Under The Radar, Merlot

Under The Radar, Merlot – Episode #407

February 13, 2008

Gary today looks at Merlots from 3 different regions. Is Merlot a wine which people have forgotten about?

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Comments on this episode(414) Leave a comment ›

“QOTD: Generally prefer low oaking, with the exception of classic oak s…” by richardvinifera
“I’m an Oak Monster Swing voter… I have a hard time with it’s views o…” by Elliott
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2002 Grapes Of Roth MerlotNew York Merlot
2003 Chateau Beausejour BecotSt Emilion
2004 Long Shadows PedestalWashington Red Meritage

Links mentioned in todays episode.

The OakMonster.com

414 Responses

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February 18, 2008

plonkdumper
Nay on the Oakmonster. Understand how/why people are so easily seduced by it – sweet and warm and soft – it just GETS SO OLD! Maybe like once a year when your eating raw grizzly bear or something, on a mountain… it does goes well with campfires. But c’mon! Are you into wine or Oak-aid!
February 18, 2008

Philip
I really have split feelings on oak…

I loved the recommendation on the Four Vines “Naked” Chardonnay recommendation back in episode #289 as those styles I’ve always felt were susceptible to hitting you over the head with the oak to the detriment of everything else going on. That actually started getting me back into some of the whites I haven’t been anxious to try in a while.

Some of the heartier reds (which I admit is the majority of my consumption) can stand up to much heavier uses of the Oak Monster and he can be a very welcome friend when everything else in the wine can stand up to him and punch him back in the nose if he starts to get a bit unruly.

The Oak Monster is just one of those friends that thinks he’s being subtle when he really isn’t. Since he doesn’t do subtle you cannot hint at when he’s getting out of control you just have to tell him “dude, you’ve crossed the line!” Up till that line, though, he’s a lot of fun to be with.
February 18, 2008

NADINE
Too bad for the excess oak … it kills the wine. I am definately not for the oak,
February 18, 2008

bundydb
Not too big on the Oak…. Grew up helping my dad in the shop building things on the weekends and such so every once in a while I’d get a mouth full of saw dust, lol. Didn’t like it then and I don’t care for it now.

Glad you are keeping the Thunder Rolling!!
February 17, 2008

kenny
Too much oak is like artificial sweetener. Artificial!
February 17, 2008

Wine Lover Jen
Hi Gary…
My boyfriend got me hooked on WLTV and I am an iTunes lurker. This is my first post, ever. I am not a fan of the Oak Monster…it bothers me when he really ruins a Chard that I’ve never tried before.
Jen
February 17, 2008

GalvezGuy
Against the Oak Monster. Sometimes it works, but overoaking more often than not can ruin a really good wine.
February 17, 2008

JÃ¸rn Idar
QOTD: The monster is there, and if it is, it’s ok.. Don’t love the monster, don’t hate it
February 17, 2008

David M Roberts
I’m afraid of the Oak Monster. He needs to go back to throwing apples at Dorothy in that Oz film…
February 17, 2008

JerZGeo
Davie Hogan was the kid in “stand by me.”
February 17, 2008

DARREL LAS VEGAS
The OAK thing lay of it !

LOVE THE OAK ,breeding a bunch of H-C V-nagnacs
February 16, 2008

Paul
Loved the video, I bet GV was training his palate at that age. I started too late, so now I have to catch up. Oak in red wine is not so bad, but prefer whites without the monster.
February 16, 2008

Blake
QOTD: Not a big Oak fan…but subtle oak in my opinion is necessary to make a wine taste complete.
February 16, 2008

Canadian Chris
QOTD: dig the oak monster when he’s playing nicely, but when all you get is vanilla cream puffs and a dash of fruit, I get a little crazy too.
February 16, 2008

WinÃ˜
Against monstrous oak for sure.
February 16, 2008

Boston Chris
STAY AWAY OAK!!! Bring the fruit…lots of fruit….bring it heavy and hard….I love it.
February 16, 2008

Quoc
Love Vivian!

QOTD: Don’t like oak. Don’t like the monster.
February 16, 2008

The Adam Bomb
QOTD: I agree some oak can be a nice, but overall I’m against the Oak Monster.
February 16, 2008

Ohio Bruce
For, within reason. Why else would we use oak barrels?
February 16, 2008

Bill
QOTD: If the oak monster was Frankenstein, I’d be in with the villagers holding the pitch forks. AGAINST!
February 16, 2008

LudwigVan
QOTD: Against!
February 15, 2008

sev
Cool show! After Sideways I heard a lot of comments about merlot, but merlot is in some of the best wines in the world. I am also from Long Island so it was fun to see you do one of the local wines, although a highly overrated, overpriced one.

QOTD: Definitely against the oak monster. To me, over-oaked wine smells too much like bourbon, and that is not a good thing in my opinion. I guess it would have to be American oak in that case because that is the only kind of oak used in bourbon. brand new American oak. Not sure what flavors/aromas too much French oak impart.
February 15, 2008

Eli
I don’t like the oak monster. It makes wines taste more like a product — its consistent every time. I like it when a wine surprises me.
February 15, 2008

Mick Pegg
I am really fond of the oak monster! So when you talk about the oak monster my ears perk up!!!
February 15, 2008

Grapedigger
Here is an interesting oak quote which I totally agree with:
“Oak in wine should be like a ghost. You sense its presence, but you don’t actually perceive it.” â€“ Pierre Seillan, Vigneron