Bringing Merlot Back – Episode #285

July 31, 2007

Gary is trying some Merlot and seeing if Hollywood was right to diss this grape!

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Comments on this episode(258) Leave a comment ›

“I wasn’t drinking wine when I first saw Sideways. When I did start, I…” by ulu ulu ulu ulu
“Bummer about the Souverain. Such a nice label.
QOTD: I wasn’t a hu…” by Phredd
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Falesco Merlot Dell UmbriaUmbria IGT
2004 Chateau Souverain MerlotSonoma Merlot
2004 Charles Creek Merlot PasatiempoOther California Merlot
2002 Beringer Howell Mountain Reserve Merlot Bancroft RanchNapa Merlot

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Oak Monster Tee

258 Responses

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August 2, 2007

Tim Hayes
Good episode…I like the fact that you are trying to “bring Merlot back”. I do enjoy drinking Merlot & thanks for the reminder!
August 2, 2007

mike volker
Yo Gary,

It wasn’t that long ago you were touting us the Charles Creek “Miradero” merlot. How soon we forget!

Best,

Mike
August 2, 2007

stewart l
You are trying to be like Justin Timberlake and “bringing Merlot back”. I was never much of a fan of Merlot. Too many wineries make poor quality efforts, thus I rarely drink them.
August 2, 2007

SoCal
QOTD: I did not drink a lot of merlot at that time…I was as you say seduced by the Oak Monster Cabs from Cali…so I did not impact me per say but it did put a negative spin on things…..now I find my self liking many merlot based wines from France, South Africa, and Italy…but no cali….
August 2, 2007

Mark
Seriously Gary awesome job on Conan. The taste-off you had with him was brutal. Im pretty sure you won.
August 2, 2007

jshubeck
Nice job on Conan last night. Not sure why Ann Curry’s broken nose was so hilarious to him yet he deadpanned your opening lines. But you stayed on message and he loosened up; gulping the first wine, eating the rock, etc… I look forward to the next one.
August 2, 2007

TagWorld Brian
Gary, great Conan appearance! You almost had Conan sucking on your sweaty socks. But I guess that would have been too Brokeback, even for him. Next stop: SportsCenter!
August 2, 2007

Ray
Gary on Conan
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v8982062AtdXHQd?searchId=3215542127282638389&rank=4
August 2, 2007

Ian Gibson
You made Conan eat dirt!!! You’re the man Gary! Great job.
August 2, 2007

Jon B Lodi
Good job on Conan last night!

Next time you get this opportunity, make sure you taste some wine you know is going to have the oak monster or something interesting, so you can share with that larger audience what we get to see every day – your amazing passion and no-holds-barred unbiased entertaining comments.

QOTD: I’m pissed at Sideways, because it jacked up the Pinot prices. On the other hand, I am grateful to Sideways for increasing tourism to Lodi wineries. It didn’t affect my feelings on Merlot. Just like other wines, if it’s well-made, then I like it. If it’s wimpy, I don’t.
August 2, 2007

wayno da wino
Yo Gary !!
You done brought da Merlot Thunder! I agree
wit you about Parker, I’ve drank many wines
scored high (90 & up) by Parker that were
RAAAAAAUUNCHEEEEEEEE.

QOTD: Never was a great merlot fan, Sideways
or not.
August 2, 2007

Lb in KS
Hollywood did in fact influence me…. I have yet to drink a pinot noir that I truly do like….but that’s just me, always open to suggestions.
Didn’t get to see the Conan/Vay~ner~chuk show last night, when is somebody gonna post that thing on youtube so I can watch.
August 2, 2007

Baco
Stones and cigars!!. Awesome show on Conan, It was the bes guest, couldn’t stop laughing, I got into watching winelibrary and I don’t even like wine
August 2, 2007

Steve
It’s not that Merlot’s bad … it’s just that it’s extremely, well, average. It’s kinda like a vinyl-sided McMansion with off-the-shelf stainless steel appliances: it’s suitable/adequate, predictable, and rather boring
August 2, 2007

Chris Brookhouser
Gary-

Great Show….QOTD: Started drinking wine when the show came out…originally liked pinot noir a lot more. Don’t drink as much now.

You did a show with KanonKop Pinotage 2004….I found some 2000 bottles, they were awesome….curious, what is your thoughts on Pinotage. Can you explain this grape varietal for a rookie wine enthusiast
August 2, 2007

wey
Sideways didnt change my view on Merlot. I liked it, and still do. I think Merlot can bring some realllly interesting wines to the table.

Sideways did change my pinot perception. Since then, I tried some more Pinots.
August 2, 2007

Raffi
Great Show. I started drinking Wine with Merlot…ok, after White Zinfandel, but that was high school. We basically only drank Merlot or Shiraz at home. Until WLTV that is. Thanks Gary for that.

Just watched the Conan show after I recorded it. That was great. Dueling cigar and dirt chewing!
August 2, 2007

Dominus
Numero 200! Better late than never.

Good show, I have always liked to quaff the Falesco Merlot. Not bad. Duckhorn is quite good and always keep a bottle around for my Merlot homies.

QOTD: I was a pinot fanatic (member of the Oregon Pinot Noir Club) before Sideways and grinned from ear to ear while watching it. As for Merlot, the movie did not sway me to drink less of it since it did not play a big part of my cellar in the first place.

Congrats on Conan! It was great.
August 2, 2007

Fishamble
QOTD: Loved *good* Merlot and Pinot before seeing Sideways and equally afterwards.

I liked the film, but what really depressed me was buying Pinot after the film came out – it risked running the gauntlet of the wine store rep. knowingly enquiring if I’d “watched Sideways recently”. Thank god that’s in the past.
August 2, 2007

Tom L
Used to be a Merlot drinker, but then I started watching WLTV and wised up!
August 2, 2007

MC Dubs
Argh! I got so wrapped up in the Mpls. bridge issue (being from there originally) that I completely flaked on watching “Late Night.” Anybody post it online?
August 2, 2007

Shaggy D
Just saw the Gary Conan. I fell out of my chair it was so funny.
August 2, 2007

Ryan
I don’t have a TiVo and I was working when this aired. Does anyone have a copy or do you think you’ll put the clip on the site, Gary?

Excited to see it!
August 2, 2007

Francois Tremblay
I was so excited to see you on Conan! Wow! Vaynerchuk is on the up and up.
August 2, 2007

dude
I don’t drink wine but I just wanna say that I love your personality and because of you I’m starting to think of getting into it