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!

Having trouble viewing this video? Try the Quicktime version.

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
View all 225 ›

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

Pages: « 9 [8] 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 » Show All

July 31, 2007

stewart l
I still like to give wines a score. Congrats on the show- I’ll have to tape it. got to be at work at the hospital at & am. Good luck-wear your vayniac shirt!
July 31, 2007

Jeffrey
qotd: i watch you 20 minutes, 5 times a week already. i need more? KIDDING, i’ll DVR it.
July 31, 2007

James Roscoe
Scores are for suckers! Skip ‘em! I’m an old fart. I’ll be in bed. Good luck!
July 31, 2007

J Crazy
Mad props for being on Conan. Take it to him, homie.
QOTD: I’ll watch it when it’s released to DVD in 2030 here in Japan. But, I’ll definitely enjoy it at that time.
July 31, 2007

Capt M
I loooove Petit Sirah!! I have Chateau La Paws by Rosenblum Cellars. Gary, I’ve been away from home, because I’m on vacation. But now I’m catching up with my vaniac duties. I need to find out if I can see the Conan O’Brien Show here at home. If I get that in my Cable plan, I WILL watch it live.
Do not stop giving out your scores. please DO NOT stop issuing your scores.
July 31, 2007

Dominus
Lilia:

Just read your comment. I can’t speak for the G-Man but I’m sure he was not dissing your country. He was enforcing how wonderful fortunate we are in the great ole USA.

I have travelled the world and though we are biased or partial, it goes without saying we are very fortunate though appreciate the turmoil and hardships in other countries. The world media paints a very negative picture on the face of Americans which is not true at all.

May you have a great time back home and be safe. The Vayniac Nation loves ya.
July 31, 2007

Dominus
Ooops forgot. KEEP THE SCORES!!!! Everything in life should be rated. We are not politically correct here where no one child gets the MVP trophy so not to hurt any fragile child’s ego.

Kick some butt tonight!
July 31, 2007

jshubeck
Gonna step up and watch Conan live.
July 31, 2007

Dominus
First off, welcome back and I agree with you wholeheartedly we have it sooooo well here in the great USA. Glad to hear you had a great trip. I need to make it over to Prague myself.

Petit Syrah . . . yes, a heavy duty bad boy. I always thought Bogle and Parducci did well at the inexpensive spectrum of PS.

Customer Appreciation Day? Well, let’s add some of those Bordeaux futures, ehhh. Reignac?

QOTD: Please, both. Live and DVR since no one will believe me.

Cheers and Congrats!
July 31, 2007

Paul
I suppose I wouldn’t be all too opposed to dropping ratings… it would influence people’s overall opinions less and lead them to taste the wines more for themselves
QOTD: No telling what us ckc’s will be up to at 1230 in the am, but i’ll have it recorded just in case
July 31, 2007

sharon
Thanks for the show…and giving the Rosenblum its due. My husband and I loved it. As far as the ratings are concerned I’d be happy to see them go. They really make so little sense but the tasting notes give insight.
Congrats on the Conan appearance. Unfortunately, it’s past my bedtime. Break a leg!
July 31, 2007

Lilia
Hi, Garry,

Do not have much time to write you a long e-mail, since I am about to leave to Ukraine, which IS my home. I do not appreciate you talking bad about my home country. It is not perfect as any other country in the world, but yet it deserves some respect. Those bad comments do not reflect good on your personality either, even though you are already so famous as a wine promoter. Be thankful and grateful that Ukrainian land once gave birth to your parents or grandparents. You owe it the same kiss as one that you have already available for the United States!

Sincerely disappointed in your comments,
Lilia.
July 31, 2007

elron
HOHO! Gary! Loved the show! First off, welcome back from Budapest(My Gramms old stomping grounds) Got to get there one of these days.

Secondly, CONAN! WOW! CRONGRATS BROTHER! And good luck. Don’t worry; you’ll be fine. Make us proud!

Thirdly, really liked the show. I do agree; I think you were right on when you talked about old world and new world and balance. Also, about giant fruit flavor (P.S.)wines being price equivalent practically. Excellant, nice points to bring out!

Lastly, keep the point ratings just for measure. Might not be able to tell if your dislike was an 82 or 87? Unless, you just give it a whirl for a week and see how it works.

Peace Gar! NOW, GO KICK SOME ASS ON CONAN! WILL BE ROOTING FOR YA!
July 31, 2007

WML
I will record Conan…how did you get on his show? I know he is a wine buff.

Keep the scoring. I think it’s important to know your thoughts and that you differ from the the experts as sometimes when we buy we buy based on so few experts. I like to hear the rebuttals.
July 31, 2007

Grasshopper
Sensei,

Congrats on Conan!

QOTD – will be staying up to see this one!

As for not scoring wines anymore…I vote for a two score system………..tasty and not tasty! That is all I have to know….

Your humble vaniac…

Grasshopper
July 31, 2007

TimInFL
Well, Well, Well…getting to big for our bridges soon! Man, to remember when you were so mild mannered and calm…now look at you! Glad to be a part of it!
Anywhoâ€¦Petite Sirah is one oh my Favorite. The ultimate date-night wineâ€¦get on the comfy couch with the playmate of your choice and Get Sexy! Rosenblum and Michael David Vineyards Earthquake lable…Huge!

Got one for ya..I’d email you but I know that box is overflowed…taste differences between Zin and Petite Sirah?

I personally like the scores!

Lets go Cruising!
July 31, 2007

Andy
GOOD LUCK G on Conan —- Break a bottle…
QOTD- Plan to watch it live and maybe pop a bottle while watching.
July 31, 2007

Juicy Jesse
Gary on Conan…Woo Hoo!!!!! It’s about time you got this national recognition on TV, fella! Ratings? I have my misgivings…but I sure like it when you review a $13 wine and say that it belongs in the $30 category (like recently with the Altesino Rosso), just as when you suggest that an expensive wine is really not offering the quality that should go with its price, and give at a pazzzzzz.
July 31, 2007

John Witherspoon
ROCK ON GARY, you superstar you!!

QOTD: I am planning on staying up to watch, but I will have the TiVO set since most likely I will fall asleep. haha

Pseudo question of the day….GIVE UP RATINGS = YES! Who needs ‘em.

J DUB
July 31, 2007

Dominick Mack
Gary…can’t wait for Conan! PRIME TIME, BABY!
July 31, 2007

italianwinelover
Welcome Back!! Great ep…totally agree about the wines tasting the same although I really enjoy David Bruce’s Petit Syrah Central Coast..one of my favs!!! Are Petit Syrah mostly from CALI???

On the rating scale…I would be more willing to try a wine you rated at 92 than one that you rated at 85, and its a quick reference…depending on the price..I think the rating is easy to understand in the industry as a whole.

QOTD: I don’t have a tv…having someone tape it for me, but if I did I would watch it live!! Good Luck!!
July 31, 2007

hermitaged
GV, the 100 point scale is kind of a weird thing in wine. So many people use it as a buying tool, but it never tells the whole story. Not to be dramatic, but I am a fan of the concept of every wine having a story to tell. Some are profound, others more understated, but each have redeeming qualities. I would pan the 100 point scale in your reviews.
July 31, 2007

BW
GV, totally agree with your comments on Petite syrahs in general – it is true that most are similar,
however I have one that stands head & shoulders above all others – try the Stags leap Petite Syrah.
Much more vegetal – has a strong & beautiful dill component to it; the sweetness & fruit is much more subtle & well balanced & integrated. It is still definitely a new world wine, but it just seems to be much better crafted. I have tasted many other Petite Syrahs (being a New World man – queue up “Rush” for the next New World Show) & always been disappointed in their one-dimensionalness. So, give it a whirl & see what you think.

On the rating scale, i would vote to keep it. It is a useful measure to gauge craftmanship
I would add to your discussion what you think the cellar life would be. I always want to have
a sense of that before I get a bottle – do i drink it today, in year, in 5 years or whenever. Being a bit of a wine geek, I have it all in a spreadsheet so I don’t overload on wines with short cellar lives – which you feel compeled to drink so they don’t go bad, vs. being able to go into the cellar & pick out what ever you want for the occassion – just some basic cellar mgmt.

QOTD – I’ll try to stay up & watch it live, but I don’t know if I’ll make it that late.
July 31, 2007

Ken B.
Gary,

Good luck on Conan! I know you’ll do a great job.

Enjoyed today’s episode.
July 31, 2007

RandyB
QOTD: DVR so I can watch it and share with the WCC.

The rating scale is a convenient quick reference. Usually, I ignore anything under 86 points (except for Wilfred Wong where I ignore anything under 92 points). Once the wine is selected, I then go to the tasting notes to further refine my wine purchase.