thought of FFWDing. Very odd.
July 13, 2007

MrTC
Ehm that should be ‘white zinfandel’ not ‘why zinfandel’… had the better part of a DOCG Roero Arneis tonight (based on Gary trying an Arneis not so long ago). Lovely wine too (Trinita Roero Arneis 2006)!
July 13, 2007

Jx-Diddy
Dig the new wristbands, GV. I wear my “old” one for every softball game with pride.
July 13, 2007

Matt the Lurker
QOTD – I am the biggest lurker. Yessssss… I win.
July 13, 2007

WML
Shows like this are very informative and help to eliminate all of the ‘toys’ out there that are nothing but conversation pieces. In general, I think wines should age the way they are supposed to. I don’t understand why someone would want to rapid age a wine with metal….strange.

Later…maybe do a show about wine openers. There are several…and you should try the new Oster automatic opener. Really fun to use and low and behold it works for a cool $24. That would be an interesting show. oster.com
July 13, 2007

Justmarsh
I completely can’t concentrate on what you’re saying Gary. I’m too busy trying to sing along with the Journey song in the background.
July 13, 2007

ktw
thx for sharing this experience with the vayniac nation it was a rollercoaster ride of fun.
My brother-in-law Hans is a “lurker in denial” – he says that since my sister leaves comments that counts. tell him it does NOT count gv.
thx again
July 13, 2007

wildebeest
I like the new board!

Alright, more Mr. Vizard! …I’m afraid that the test you set up may not be evaluating the device well at all. Could it be that the Clef du Vin is not meant to show how a wine will taste after a few years of aging, but rather to give a sense of its rate of maturation? What I mean is that it could be used to estimate when the wine will go through dummy phases and when it will peak by comparing the flavor after each second of exposure to the copper. The wine may naturally taste far better after eight years of cellaring than it does with eight seconds of exposure to the Clef du Vin, but maybe the Clef is a good way to determine how many years you should sit on your remaining bottles. For example, with the first wine you said it tasted most like the unadulterated glass after 12 seconds rather than five or one. Maybe that’s an indication that the bottle would be better to open in 12 years than in 5. But I don’t think it’s meant to show you exactly how it will taste. However, I don’t know for sure. I’ll have to do some research. But if I’m right, the Clef would probably only be useful if you tested the wine after EACH second.

I’m still wondering about the Vinturi. They claim to give the wine exactly the right amount of aeration. How the hell is a little plastic thingy going to know how much aeration each wine needs?!

I think you should incorporate Russian more often. That was my favorite part of the episode.

QOTD: My friend Doug is a pretty stinkin’ sneaky, but I’m the biggest lurker I know. I know, I know, I comment on just about every episode. But I’m really very shy in person. And I’m also a lurker for not turning more people on to the show. It looks like my little wine secret has gotten out though. Congrats, Gary!

btw, I miss having the QOTD posted in print on the website. That made it easier to participate.
July 13, 2007

life's too short...
*GREAT* episode. You revealed the transparency of uncertainty–changes were made, Senator, but I cannot, for the life of me, understand what they were, and in fact, whether they were of significant import. . . I only know that I am now, and have always been, a devoted….etc. Funny thing: you love all the old Schtick. You know. Black soap that will *amaze and frighten* friends! X-Ray Specs that will reveal everyone around you!! Sea Monkeys that will. . . well, you get the idea. The crappy keyfob thingy will affect the wine’s oxidation, sure. But so what? What other mettallic objects will do so? I mean, there’s really no way to “prove” the company wrong.

What’s the old adage? Anything too good to be true must be?

Anyway, cheers; it was fun to watch. As for lurkers? Dunno any, although my local wine guys are now secret admirers! They want in on the online wedding registry biz!!

I’m in NJ this weekend, and may have to head up for a visit, although I’m guessing you’ll be long gone.

Cheers, brotha.

G
July 13, 2007

Jason
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…
July 14, 2007

Jeff
I love the Chateau Montelena wines but please age them naturally.
Really fun episode Gary.
July 14, 2007

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.
July 14, 2007

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.
July 14, 2007

Nathan
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.
July 14, 2007

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!
July 14, 2007

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.
July 14, 2007

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”.
July 15, 2007

Mike Erdely
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.
July 15, 2007

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!
July 15, 2007

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.
July 15, 2007

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!!!
July 16, 2007

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!
July 16, 2007

Donald Pipkin
“The grade skipper” – excellent! Intellectually may be there, but socially awkward.
July 16, 2007

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.
July 16, 2007

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
July 17, 2007

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….
July 17, 2007

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
July 19, 2007

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
August 1, 2007

mcj
QOTD: I don’t know any, but I sure there are tons.
August 9, 2007

Sam I
Two educational episodes in a row!!! Awesome!
August 24, 2007

Brandon M
Are you done with #300 yet?
August 29, 2007

Withnail
Great ep – very interesting/entertaining.
October 20, 2007

Mulie
First time on the show that I found be Googling the Clef. Great show! I’ll be back.
October 26, 2007

NateO
QOTD: Me
November 25, 2007

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.
December 15, 2007

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.
December 21, 2007

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.
March 19, 2008

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.
April 20, 2008

thisIslandEarth
Amazing, fun, interesting episode. Thanks GV. Now I know my spark-plug gap setter works as good (or better) than the Clef.
LOL
July 1, 2008

Matt Dixon
Can anyone else hear Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’?
July 24, 2008

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.
September 29, 2008

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 but hey thanks for your opinion thanks for the video always great and fun to watch ! keep em’ comin’
October 27, 2008

barry
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
December 1, 2008

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.
January 29, 2009

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.
June 27, 2009

Adrian aka AnGkEr
Fascinating and fun episode. It’s nice to have this kind of experiment……great show
November 15, 2009

Mark Kraus
Great job… going to start to follow you… I may learn something.