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 31, 2007

Martin
You were in Hungary and didn’t stay for the Formula One Grand Prix?!!

I hope I can stay up for Conan.
July 31, 2007

Karl Laczko
Budapest, my favourite City anywhere – although I am biased. Paris is a good comparison, hope you had a chance to drink some cold Dreher SÃ¶r on those hot days and sample some of the rich meat dishes and pastries MagyarorszÃ¡g does so well. Silent on the Tokaji – you keeping secrets?

Petit Sirah – yet another variety I have yet to taste, sounds interesting though.

Scores – keep them please, I need some point of reference and I think I’m getting a handle on yours, introduce other identifiers as well, but don’t lose the scores.

QOTD – I’d love to watch it live, just not sure if that’s practical, or even possible, from the U.K. (am investigating though). Will see it sooner or later.
July 31, 2007

maggiej
Do the Geogian wine show!!! Even better, get your grandma to come on and help with the Georgian wine show . My husband has Russian connections and gets a kick out of the little Russian moments on your show.

QOTD: I like the 100 point rating scale, though really, the 0-50 point range should be used as well.
July 31, 2007

Billman
QOTD: I like the scores for a quick reference. When trying a new region or grape I stick to the scores for guidance; but if it’s a region or grape I am familiar with the tasting notes are more helpful.
July 31, 2007

Rick M
QOTD: TIVO, Congrats on Conan!
Scores: Keep them!

I have an idea that I’ve been meaning to suggest for a while now, but now may be the time. After Conan you will have many, many new viewers. So how about we do away with “I’m in the Top Ten” comments that just take up space. So what if you’re 1st to comment. Seriously, so what. Use that space to say something that’s actually about wine, Gary or the show! Start the new viewers off right!
July 31, 2007

rdhover in Indy
Gary, You should stop scoring wines when the Jets stop keeping score (for them that would not be a bad idea). Is this little league where it’s just for fun and everyone wins or is this the big league where you want to be respected. You have my respect as long as you are scoring these wines. Keep up the good work and GO COLTS!!!
July 31, 2007

Michael
Hmmm, does anyone read the other entries before commenting? QOTD – I’ll try to stay up, but probably watch on youtube. Good luck.
Ratings – having done some research in this area I would suggest a Likert scale – (5 star) works better than 100. I think people cannot differentiate between more than 5 levels of ‘good’ if so it’s too capricious. – I had the problem with my itunes, that 5 star meant ‘extraordinary’ but didn’t mean ‘listenable’ (lots of 2 hour long drone music is great, but) so decide on what 5 star means (delicious or amazing) , and say 2 star is drinkable and you have a decent start.

Cheers
July 31, 2007

wlburk
I guess I never said congrats in my first comment, so….CONGRATS! and I’ll of course be watching live.
July 31, 2007

Lawrence Leichtman
Gongratulations on the Conan gig. Great job GV. Bit disappointed in the Elyse review as I have three cellared but since I enjoy elyse wines so much the review won’t bother me. Just more mastadon steak with them.

As to ratings, this is America dammit. We rate things here. What good would it be to go to a Jets/Browns game and have the outcome be. Well I liked the Brown’s uniforms better and that tight end was teally tight know what I mean nudge nudge wink wink. Nah we like scores like 24-13. So for comparison sake and to not be a European socialists keep giving us scores Gary.
July 31, 2007

Plminer
That’s so rad you’re going to be on Conan! Brings me back to my college days when I stayed up that late on weeknights and watched Conan when he first started out. Very funny guy.
Petit syrah, haven’t had many that I’ve liked…but thanks for taking one for the team GV!

Cheers!
July 31, 2007

talksnmaths
Congrats on the Conan show. I watch every night and this will definitely not be an exception. As far as scoring, I would not mind if you did away with scoring so long as there was some sort of evaluation. Tasting notes are fine, but I still want to know if the wine is a Pazzzzz, a maybe or a must try.

QOTD: Live
July 31, 2007

Armando
Congratulations on the Conan appearance. SO PLEASED that you finally did a Petite Sirah episode. I’m pazzo for PS!!

Bravo Zulu,

Armando
July 31, 2007

Micha
Never had a petit sirah yet, so it was a very interesting episode. Thanks Gary!
July 31, 2007

Palmer
QOTD: Definitely gonna TiVo it. But I’m on the west coast, so even if I watched it live it would be three hours after all the east coasters…which is still not really “live” since you’re taping it at about 6 pm. Good luck; kick some ass! Are they going to show clips from WLTV? Hopefully they show the clip from the Burgundy episode – “this wine tastes like a shoe that is covered in mud and poop, and I LOVE IT!”
July 31, 2007

John P
QOTD: I’m going to DVR the show. I work at 7am, and staying up til 1am doesn’t work very well.

I would really suggest eliminating the numerical scores. I truly feel that the scoring systems used is ruining the wine industry. It results in people who will only buy a 90+ point wine, but is there really that much difference between a 90 and an 89? Or a 90 and a 91? The differences there probably just come from the mood of the taster, and how their palate is doing at that time, as well as their preferences (Like Parker prefers bigger, bolder wines).
July 31, 2007

Lurkerdog
Congratulations and good luck on Conan! Hopefully I can catch it.
July 31, 2007

LeatherPalate
will be watching live!
popping a special occasion YTBD wine and
eating some cow poop with it yep!
July 31, 2007

TR
It pained me to see you struggle with the “history” of petite syrah so here goes: It was created in 1884 by botanist Francois Durif hence the name, in France, by blending Syrah and Peloursin grapes. Pelousin are tiny very black and tightly bunched variety, so the blend made a smaller more intense, blacker syrah.
Widely planted in California pre-prohibition it was used to make jug “Burgundy” wine (not PN?)and still is except for many of the better parcels are now making Petit Syrah.
Good luck on Conan he’s great his wife Valeria is hot too. Be careful not to insult him or he may lop off your head with his broadsword.
July 31, 2007

Marko TJ From Finland
Hi,

So, so, so exited about you beeing in Cozy Conan’s Show, can’t wait to see it. Probably have hunt that show from internet, the show airs here in Finland 1 or 2 weeks later (wich is unexceptable!). Conan is BIG here, he just visited Finland few months ago and he got quite a welcome. Gary, don’t give up your points, that’s just one of those things that make your show so special, Thoug i rely more on your view of the wines. (Finally found someting interesting… Santa Ana Reserve Malbec Shiraz 2005/argentina). Anyway, kep up the good work and all the best!!
July 31, 2007

Ari
Woot! Earthquake! I grew up near M-D Vineyards, and I remember their first vintages — the Symphony white blend, which I still occasionally buy a bottle of for old times’ sake.

*ALL* the Earthquake wines are a bit over the top, in my experience with them. As a rule, I try to let them mellow out at least a few years in the bottle.

My bottle of 04 PS is still sitting patiently in the cellar, gathering dust and waiting for me.
July 31, 2007

Matty Matt
TIVO it. Sorry GV but cant stay up that late, although I am going to the Police concert tomorrow night so if I get home late and its on I’ll watch it live, or filmed before a live studio audience.
July 31, 2007

MC Dubs
Will attempt to stay up
July 31, 2007

Christopher T
QOTD: If my wife lets me, I’ll stay up… (no tivo)

Ratings don’t mean a lot to me, I’d rather have a value for price recommendations. Is the bottle of wine good enough to warrant the price? That avoids the confusion of 88 pt wines being recommended wile 91 pts “not being worth it.” In essence, your wine reviews are subjective, so to give a quantifiable number rating seems artificial.
July 31, 2007

Mr. Cabernet
Shouldn’t it be “Wine Library TV, aka the Thunder Show”?
July 31, 2007

Kraemer
I had a chance to taste the Elyse Petite Sirah at their tasting room and could not agree more. SUper friendly people and great wine!