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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“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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July 31, 2007

Taco John
QOTD: Haven’t been a wine drinker long enough.

Another nice episode, and what a cameo by the Oak Monster. You better be wearing one of two things on Conan Gary: either a WLTV T-Shirt or a 3-button undone button-up like on the show.
July 31, 2007

Jen
QOTD: It probably did affect my merlot consumption negatively, but that isn’t a bad thing, because before that movie I hadn’t had but maybe one pinot noir… And to think what I’d have missed if I never started getting into pinot…
And because of the movie now I’m into wine more in general; so – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — thank you, SIDEWAYS, for making me drink more wine, no matter what varietal.
p.s. now I’m interested in more good merlots too… haven’t tasted one lately though!
July 31, 2007

Paul
QOTD: Sideways was an amusing movie, that’s all. I’ve drunk way too much PN and merlot over the years to be influenced by that. I did bump into some wineries of which I had little knowledge, however.

BTW – big show coming up, G. Congrats!! HHUUUUGGGGGEEEEE stuff.
July 31, 2007

Gustasopher
GV, not the best ‘come-back’ episode for Merlot. Oh well.

QOTD: YES! I was drinking Merlot long (I mean long) before Sideways–a movie that I enjoyed. In fact, for years my favorite wine was a 1996 Markham Merlot before I became more adventurous in my wine selections.

Cheers

http://corkd.com/people/gusasopher
July 31, 2007

CatScanMan
I’m still pulling splinters out of my mouth from the last Beringer PR Chardonnay I had 10 years ago, so the merlot oak monster does not surprise me one bit.

Thanks for the LT shout out, that looked painful.

QOTD: I was drinking Pinot way before “Sideways”. Everyone know why Merlot became so popular? Huh, do ya, huh? It’s simply because it’s easy to pronounce. That’s why. People with little or no wine knowledge could go to a restaurant and order “merlot” and not feel uncomfortable.
July 31, 2007

Jennifer
I’m a gullible woman, Gary. That was pretty damn funny.
QOTD: No. I saw part of the movie just a few months ago… actually thought it was kind of a downer. Absolutely no wine persuasion here, GV.
July 31, 2007

Marc
QOTD: I started drinking more after seeing it, but I started drinking more of everything other than beer, partially because that was around when I turned 21. But yeah, they’re good. Especially when a Washington State Merlot is usually a better value than a Cali Cab.
July 31, 2007

JC
I think Pinot sucks! Hollywood can go … friggin socialists!
July 31, 2007

tomfar
Thanks for doing the show Gary. As a Merlot producer (among other flavors), it has indeed been frustrating to see people take so much joy in dissing the varietal. It is, as you alluded to, a victim of its own success. People made a lot of crap Merlot to cash in. That being said, the varietal never lost its place as a perfect wine between Cab and Pinot. Now the bar has risen once and for all. Enjoy the lower prices while they last!
July 31, 2007

pauly
QOTD: Merlot? What’s merlot?
July 31, 2007

JonE
I think the oak monster should have a nemesis named fruit-tart fairy.

QOTD: I have made a concerted effort to taste as much Merlot as possible in protest. But being a big Pinot fan prior to the Sideways bomb, I still buy more Pinot. Although Miner Stagecoach Merlot is outstanding!
July 31, 2007

angryphoton
always liked Pinot even before Sideways, kinda actually pissed at the price increase because of the movie. I like merlot too btw, and i still drink it when I feel like a Merlot, i drink mostly Pomerol wines though so its not 100% merlot.

AP
July 31, 2007

Dave Canada
Giving the Oak Monster golden showers Gary….this show is really pandering to the CKC’s now lol. What would Lizy say?
Nice Conan bit…your going to become his andy richter!
QOTD – Sideways got me further into wine, not really against Merlot but into Pinot….
Good Luck tommorow.
July 31, 2007

MossyMo
I can’t wait to see you taste the 2005 Merlots from Bordeaux. Good luck tomorrow GV!
July 31, 2007

caleb
QOTD-No way jose….started SERIOUSLY drinking wine around the time of its release and didnt watch it until it was released on dvd…
July 31, 2007

keelegl
Nice to see merlot get some play. Sidewayâ€™s didnâ€™t get me to stop drinking merlot. In fact, I think its one of Caliâ€™s best bargains considering the ridiculous prices for cabernet these days.
July 31, 2007

Bossman
Much mention of Walsh’s passing over the last day but nary a mention of late night tv pioneer Tom Snyder, tsk…. tsk… particularly with all the talk of Conan. Aside from Trump’s hair being the illegitimate child of Tom’s combover (Rudy Giuliani doesn’t have anything over him either), you have to respect a guy who loses his first broadcasting job by belching on air and complaining about the fare of the restaurant across the street only to find out the owner of the station is also the owner of the eatery (faux pas, n’est pas?). Also, RIP Terry McGovern, you’ll be missed.

Hey Gary what’s the deal with the superheroes on WL home page? Wallet Avengers? Cellar Defenders? Seems pretty Joe Camelesque to me, please watch out for the PC police their tight posteriors just might burst if they get worked up enough (and even you can’t handle that explosion).

Does Liz know about your previous daliance with the OM? Hmmmmm…can you say blackmail?

Oh wine, yeah I drink it but most of it smells like grapes to me.

QOTD: Hollywood, Shmollywood… haven’t seen Sideways and have no desire to I’m more into reading (anyone know where I can get a copy of “Waugh On Wine” for under a buckfifty)?

Remember, “Freebird” won’t be me.
July 31, 2007

Steve-o
ROFL@ conan.

QOTD: I wont lie. I had only been drinking wine regularly for a few months when I saw sideways, and it for sure put me off of merlot. BUT after hanging out @ some of the local wineries and chatting with the vintners I realized just how stupid it was to even consider the opinion of a fictional character with a comic dislike of a certain wine…honestly, what was I thinking?
July 31, 2007

David
QOTD: I have never liked Merlot much, especially California Merlot, so the movie confirmed my opinion. I did think that the Merlot scene was hilarious.
July 31, 2007

garyv
Ken we want you back, we love all peeps, what can I do?
July 31, 2007

AlisonD
Merlot was never my favorite…Sideways didn’t really change my mind, but it was a good movie! We actually snuck a bottle of wine into the theater to enhance the experience = 0
July 31, 2007

Ken
Gary, you lost me as a viewer a long time ago but I still check in occasionally. That being said, Iâ€™m surprised you didnâ€™t look at any Right Bank wines for this episode.
July 31, 2007

Brandon M
BLOWIN UP…
MAKIN IT BIG TIME…
and all that stuff….nice job Gary
July 31, 2007

AlisonD
Gary on Conan, that is the best! Congrats..I just set TIVO so I dont miss you!
July 31, 2007

ChefD
Thank you CJM you are my hero #9