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 1, 2007

Pastore
QOTD: Didn’t drink a lot of wine prior to Sideways, so it didn’t really have an effect on what I drank! But I have been working hard to catch up, drinking and/or tasting every type of wine I can find!
August 1, 2007

Capt M
Why am I not surprised.. my conception about Merlot is that it is NOT a California top product, regardless of Sideways. Maybe Sideways was focusing on a point that is overall true. I wish that you have presented a french merlot among the ones you just tasted, just to put a light on the difference. True Merlot is supposed to be much austere than the Charles Creek Pasatiempo that you tasted.
The Conan O’Brien appearance was hilarious, well done!!
Sideways has not affected the way I select the wine varietals that I want to drink. For instance, WLTV has much more affected me in that way, and for instance, I go through normal cycles. Right now, I find myself seeking Cab Sauvignons quite a bit, and not very interesting in Pinots or Shirahs. I’m also trying to follow whites more. Anyway, GREAT SHOW!
August 1, 2007

Douche
QOTD: Pinot has always been my favourite, but since Sideways I’ve made more of an effort to seek out every weird and wonderful Pinot I can, from places like Spain, Austria, England, Sancerre, Italy and so on, Pinot that is a little bit off the beaten track. The thing I love most about Pinot (when done right!) is its ability to express its place of origin better than any other grape I’ve yet come across. I’ve also been drinking more Merlot, especially from France and South Africa…and drinking A LOT LESS CABERNET.
August 1, 2007

KC Dan
Funny stuff with conan there Gman . Where can i get a big ASS glass like that . Qotd no way man .
August 1, 2007

JOEinLA
Nice episode. Too bad about that Beringer. I was ready to pull the trigger so thanks for saving me~! I like Merlots, especially Italians!~

Sideways was dopey…2 loser guys…other than that, yeah, it was great.

QOTD: Didn’t change a thing other than bigger crowds at the central coast wineries.

Thanks for the Giants shout out to LT!
August 1, 2007

JCfromtheWC
Awesome job with the corks today.

QOTD: My wine consumption has picked up considerably since Sideways, though I don’t think my Merlot consumption has changed relative to other varietals. My pinot consumption has increased dramatically though I think that is as much due to a changing palate (away from just Big Cabs) as it is to our favorite movie. Good question.
August 1, 2007

Ferrigno
Comment 100
QOTD: mm I do like the pommerol stuff, I’m super far away from the “new world” varietals, that is, wine (particularly bordeaux varietals) produced in contries like USA, Chile, Australia, etc.. So after watching sideways I’m still into Pommerol and some St Emilion and very far away from the new world merlot
August 1, 2007

Judi
Gary, I did love the film Sideways, and I was seduced for a short time by
Pinot, but I have always been a Merlot drinker…I shall never forsake
that grape.
Can’t wait to see you on Conan.
judi
August 1, 2007

Bill Luby
By pure coincidence, I have had the opportunity to spend a little time with both Bill Walsh and Tom Snyder and I must say that regardless of how much they excelled in their field, they were first and foremost great men. Two big losses.

QOTD: I have often chuckled that I should have written the ‘Sideways’ screenplay, inasmuch as I was not a fan at all of (California) merlot, yet have spent a quarter century searching for better California/Oregon pinot noir. Sideways may have driven the price of pinot noir up, but it has been great for helping get boutique producers off the ground. In the end, Sideways put a public face on my personal preferences and didn’t really change a thing, except perhaps my desire to seek out new red varietals as the prices of pinot noirs have continued to climb.
August 1, 2007

Jahlove
Sideways was an entertaining movie but it didn’t affect my preferences. In fact, like a lot of folks I’m sure, it made me mad. I was a big Pinot fan before then but after that movie, prices rose big time, although it is fair to note that they were already on the rise. There was a buzz on the street, particularly about the increasing quality of Cali pinot, before that movie came out. So you can’t totally blame it on that movie. I never was a huge Merlot drinker before than. And actually I could probably argue that since that movie came out, I’ve actually bought more Merlot than ever before. I’ve noticed an increase in my interest in right bank, Merlot-based wines as well high quality Merlot out of Italy. Meanwhile with each new Cali and Oregon vintage, I curse under my breath. Oregon Pinots that used to be had at $20 or under are now $30 and over. Whatchagonnado?! Watch more WLTV I guess. Looking forward to seeing you on Conan. I know you’re gonna “bring the thunder!”
August 1, 2007

wine-ot
Buy the way the movie 300 rocks!!!!
August 1, 2007

wine-ot
99 points sign off gv….and really liked the show! Forgot to congradulate you on the Conan Show so CONGRADULATIONS! QOTD – Weighs subconciously on my decisions…
August 1, 2007

wildebeest
Wow, the Conan bit was classic! Thanks for the laugh; I’ll be watching you live tomorrow for sure!

QOTD: Honestly, I’m mainly a post-Sideways wine drinker. But Miles only got me started. It was Gary who hooked me.
August 1, 2007

wmole
I live near the sideways ava and have gone there a lot off and on for 10-15 years. Last saturday too! Have tasted a lot of pinots and syrahs in the area for free(not anymore) or for $5 at the wineries. For me before sideways, it was usually, what’s better? their pn, syrah, chard or sauv blanc. I liked big reds more then so i leaned to syrah.

Went to napa/sonoma for a little tour, had some fun, and got pretty tipsy. I eventually grew tired of the cab merlot zin chard thing over and over so I said to my mate, “I think I like our S.B county wines better than these”. She was on a merlot pilgrimage… gave me a look, and said nothing.

One Napa pourer, upon finding out where we were from, said, “what are you doing here? SB county wines are hot” Her comments were made pre-sideways.

The point? Two people in this story echoed Miles’ sentiment but to much lesser degrees. How many more were there?

I loved the movie, it was certainly made up, but also based on life around here. Also thought it was very un-hollywood in it’s dealing with the lizard brain. Too bad merlot was a victim but I ain’t cryin’ Also liked “A good year” and hope that Gary will someday review “Le coin perdu”. Ha!

QOTD: Yeh, it changed me, made me appreciate more what we have here… Actually it sucks, don’t buy it! Also made me think, correct me if I’m wrong, merlot should be blended.
August 1, 2007

Robert F
Actually, sideways didn’t have much to do with it, since it came out a few years before I started drinking wine, but actually WLTV has changed my merlot drinking. It has changed my merlot drinking in the same way it has changed all my other wine drinking, in that I don’t drink much califonria wine anymore. I was really into big aussi shirazes for a while there, but I got really tired of the huge new world hi-c mixed with vodka. Now that you’ve opened my mind to new regions and varietals, I’m drinking wines from argentina, south africa, spain, new zealand, and for my merlots, I’m all old world – Pomerol and St. Emilion. California really doesn’t do much for me anymore – the oak monster has too much power, and from a QPR standpont, I’ll take off-the-beaten-path wines over cali anyday.
August 1, 2007

Totte
QotD : No it didnÂ´t. I do feel not just a little bit like Miles quite often.

Hope you have a good time at Conan. Good Luck

Swedish T
August 1, 2007

SacramentoCharlie
Gary on Conan ??? who would have thought that ??? Oh wait, let’s check out my comment from Episode #259 in mid June:

“Good Episodeâ€¦blah, blah, blahâ€¦letâ€™s talk about the new ad in the new Wine Spectator !!! Nice Pub !!! Weâ€™ll be seeing GV on Conan or the Today Show before too long. Forget LeBron, we are all witnesses to GV blowing up !!!”

Would you like my prediction for the Jets this season too ?

QOTD: Wasn’t a big Merlot drinker before but probably have been influenced more than I realize as I don’t even seek it….but that’s one of the great things about wine….For example you can be ‘into’ blends and seek out that aspect. Then maybe you are on a cab streak for a while. Then maybe you get into a specific region……I love this about wine and am sure I’ll get Merlot back into the mix soon.
August 1, 2007

E
You know, without all the wine Sideways would have been a damned depressing flick. It made me want to crack a bottle, but that was about it. Besides, I’d rather have Cab Franc anyway, so what do I know.

In fact, I think I picked up some of the last Charles Creek merlot you did a show about … a little sweeter and oakier than I would have preferred, but all that aside still a really nice wine, esp. for Cali in that price range.

Oh, and then I discovered this thing called Bordeaux …
August 1, 2007

OttawaB
Always been a Merlot fan , especially St. Emilion and Pommrol. Also like some of the Washington State Merlots coming out. Cali merlots can be hit and miss but there are some great ones. I hope their prices remain in the QPR area however.

Also liked Pinots long before Sideways.

Good luck on Conan.
August 1, 2007

msb2ncsu
Great episode.

QOTD: My wife and I are still relative wine newbs but we were frequently buying wines by the case (variety cases of course!) before Sideways. While we love some Pinot Noir, I mean who doesn’t, we most definitely stick up for merlot. It is amazing how much hate there is for merlot among people who really don’t drink much wine beyond Yellow Tail and Kendall Jackson. When you ask them why they never really have any reason. It reminds me of how my wife, like me, loves vodka tonics but she swears she hates gin. I told her I was making a v&t but of course was making a gin and tonic with a good French gin that is strong in juniper flavor, Citadelle. I tell her the v&t tastes great and she should sample. She of course loves it and asks what I did differently. She was not too happy when I pointed out I simply used gin instead of vodka. People are hardcore in preconceived notions and it needs to stop!
August 1, 2007

t_moderne
Thanks for covering merlot.
QOTD – My wine consumption has been INDIRECTLY impacted by Sideways. First, I will drink Merlot – but there was (is) a fair amount of bad merlot out there – often vegetal or fake. Sideways did not make merlot go away and – if you look in the right places – you can find some very good merlot. Did someone say “Pomerol”? Yes, I did!
Where Sideways did impact me is on the Pinot side. It might have had an impact on the availability of good Pinot. My wine store carries much more Pinot today than it did a few years ago. The availability of more Pinot is what has indirectly impacted my wine drinking. More good Pinot available means more good Pinot to taste. If Sideways “changed the wine world” by making more good quality Pinot available for me to drink, then so be it. I’m down wit dat.
August 1, 2007

luvgrapesqeezings
I had too much good merlot from St. Emillion, Italy, Greece, Californy and Washington State before the movie to be entirely closed off to it like the movie’s protagonist. However, there was a large enough ocean of high yield, plonky merlot out there to turn off most anyone if they did not have good merlot. It’s fun to watch merlot naysayers in a blind tasting enjoy it! I’m a bit concerned about the amount of oak flavors in many wines where vanilla and cedar flavors mute the fruit.
It would be cool to learn more about old/new oak and how different degrees of grain fineness and types of oak effect wines (French oak vs Missouri oak vs. Slovenian oak etc…)
July 31, 2007

Mike S.
OK, When I first saw that movie, with the one great line “f—ing merlot” I have to admit, I sank in my seat and said to myself, what — What — WHAT the hell is wrong with merlot you stupid bald little son of a . . . .

Sorry, I can get a little loose at times. But you should of seen my wife, standing up on the backs of those theater chairs with both birds ablazing singin “die you merlot hating sack of. . . . .”, then she busted out her bag of grapes and started slinging them at the screen with her sling shot (wrist rocket, yeah you know). . . .

I lift my let on sideways…… and on O-Brian’s hair. OK, sorry, that was mean. I have the gold wrapped, extra extended, wide-screen version on my nightstand. . . . . I bought in on WL.com

Good luck tommorrow
July 31, 2007

Adam
Me, just starting to taste wine for about 3 or 4 months now, was wondering… is White Merlot a respected wine or is it just another white Zin?
July 31, 2007

nougat
Loved the movie Sideways, but it had zero impact on my Merlot & Pinot consumption.