Petite Sirah Taste Off – Episode #284

July 30, 2007

Gary Vaynerchuk has been attacked by so many emails to taste Petite Sirah that he has finally caved!

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Comments on this episode(225) Leave a comment ›

“First time viewer…loved it,will be back!…” by maryandroscoe
“I’d probably miss wine scores. I like when they’re representative of …” by ulu ulu ulu ulu
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2004 Trentadue Petite SirahSonoma Petite Sirah
2005 Rosenblum Petite Sirah Heritage ClonesOther California Petite Sirah
2005 Elyse Petite Sirah RutherfordNapa Petite Sirah
2004 Earthquake Petite SirahNapa Petite Sirah

Links mentioned in todays episode.

225 Responses

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July 30, 2007

Tangaroa
THE GENIUS, DEAD AT 75.

Gary, DUDE!
You failed to mention that a very great NFL coach died today…
That’s right, Bill Walsh, AKA “The Genius”, orginator of
the now famous “West Coast Offense” style of football (which
propelled Joe Montana and the 49’s as well as Standford to
great victories) passed away.

And nary a mention from the Vaynermouth!

Now, remember ALWAYS what Joe Theismann once said about The Genius:

Regarding Joe Walsh, NO ONE in football should EVER be called
a genius. “Genius” should ONLY be reserved for people like
Norman Einstien.

Look it up if you don’t believe me…
July 30, 2007

KAHUNA
I have said it before and will say it again Gary uses the sweet – sugarfied jam tag way too often- While I agree the Earthquake is def over the top but I have had all of these wines and do not think the any of the other 3 are sugarfied sweet wines at all- The trentadue is def the smoothest lightest of the group-
July 30, 2007

Jay!
Budapest is awesome and I still have a scar from when I fell in the street…

QOTD: Live!
July 30, 2007

Robert F
I usually go for the Bogle petite sirah, which is big and fake, so not much different from these four.

QOTD: I watch Conan anyways, so I’ll be looking forward to it!
July 30, 2007

Jennifer
Aaaaahh!!!!! Good luck, Gary! Hella yes I’m watching it live.
July 30, 2007

SoCal
Congrats on the Conan Show.
You deserve it…..Keep going.

I am in the keep the scores camp……I like using both scores and tasting notes to make my purchases.
But heck it is your show if you want to shake it up…….do it.
It might keep you out of some hot water with some wineries and distributers.
As if you care……..
Cant wait for the CAPS…..the old credit card is about to get some work
QOTD: I will have to record you bro….I get up very early……Sorry…..
July 30, 2007

Larry
Another great show. Glad to have the real GV back as well! Budapest is a beautiful city, reminded me more of Prague than Paris though.

QOTD: Live if I can stay awake that late.
July 30, 2007

Viddler Development Blog » Blog Archive » WineLibraryTV to be on Conan O’Brien!
[...] By far my favorite “TV show on the Internet” and Viddler’s own poster-child WineLibraryTV ( has a big announcement today! On Wednesday night Gary Vaynerchuk, host of WineLibraryTV, will be on Late Night with Conan O’brien, as was announced in Episode #284! [...]
July 30, 2007

RieslingRon
If the tasting notes are complete, they are more important than the score. To me a good set of tasting notes is more of value than the score.

QOTD: I plan to watch the live show. Bring some good juice to taste!!!! I’m sure you will.
July 30, 2007

JC
Don’t stop the ratings. Awesome deal going on Conan! Good to have you baCK.
July 30, 2007

Nico
keep on scoring!!!!

QOTD: on youtube the next morning , nah just kidding, most likely live! Though you should put it up on youtube or viddler!

-Nico
July 30, 2007

Paul M
QOTD: probably TIVO (I have three small kids and morning comes too quick) … but if I had a Nielsen box I would definately watch it live so Conan could see some big ratings and you could get the credit
July 30, 2007

Michael H
Congrats on Conan!

Good show. I’ve always been a fan of petite sirah; even while they are over the top with sugar and dark fruit. It’s a nice new world wine to change it up every now and then. I’ve had many bottles of the Earthquake, and I tend to like it a little better than the scores I have seen. As long as you know what you are getting into, it is a fun ride. Check out Enthusiast’s review of the Earthquake (with an 83 rating):

“Rustic and hot, with what seems like residual sugar in addition to high alcohol, this Pet tastes like a blackberry-cherry candied confection. In its favor is vibrant acidity and a clean finish.”

QOTD: Live of course, and I’ll TIVO it as well. Gotta pay you the homage by watching it live. Make sure to throw down in the green room and take pictures if you can to post on WLTV…
July 30, 2007

Nathan L
I think you should keep the scores. They are definately problematic (as seen in different quality wines with the same scores in the last few episodew) but they are useful. You’ve said before that many times, in your excitment for a wine you didn’t expect to be good, you over-represent how good the wine is. When you have to say the score it kind of reels you back in and reminds you to qualify you excitment. This is an important question to tackle but I, and an increasing amount of todays wine drinkers, are understanding scores a little better and use them as a reference for that particular critics palate. In this way they are very useful. The problem is when people view a score as a reified representation of the objective quality of the wine.

QOTD: I’ll be watching live buddy
July 30, 2007

Wave
Congrats on Conan!! Of course I’ll watch it……..on youtube.Just kidding.Looking forward to it. Not scoring wines would definetly be changing the wine world.Give it a trial run and see how it goes.
July 30, 2007

Ultimate Lurker
Congrats on Conan. That’s awesome..

I will TiVo it, got to work in the morning. I’ll catch it live when your on Letterman a little earlier:)

I like the scores. Being a new wine drinker(like a lot of us) it really helps.
July 30, 2007

Shadowbird
QOTD: I’m going to watch it somehow, someway. May be live, but I’ve got it set to record just in case.
July 30, 2007

yowens
GV- Petite syrah is somehting I’ve been pondering for a while (what is it, would i like it, why is it so small)- thannks for the episode, I’m going to try to track down that Rosenblum. QOTD: I wish. I’m working Wednesday night, so its TIVO for me Wednesday morning. good luck!
July 30, 2007

mas
Enjoyed that Gary, thanks. For the reasons you gave, I’ve typically stayed away from P.Sirah … if you run across one that is less over the top/sugarfied, I’d be interested in hearing about it. I do like it in Zin blends.

I’m ambivalent on whether you give up numerical scoring – however, I do find it useful not so much in absolute value but when it’s used to compare to other wines’ scores … easy way to develop a sense of the QPR.

QOTD: job doesn’t allow me to stay up that late, but I’ll be looking for it on the ‘net the next day. I’m sure it will quickly find it’s way out there!
July 30, 2007

wine lush
Well done on Conan! I will be watching!

Off with the scores! I’m probably odd man (woman) out. But 99% of the wine world critics uses scores in lieu of more accurate descriptors and I’d like how you change the wine world and having people interpret your words to base their purchases on their own individual tastes without scores is changing the wine world. You put the power of our palates in our hands not the critics. Every other critic in the world use flat mainstream tasting notes. You use unique, descriptive, fun and very to the point words to distinguish what you are tasting. You are the first critic since Parker to change the point of reference in evaluating wine. Some kept to the original 20 point system (which I prefer if you are going to use scores), the rest joined with Parker on the 100 point system and you are the first to truly breakout the mainstream with a wholly unique and new tasting format since Parker came onto the scene the early 80’s. I just think it would be a shame to have something so unprecedented be ignored for the basis of critic consistency approval. I would use your descriptors with your pazz and qpr type approvals instead of scores.

IMHO
July 30, 2007

luvgrapesqeezings
Welcome home Gary! QOTD: I’m usually up then anyways- Definitely won’t miss the show.
July 30, 2007

E-Rock
I’ll be watching en vivo. Yeah scores really kind of suck……….
July 30, 2007

Bossman
On Conan it would be a gas if Sir-Stick-Up-His-Butt
led off and then sequed into GV and then morphed into
Crazy Gary ranting about Friend/Twitter/Pwounce/Cork’d
/Facebooking him up.

Oh what’s that? You might want a return invite? Yeah,
you’re right normal(pun-intended) GV is the ticket.

Keep the ratings, I like numbers.

QOTD – “Live” for sure (nudge, nudge, wink,wink)
July 30, 2007

MossyMo
QOTD – DVR
Do not stop giving a numbered rating to your reviews. We can more easily align our palates with yours if you put a number on it.
July 30, 2007

Kent Benson, CSW
For an update on the latest science on Petite Sirah, see my comments and those of Jo Diaz for Tom Ciocco’s blog entry on Petite Sirah. Petite Sirah is Durif. There is no longer any doubt. Durif is a cross (not a clone) of Syrah and Peloursin. See http://terroir.winelibrary.com/category/grape-varieties/.