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

Tommy Williams Jr.
I gotta ask myself, “Does Berenger think that using a ton of new oak to cover a mediocre wine justify the price tag?” Marketing, ego, mission statement, or what is involved in their winemakers decision making?
July 31, 2007

Malarkey
qotd: I was drinking merlot before Sideways, and I have continued to drink it after… why? because there are some damn good merlots out there, that’s why! the movie is just an illustration of two very disfunctional humans, and that’s what makes it a brilliant movie.
July 31, 2007

Mike Alvin
Sorry, I’m still a newbie, but what is 29 on the chalkboard behind Gary for?

(I like Givrey” Sous la Roache Merlot”.)
July 31, 2007

Jerry the 2THDR
QOTD: I saw the movie and was totally unimpressed with the movie and its message. Until 7-8 years ago I never bought Pinot Noir because I didn’t know what to pair it with. The best one I ever tried was the “J”. It goes with everything. For the passed 2 days I have been drinking Rapidan River Pinot Noir 1996 from Virginia. Today I had it with goat cheese and lamb chops. It was perfect and had one of the smoothest finishes I can remember. I had been avoiding it for over a year because I thought it would probably be junk. You never can tell. Jerry the 2THDR
July 31, 2007

Abel
QOTD: I am thankful for “Sideways”. My merlot consumption has gone way up – from about 1/20th of my total wine consumption to about 1/10th. The lower prices have made it much more worth it. I wish Hollywood would make a movie that trashed Bordeaux and Piedmont!!!!

Have fun tomorrow!
July 31, 2007

Vinovintner
Merlot can be a very serious wine if made properly. Example in point is Petrus. Merlot is also a great blending grape bringing the thunder to the mid palatte of Cabernet Sauvignon and adds a silkiness and complexity to fine red wine. When a dollop of Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot are added you have the classic bordeaux blend and a very interesting wine.

I really think it is a shame that people can be convinced so heavily by a movie rather than their own palatte. I believe the impact of the movie is out of control. Many vineyards are pulling up Merlot vines and replacing them with Pinot Noir. The higher the demand for the grape, the higher price the grower can command. All over a movie, you’ve got to be kidding.

As you know Pinot is a very finicky and fickled grape. It is a nightmare for the winemaker because it is unpredictable. Shame on Hollywood for bastardizing a wonderful grape such as Merlot, which has great merit.
July 31, 2007

TommyBoBo of WI
QOTD: Wasn’t drinking much Merlot,, started in on the PN though because, let’s face it, YOU COULDN’T READ ABOUT ANY DAMN THING ELSE for about 6 months after the movie. So sure, “hey, maybe I should look into this”. And as others have said, “thank you Sidways, without you and the hype I would have never known thee”
Break a Leg, GV
July 31, 2007

Grape Expectations
QOTD: I’ve always liked Merlot and I loved Sidweways. You have to keep in mind that the lead character in the movie is a world-class neurotic. So it makes sense that he would love that very neurotic grape, Pinot Noir. IMHO, the fact that he trashed Merlot was a point in Merlot’s favor. I’ve recently been finding some really nice Merlots from my neighborhood (Washington state)for under $15.
July 31, 2007

Scarred1
Great Show Gary!

QOTD: I have been drinking Pinot and Merlot for years, as well as Cab, Shiraz and Zin. I still do. Before the movie, I felt like I had the pinots and zins all to myself, while everyone else gobled up cabs, merlots and shirazes. Now that the demand for pinots has increased and there are a lot more “poor” pinots available, I tend to focus on other unsung alternatives like zin and malbec. I still like a good merlot and a good pinot, but the values are not what they used to be.

Thanks and good luck tomorrow.
John
July 31, 2007

Mudd
QOTD: Nah. No movie has ever made me do anything I didn’t want to do. Except. I did buy a little chain steering wheel for my Buick after seeing Cheech and Chong’s Up In Smoke! Now there’s a movee!
July 31, 2007

Harley Stan
Gary, great episode, two cameos as well, one from Conan and the one from the Oak Monster. Can’t wait for tomorrow, I think I will watch the Conan show first then WLTV, it will be like a double feature.
QOTD- Sideways did impact me, I was not really into wine until I saw the movie, it sparked an interest. I do not frown upon merlot, I have been having fun trying everything I can.
July 31, 2007

RieslingRon
QOTD I must admit that prior to Sideways I enjoyed Merlots and viewed PN more as expensive burgundies from France. After Sideways I looked more into PN and less of Merlot, but after awhile I went back to Merlots and also look for PN. I still enjoy Merlots, especially from Wash. State.
July 31, 2007

holly
this guy is abnoxious! Your site was recommendeed by wine professionals so maybe I am too uptight.
July 31, 2007

Grapedigger
I’ve always been a sucker for Merlots from Bordeaux, especially St-emilion. Sideways did open my eyes to pinot noir but did not alter my affinity to Merlots..Bring us some more value Merlots..
Good luck on the big show tomorrow. Cheers…
July 31, 2007

Ben N.
Good show today.
QOTD: Sideways was a good movie, but I make up my own mind which wine to drink. Not what a movie tells me to drink.
July 31, 2007

Aheadwithwings
QOTD: I wasn’t heavy into wine when i saw Sideways but not that I am, when I hear Merlot…The negative lines from the movie do pop up in my head, but i have been making a effort to ignore those negative thoughts.
July 31, 2007

wlburk
good episode. cannot WAIT for Conan. I liked the little bit in there.

QOTD: I wasn’t old enough to drink before I saw the movei, but I was smart enough to realize that it was just a movie, and that it shouldn’t affect the way I fell about things in my life.
July 31, 2007

Paul M
Never was much of a Merlot fan well before Sideways. The movie did push me a little towards Pinot Noir but really the movie is tiny in its impact for me compared with WLTV.

Over the last year or so I have found an appreciation for Merlot in the right context, as well as many other varietals and love just trying new things and exploring what is out there.
July 31, 2007

Larry
Was way to far into Zinfandel by then to be concerned about Merlot. Did start trying PN after that. Very funny movie, but that would be like letting Homer Simpson choose my donuts.
July 31, 2007

Jeff
I noticed sideways when their ad agency started throwing money around buying overpriced ad space on the web. I remember thinking “I sure hope they know more about wine and moving making than they do online advertising.”

I was pleasantly surprised with the movie and it made me take notice that there were more than a few quality wines coming out of the central coast.

I was a big Pinot fan before Sideways and if anything it just made me drink less Pinot and expand what I was buying. The spike in demand made it harder to find or afford the wines that I’d found on sale a few months earlier.

I’ve been drinking the 2004 Clos Du Val Merlot – yummy stuff, much better than the other vintages of their merlot that I’ve tasted.

Congrats on Conan, the DVR is set.
July 31, 2007

Darlene O.
Hey, Gary, another great episode. QOD: Here’s the deal…’Sideways’ introduced me to Pinots, since I had not really given them alot of attention previously. Did not stop my love of Merlot, though…
July 31, 2007

joebot
QOTD- No way !! I don’t let hollywood dictate my tastes!! For me it was the opposite, it made me remember to give it a try as it was kind of on the backburner as far as varietals go even before the movie came out. I’m drinking merlot as I type this so there! And I gave it a Sniffy sniff SNIFF too before tasting it!!! Great show and good luck with the Conan O Brian show!

Joe
July 31, 2007

surf.sf
Gary, one of the most entertaining and educational episodes in a while. Keep bringing the thunder.

QOTD: as a side note LOVED Sideways has everything I like in a movie including a lot of wine geekiness! Never drank too much Merlot but the movie has made the grape Faux Pas to serve to wine geek friends at parties. I have had some good Merlots and I do find I often enjoy Cab/Merlot blends more silky than pure Cabs because I’m not a big fan of huge Tannic wines.
July 31, 2007

Boozer
Good episode. Interesting how taste change over time. Gary once the Oak Monster’s friend now his nemesis!

Episode Suggestion: Gary verses the Oak Monster!

QOTD: I was a not so much a new to wine but really just starting to get serious when I saw Sideways. It actually inspired me to try more of both. I saw the whole setup of Merlot and Pinot Noir as the butt end of a joke, as well as, an extension of the overall conflict of the characters.

Bottom line never let a movie pick anything for you.
July 31, 2007

Lenny
I still like Merlot, and I never heard of the movie Sidtrack – or whatever it is.

So I guess the answer is NO Holywood didn’t change my mind. Does it ever change the mind of anyone who has a brain?????