The Pinot Noir Episode – Episode #317

September 19, 2007

Gary Vaynerchuk explores some Pinot Noir’s from different parts of the world.

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“If you like Mayer-Nakel Spätburgunder (pronounced with a long-A, by t…” by Bonn Professor
“Good show. I’ll try a pinot in the future and try to dig it (hopefull…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Castle Rock Pinot Noir SonomaSonoma Pinot Noir
2006 Coopers Creek Pinot NoirNew Zealand Pinot Noir
2005 Ghisolfi PinayLanghe
2004 Meyer Nakel Pinot Noir AhrGerman Red Wine

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Gary on Conan

230 Responses

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September 19, 2007

Scott S
Gary, Thanks for this Question of the Day. I love the “Holy Grail” Pinot Noir. I am sad that a great varietal has been caught up in a crappy trend. This so shall pass. When the Benedictine Monks began to pain stakingly document their vineyards in what in now know as Burgunday they were not focused on as passing trend, however due the their passion they produced an unwavering Ledgend. Lets all take a bow in the name of the “Holy Grail”!!!!!!! Pinot is pure Class!!!!
September 19, 2007

Pastafari Pirate
oops, almost forgot…………. Caw! Caw! Caw! Caw! Caw! Caw!
September 19, 2007

Cliff and Darcey
Yup, Gary, I AM mad at Pinot Noir … I used to spend less on amazing Burgundies than I have to spend on more local Pinot Noir, and it is rarely worth it! When it is worth the price, it is REALLY worth it, but I’m sick and tired of spending $25-$40 on mediocre Pinot Noir. Yeah I’m mad … pissed! But hey, whatchagunnadoo!
September 19, 2007

Pastafari Pirate
QOTD: naaah, not mad; indifferent. Every Pinot Noir I’ve ever had (except for 1 awesome Burgundy) has underwhelmed me. I generally don’t even bother with Pinots anymore, because they just never seem to have the ‘OOMPH’ that I like in a red. Sort of like the tall Scandanavian blondes that all the other guys just drool over, but don’t do anything for me. Blondes? Whatever. Give me a saucy fiery little Rioja or a sassy spunky Ribera del Duero or a feisty Sangiovese. Yeah, I don’t want a silky wine with a smooth finish. I want a paisano wine who will dance the Lambada with me, baby!
September 19, 2007

SteveW
Great Episode, can’t wait to watch Ellen.
QOTD: I’m mad at Oregon Pinot’s because the quality of these wines has not kept up their rapidly increasing prices. Back in the 90’s I use to drink alot of Oregon Pinot’s but now I drink mostly California (Love Sea Smoke) and New Zealand Pinot’s.
September 19, 2007

Kevin from Queens
QOTD…Not yet, but i definately will when and if I aquire a taste for it. I’ve tried the Castle Rock and a few others. have yet to be wowed by the varietal.

Should I be mad?
September 19, 2007

Harley Stan
Gary, great episode.
QOTD- no I am not mad at Pinot, it made many other quality wines cheap
September 19, 2007

Jon B.
Thanks for the pretape .QOTD No not mad but honestly I’m not a huge fan of the PN.I’ve got a few in the cellar I’m going to try very soon. Maybe they’ll change my mind. Great show today,thanks Gary and WLTV crew.
September 19, 2007

John K
QOTD: Yes, I’m a little mad. The Pinot name adds several bucks to a decent wine taking many brands from an everyday kind of wine to a special occasion wine. So I drink it less often. Perhaps this will lower demand and hence, prices. Wishful thinking. And the crap stuff is more expensive also. I learned not to bother with the cheap crap stuff. It’s like a cheap crabcake, don’t even bother. Splurge for the good stuff.
September 19, 2007

Kevin Ko-val-chik
QOTD: I’m not a Pinot hata’, I just drink more Merlot now that the prices are low.
September 19, 2007

TROC
I love Pinot Noir. I really don’t ever remember Castle Rock costing $5 bucks. Some have gone up in price, but doubled? I’ve been enjoying some French Pinot’s, Drouhin, Jadot, and others. Would love to try the German and Italian one’s.
September 19, 2007

Dominus
Love pinot, actually my favorite especially Oregon pinots. Answering Bobby B’s question regarding “what will the Willamette guys do when the bubble bursts?” Well, the rich yuppy Drs and lawyers who have come into the valley riding the Sideways coattails will be weeded out and leave and the likes of Ken Wright, Patty Green, Bergstrom, Domaine Serene, Beaux Freres and other winemakers/wineries will still be around to make great wine.

QOTD: Mad at pinot? Nope, love it, adore it and one must listen to the verbal intercourse between Miles and Maya regarding pinot to really, really appreciate it. A classic scene.

Good luck tomorrow. We’re rooting for you!

Cheers
September 19, 2007

Dominus
Love pinot, actually my favorite especially Oregon pinots. Answering Bobby B’s question regarding “what will the Willamette guys do when the bubble bursts?” Well, the rich yuppy Drs and lawyers who have come into the valley riding the Sideways coattails will be weeded out and leave and the likes of Ken Wright, Patty Green, Bergstrom, Domaine Serene, Beaux Freres and other winemakers/wineries will still be around to make great wine.

QOTD: Mad at pinot? Nope, love it, adore it and one must listen to the verbal intercourse between Miles and Maya regarding pinot to really, really appreciate it. A classic scene.

Good luck tomorrow. We’re rooting for you!

Cheers
September 19, 2007

Road Warrior
Road Warrior the Lurker is in. QOTD: Can’t be made at Pinot. Can be pissed at some winemakers who claim they can tame it and fall miserably short. Not much latittude with this grape. Like the fruit bomb new world styles coming from Sta. Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County. Still want to try some Sea Smoke after your episode a bit back. The Mark West is getting nice press and at an attractive price
September 19, 2007

italianwinelover
OMG…Goji Berries my new fav drinking in tea..shame it didn’t stand up
totally going to seek out the “Pinay”

QOTD: NOPE wasn’t too much in love with it to begin with…too much inconsisitancy…one time I’d taste it and it would taste like grape juice…next time it would be awesome (of course different regions)…movie had no influence other than to experiment with more, but didn’t appreciate that the price went up so I backed away cause you can get great value with other grapes. Like whats coming out of Oregon, they seem to have a nice handle on it!
September 19, 2007

Plminer
Sideways was so two years ago…
QOTD: No, I’m more pissed at Cali Cabs and Chards, I feel the prices on those guys are getting stupid. That’s why I’ve gone to Europe and am not coming back until things settle down in this country
September 19, 2007

Lev M
I tried the Pinay the other day. It was very fruity/flowery for the first hour or two that it was open, but then became earthy and funky which was interesting. It goes great with fish and clams actually (probably because its not a heavy hitter)
QOTD: A little mad, but that just makes it that much more special.
September 19, 2007

chitown_wino
Mad? Yes, (well not at pinot, I mean how can you be mad at a grape?) I’m a little pissed. I used to be able to buy my favorite Carneros pinot for $10 and now 10 years later I can’t touch it for under $30. I used to drink alot of Pinot Noir. Burgundy, pacific northwest, california, and lately New Zealand all were great buys before that damned movie. At least its now safe to drink Merlot.
September 19, 2007

chenrys
We actually got to try the Castle Rock at the same time you tried it. Very Cool! We like it, too.

QOTD: We weren’t into wines when “Sideways” came out so we didn’t know any better. BUT…I think you can get a better priced zinfandel than a pinot noir because of it.
September 19, 2007

yowens
GV- I’ve had that CastleRock before and found it not too shabby. QOTD: no. because I’ve never been a huge fan of pinot. I feel like now that everyone’s into pinot i should like it but i cant seem to find my niche with pinot. i guess i’ll just need to keep drinking.
September 19, 2007

amgryger
QOTD: Not really. I got into wine shortly after Sideways caused price inflation, so in my mind Pinot just costs what it does. Besides which, price inflation is pretty much a fact of life. The cost of my morning bagel went up 15 cents a couple weeks ago.
September 19, 2007

NYCowboy
Pinot does not make me mad, but then again I only tried it after I saw the movie and I do like it.
September 19, 2007

Randy
Yo Gary!

QOD: Not mad at any wine, except maybe the crappy White Merlot I had from Kokopelli Winery in Arizona, which tasted like bad White Zin only sweeter.
September 19, 2007

Dave Canada
Glad to see you re-surfaced…..how’s the cold?
Know it out tommorow!
QOTD – Hell no…..it helped out us Merlot lovers
September 19, 2007

Neil
Good Sonoma Pinot is hard to beat. Does Pinot make me mad? No. If I want to enjoy a good bottle with dinner and can afford it, why not? Is it an every day red? No, but second growth Bordeau isn’t either.