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

Karl Laczko
You’ll have to do better than that to make me want a Merlot!

QOTD – I only watched Sideways for the first time last week. I’ve never been a big Merlot fan, other than the right-bank stuff from Bordeaux. I don’t mind it as a minor blend component elsewhere. Pinot I’m OK with, not radical or anything, prefer the New World style. There are many other varieties out there, I’m still doing the rounds before I decide on any favourites.

Good luck tonight on Conan.
August 1, 2007

Jayhitek
I was a fan of wine way before Sideways.
August 1, 2007

Jen Loves Wine
Great episode. I’ve been drinking wine for about 8 years and I’ve always liked Merlot. I like Phelps Merlot, but they aren’t going to produce it anymore I have heard where other wineries are going to stop producing Merlot as well. It’s a shame because it’s a great varietal and can make lovely wines.
August 1, 2007

italianwinelover
Good eps!

QOTD: Never was a very big fan of Merlots, it was a starting point at least 2 years before and got passed that pretty quick. Sideways did influence me to the point that I realized there are soooo many other wines and made me want to go to the wine country. I think its a good blending grape, especially with Cab Franc. Not really interested in revisiting them, too many other wines I enjoy…although the Umbria Merlot peaked my interest and at that price point its not too much of an investment!

Good luck on the show tonite…too bad you can’t hook up a link for us who don’t have a tv to see it!!
August 1, 2007

rkWineCellar
I usually disagree with Hollywood, so it is no surprise that my merlot consumption increased & my pinot noir consumption decreased! I can’t say it was a direct effect of the movie, but it was a definite response to the “fad”. If it is good, I drink it. If someone endorses it or smashes it, I could care less. (Unless you are Gary.)
For instance, Yellow Tail is “all the rage” in my area. I don’t like the stuff. But for some reason, a lot of “wealthy” people are into this wine & think that you are trash if you drink anything else. I can’t stand winesnobs. What’s the deal?
Good luck on Conan!
August 1, 2007

Lawrence Leichtman
In Sideways the merlot issue was a metaphor for Mile’s hypocricy about everything else in his pathetic life. It isn’t a bad example for all of they wine drinkers out there who say I won’t drink this or I won’t drink that without trying it. I had decreased my buying of Merlots about 5 years before the movie came out because the prices weren’t matching the quality and have been drinking Pinot Noir since I first starte drinking wine. To this day, except for white varietals I’m not a strong believer in single grape reds. I like blended wines as the different varietals complement each other and if made right bring out the best. In fact Pinot Noir is one of the few red varietals that doesn’t benefit from blending. Good luck on Conan. I will certainly be watching as long as it doesn’t come on at the same time as the Daily Show or Colbert.
August 1, 2007

Brent
Also, you’ve got to get Conan to wear the Oakmonster shirt. I could see him really getting into that as a ‘phrase’.
August 1, 2007

Brent
Being from WA state, I never really noticed a big down-tick in Merlot since we make a lot of good Merlots here.
August 1, 2007

MrTC
When I saw Sideways I wasn’t even wine-aware enough to remember or distinguish Merlot or Pinot Noir, so I can honestly say it had no influence on me.

Having said that, I later figured out that many of my favourite wines in the world are from Pomerol – so I obviously have no problem with Merlot (at least in a skilfully made blend).

In any case I don’t buy much traditional single-grap ‘big 3′ (Cab Sauv / Merlot / Pinot Noir) wines, mostly because they often represent poor value and often lack character. Sure there are great ones from Bordeaux and Bourgogne, but then the prices are in line with their quality…
August 1, 2007

BW
QOTD :

About the same. Always have enjoyed a good Merlot, especially from Washington St – they should
have got some time on today’s show.

Good luck on Conan!
August 1, 2007

Deano
Hey Gary,

I have been gone out of the country for my honeymoon for a couple weeks but this is a great episode to come back to. It was good and i will be watching conan tonight to see you on that

QOTD:
I have always loved merlot and after watching sideways i still love it the same if not more and i drink merlot most of the time. Lets bring MERLOT BAAAAAAACK YEEEEEEEP!!!
August 1, 2007

David
Merlot ? of the day (yes I’m on day behind) No, H-wood did not effect my view on Merlot. However, it did probably push me a little more towards trying more Pinot. But more importantly,people always ask what type of wine do you drink, which strikes me as a funny question. Why is it that people seem to think you can only possibly like one type of grape? I tend to tell them I like all wines, just depends on the wine itself. Does not matter if it is a Cab, Shiraz, Pinot, or Viogne, as long as it tasts good to me I simply do not care. BTW, love your show, always very intertaining.
August 1, 2007

Raybo1959
I was a Merlot drinker- not a huge fan, but I did consume it. After the movie I did get more into the Pinot’s. I am still a Cab and Shiraz fan, also throw a Zin in there as well, just to make it a 3 way! :-0)
August 1, 2007

Rick McQ
Gary:

Rarely drank Merlot both prior too and after “Sideways”. I found a couple I love but most would be forced to have at Weddings or work events which were poor. The movie did get me to try Pinot Noir, which is I started to like, but have since moved away.
August 1, 2007

Chris G
Never was a big fan of Merlot (although had an Oyster Bay the other day which I really liked) so Hollywood didn’t make much difference on that front HOWEVER I think it pushed up the price of Pinot Noir which definitely affected me and my bank manager!
August 1, 2007

Jameus
Thanks for getting us an episode in spite of having a busy day man. GOOD LUCK on Conan tonight! I’ll try to watch, but will record it just in case I can’t hehe.

QOTD: I never saw that movie and don’t think I will anytime soon either. As for being influenced by Hollywood, naw I’m to focused on expanding my horizons now to get swayed into any particular direction
August 1, 2007

Sonnenuhr
QOTD Sad to admit that Merlot was my entry into red wine and I abondoned it but I’m coming back baby!

Will check out the merlot from Umbria and Charles Creek.

Gary goes mano-a-mano with the Oak Monster and crushes the beast (84!!!)…
Gary – Gary – Gary *\o/*
August 1, 2007

Swashbuckling Larry
QOTD – I really hadn’t heard of PN, I don’t think it impacted my Merlot as much as it got me to see what all the fuss over PN was.
- Loved the spoof of Conan’s interview of celeb deal. Best wishes to you on his show.
August 1, 2007

Rick "the model" M
Sweet episode. Cant wait to see you tonight on Conan man.
August 1, 2007

Lurkerdog
GVNC, Nice spoof on Conan, good luck on the show. Nice comments regarding Bill Walsh, as a long-time 49er fan, its a sad day. Thanks to him, we had an awesome 15 year run!

QOTD: Thought Sideways was a great movie. Reminded me of some road trips with my college bros. Probably temporarily changed my wine drinking habits. Sought out more Pinots. Now looking for good values in Merlot.
August 1, 2007

Palmer
QOTD: I was always a huge Pinot Noir drinker and never liked Merlot for a long time before SIDEWAYS, which I thought was an extremely overrated film. I’m drinking the same wines I always was, just paying a lot more for them now…

Gary – Have fun on Conan tonight and don’t be shocked by his size – he’s like 6′5″-6′6″.
August 1, 2007

Kirk W
I’ve always been a fan of GOOD merlot so Sideways didn’t influence me regarding my drinking habits much. If anything I probably drink less Pinot Noir since Sideways. Lots of Pinot producers raised their prices and I think there is a lot of “fake” tasting pinot out there too. I’m not going to complain about people backing off merlot since the movie cuz there is more of it out there at good prices for me. Corte Riva is one of my favorites along with Keenan and Pride.
August 1, 2007

David Noone
I couldn’t be happier for you on your appearance on Conan. I’m still amazed that you try to answer all your e-mails (wow, what a work ethic!!!), and I’m glad you’ve got so much momentum now. Change is good; so I’m happy to do my part, with other Vaniacs, and a little bit of you, and a little bit of Conan, and hopefully a some more press, and a whole lot of wine, in changing the wine world.

Good luck on the show!

QOTD: I like merlot…tell you the truth, I’ve never found any kind of wine that was consistantly bad. I’ve enjoyed them all.
August 1, 2007

Sassodoro
QOTD: Sideways didn’t affect my attitude toward Merlot, but it did get me to revisit American Pinot Noir. It was much better than I had remembered from many years before. Unfortunately, it got expensive.

Have fun with Conan tonight. I’ll be watching (well, recording) it.
August 1, 2007

Aaron
QOTD: Hated sideways. But, now Merlots are much harder to find in my local stores; So I do drink less of it, yes. Also, Merlots seem to have fewer PQRs than other varietals.