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 13, 2008

FJDR
QOTD: I’m still figuring out my feelings about the OM. Need to drink more wine!
February 13, 2008

ryang
QOTD: Oak monster bad. I’m almost hyper sensitive to the oak monster. as soon as i get a hint of it I’m annoyed and it puts me in a bad mindset. I have to make a point to keep my mind open as i drink the wine.
February 13, 2008

cumpari
QOTD: Just say no to the Oak Monster! Ah, I guess the Reagans were good for something!

GV: Do you think sometimes you might consider wines that are not only built to last, but should laid down before being popped? I’ve not tried the Pedestal, but I do wonder if that is a goal of the winemaker(s) on that project. I have tried the 04 Chester/Kidder last winter and it was barely drinkable (killer tannins)…definitely needed some more time to settle down. Just a thought, mang.
February 13, 2008

pawncop
Not a huge fan of the OM, I think some oak is good too much not so good. You can waste as much wine as you wnat, ain’t my wine.

Love the palate training of Vivian.
February 13, 2008

SGoodwin
Vote “no” on the oak monster.
Vote “yes” on the big-ass glass.
And, unfortunately, I have to vote “no” on Vivian. Cute as all get-out but not sure how it qualifies as “spreading the thunder”!
February 13, 2008

Glenn
Hey you jerk, why are you wasting so much wine?

No fan of the OM here and thank you for reminding me why I dislike Merlot
February 13, 2008

TonyStro
Altho I appreciate a LITTLE oak, I also feel the presence of indicates the winemakers’ skepticism as to the quality of their effort. It’s like a girl with tons of makeup, she’s hiding something!
February 13, 2008

F.
Nothing against the Oak monster, particularly…

but shattering small glasses with big-ass glasses is really cool!
February 13, 2008

GoldensGirl
QOTD: Sorry. Too clueless to know the answer to this one.

Would like to say that I’m in the camp that thinks you’re wasting wine needlessly when you pour and toss. Way too much effort goes into growing the grapes and making the wine to dump the stuff (even in jest) unless it’s crap. Wine is a slow and thoughtful drink that doesn’t deserve to be treated as a “who cares?” disposable commodity. Just asking you to respect the wine the way we respect you. No offense.
February 13, 2008

mark
i actually love the oak !!! tastes great !!
February 13, 2008

Marshall
QOTD:I hate the oak monster.
February 13, 2008

Clifford
If the Oak Monster wins this election, I’m leaving this country!

Sincerely,
Alec Baldwin
February 13, 2008

farmer jim
sometimes I get the craving for a little oak… a little oak…. the oak monsters baby bro
February 13, 2008

J Crazy
QOTD: I vote “nay” for El Senor De La Monstera Del Oak. Little baby Oakitos are cool. The always elegant Madame Oak L’oak is rockin’ but when such is the oak that we need Prof. X to come in and manage his mutations we have something that is not very pleasant. Like life, it’s all about balance baby.
February 13, 2008

Sassodoro
QOTD. When the oak is monstrous, no I don’t like it. But a touch of oak can be very nice. It’s all about balance.
February 13, 2008

Mikie C
No to the over-oak monster. No need for it in excess, since it does cover up many other qualities the wine should be able to express on it’s own. It’s kind of like a “helicopter parent” who never let’s their child speak on their own – a mom or dad who doesn’t trust the kid to say something meaningful…
February 13, 2008

Lev M
QOTD: oak should play a supporting role (if at all). Long ago when they started making wine, it was probably a lot harder to make new barrels all the time so they were probably recycled a lot. I am sure that older wines had no oak monster. Wood was used because we didnt have stainless steel…I dont think it was ever intended for oak to become a prominent flavor.
If you look at wine, the only other ingredient besides grapes is oak. It seems like when people dont stand behind their harvest, they will resort to oaking it. I sure hope us vayniacs can change that mindset. I know plenty of people who are used to drinking oak monster wines.
I also dont know if anyone has done research on this, but from my experience, heavily oaked wines make me sick sometimes. Maybe its got something to do with the chemicals in the wood?
February 13, 2008

Kev and Ams
QOTD: Against Oam-Monster, Pro Vivian.
February 13, 2008

Hugh
YET ANOTHER JAY MILLER OVER-RATED (OR GV UNDER-RATED) EFFORT….
I like the oak monster, when he’s “on a leash”
That viv is so cute, the video left me wondering….what is the flavor profile of mom’s finger?? I guess that depends……
February 13, 2008

mikey lennon
Well if we are being political and can only choose one side. I would say against the oak monster. Better to have a wine with no oak and able to show its other characteristics than having an over-oaked wine.
February 13, 2008

Scott S.
Gary,
QOTD: Against the oak. The Cali wine makers need to spend some time in Bordeaux. You would think they could figure it out!. Oak treatment is an Art, not to be applied with a bulldozer!

Ok man, now some advice. I have been watching the show from day 1 so you know I love you. Please try to be a little respectful with wasting wine. Your not getting the desired impact anymore. Really no reason to do this. You tell us all the time from where you came and struggle your family had. Put that thought in your head when you are wasteful. I can laugh at everything you do but your over the wire on this one!
February 13, 2008

kaybee
QoTd
I love the vanilla, but no Oak Monster!
February 13, 2008

Oregon Jim
Qotd – Oak good, Over-oak bad. Over-oaking in reds just tastes like biting into a piece of wood that sucks all the other flavors of the wine away.

When tasting from vats at a winery you see the complexity that oak adds to most fine wines, however it takes many good decisions as to the amount of new oak, the type of oak, and the time in oak barrels to come out with a good result.
February 13, 2008

Grape Expectations
I feel your pain about the broken glass, GV. It was a Vayniac glass, wasn’t it? I broke my Seattle Vayniac glass a couple of days after I got it. Made me sad.

Way ta go, Vivian! We are learning so much from you.

QOTD: With oak, like most things in life, moderation is the key. As long as it knows its place and plays well with others it’s okay. But in its bully-boy monster persona it’s hard to live with. So that would be a vote against from me.
February 13, 2008

Jon Martinez
I must say I am not a fan of the oak monster in any form. But it will be interesting what the wine will be like when it has aged and that oakiness has gone away. Who knows it may be a stunner in 10 years. A really great Merlot from Washington State that I tried was the 2005 Amavi. I had it at a restaurant. The price point is about half of the others.