New Zealand vs France Syrah Showdown

New Zealand vs France Syrah Showdown - Episode #419

February 29, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk concludes the head to head showdown today with a classic battle pitting New Zealand against France.

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Comments on this episode(274) Leave a comment ›

“you suck who can afford to pour it back in ? not the majority of your …” by cheech
“Don’t know yet. Having Tuna Tataki and I usually drink pinot with that…” by Lawrence Leichtman
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2004 Craggy Range Le Sol SyrahNew Zealand Syrah
2004 Puech Haut Clos Du PicLanguedoc-Roussillon

274 Responses

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about 6 months ago

cheech
you suck who can afford to pour it back in ? not the majority of your audience
about 8 months ago

Lawrence Leichtman
Don’t know yet. Having Tuna Tataki and I usually drink pinot with that. I have a Domaine Serene waiting to be opened. I only have tow wrist bands a red and a black. when did I miss one?
about 8 months ago

Dan-o
Lets see, you did this show last weekend - I am catching up one week later.
Last weekend I drank a great Syrah from a good friend’s brother in law who lives in CA. It was fabulous.
about 8 months ago

Charlie Berg
I think that was the best head-to-battle yet. Gary–I’ve commited to start leaving a comment for every show starting…..–now. You deserve at least that. for rizzle.
about 8 months ago

Andy
A week late I know but if you want a retardedly obvious pepper nose Syrah I actually drank one tonight: Havens Cellars 2003 Napa Valley Syrah. I got practically nothing but white and black pepper for about two hours from opening the bottle. Pretty crazy stuff, and under $15 locally.
about 8 months ago

Paul Horan
I was in NAPA all weekend!!
First, for the marathon (www.napavalleymarathon.org), then stuck around to taste some WINE.

Did all the biggies:
- Opus One (wow)
- Heitz (consistently good)
- Grgich Hills (very nice)
- Silver Oak (meh)
- Silverado (meh again)
And some boutiques:
- Elizabeth Spencer (awesome!)
- Cosentino (so much fun. great zins)
- Del Dotto (PHENOMENAL - best of the weekend)

-Paul in VA-
about 8 months ago

H-Why
Loved the “Head to Head” format for these five episodes. Perhaps one or two episodes like this each week?
about 8 months ago

Dave from VA
QOTD: Sick with the flu, so, not very much besides tea and water.
about 8 months ago

Robertico el cantante
QOTD, coincidence… hahaha Shiraz tasting at my brother in law’s…
about 8 months ago

J-Pipes
QOTD: All I could manage this weekend was a glass of Wolf Blass Chardonnay at a restaurant - then Sunday I did have some Long Flat
cab/Shiraz and some Wyndham Bin 222 Chard. They were all decent, not life changing.
I only have the first two wristbands… I must have missed the episode where you offered a third!!
about 8 months ago

Dr. Mike
got all 3.
about 8 months ago

Cliff and Darcey
Heya GeeVee … I indeed have all three wristbands! Unless someone STOLE THEM!

QOTD: Drank a poor bottle of Chardonnay from the grocery store, where $30 doesn’t necessarily buy quality.
about 8 months ago

Capt M
Very, very cool episode. Both wines are worth placing on the wish list or the shopping cart. Very, very nice. QOTD: nutin, antibiotics
about 8 months ago

BW
QOTD - We had a 2005 D’Arenburg Laughing Magpie Shiraz - a good std. Aussie fruit bomb - with steaks.
about 8 months ago

C-Fiddy
QOTD:
We had a Hatcher Cab Franc that was really nice. I was looking for the bell pepper, but I thought I got more Broccoli & Asparagus. A year ago I would have never been looking for the veggies and just said strawberry and dried cherries, which were there too, but THANK YOU GV. I now drive my wife nuts with every bottle!!!

Hey, if you want and alternative to Sniffy-Sniff, how about “Nose-Check”?
about 8 months ago

Scottie P
QOTD: Gary, I’m pumped to say that I tried my first Barbera on Sunday. I never heard of the Barbera grape till WLTV. I liked it and will seek out more. I went with a small group on the Brandywine Wine Trail in South Eastern PA. A winery named Va La Vineyards had some nice Wine and cheese parings. They had a nice Barbera and I enjoyed a blend containing the Sangiovese grape. Over all we hit 3 of the 6 wineries on the trail and Props to them for arranging such a nice “Passport” event this month. With their passport you also get the opportunity to taste from a couple barrels and experience wines in different stages of the process. Very cool! We even got to sample the same wine in a 1yr old barrel and a 4yr old barrel to taste the impact the barrel age has on the wine. It was loads of fun!
about 8 months ago

Cuse Wino
Luv the head to head comparisons!
I drank Penley Phoenix Cabernet and Treana Red Meritage. Nice weekend.

Keep up the good shows!!!!
about 8 months ago

Colin
GV - As always, thanks for the show. QOTD - Carmeniere (to prepare for my Wine Club - which is doing Merlot - wanna see the similarities).
about 8 months ago

wayno da wino
Gee !! Loooooved da Head-to-Head Tastings!!!!!
Waaaay Cooooool, especially This Episode!! Nice Cameo by da
Mott-ster!!!

QOTD: Didn’t drink anything this weekend. Was at Death Valley
National Park stumpin’ around wit’ da Coyotes !!
about 8 months ago

ValerieM
QOTD: I drank Montevina Barbera 2005(? not sure of the year), it was delicious!!!!!
about 8 months ago

JeffC
Hey whats with the paper funnel trick. Wont that hose up the wine flavor??
QOTD: Given the weekend is over. Out for dinner Friday evening, found 2006 Nora Albarino on the wine list for $22. No brainer. Sat we had Alamos Malbec with grilled lamb chops. Very nice.

Great show Gary. Keep’em coming.
about 8 months ago

TimF
Can you please taste a Volnay sometime during the month of March?

http://tv.winelibrary.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15433
about 8 months ago

LauraG
QOTD - I drank Tawny Port all weekend - guess I’m on a kick.

QOTD/2 - I only have the newest wristband.
about 8 months ago

Iron Man
The 2004 Palo Alto Roro mentioned is a good wine, it tastes like real wine as oppose to $10 Cali wine that taste like watery cough syrup. 90 points is kinda high, I think 88 points is where it is, but it’s a solid, solid wine that goes very good with food, I guess if I owned a wine store, I’d definitely sell it with a 90 point rating.

QOTD: 2006 Clerico Dolcetto D’Alba, 2006 Two Hands Angel’s Share Shiraz…not balling like GV, but maybe that will change this weekend.
about 8 months ago

Roro
Paris,

In response to your post below, as far a Chile is concerned the obvious choice would be an Almaviva, 93pt WA and WS. Even though the 05′ got better ratings at 95pt WS and 94pt R.Parker. For under 20 bones, the Palo Alto Reserve Red if you can find an 04′. This wine is a 90+ pt. effort, but all vintages i’ve tried have been pretty consistent.

>>Great show (as always). Long-time Syrah fan, constantly amazed that >>variations on the nose, even from the same vintage. Anyway, I got REALLY >>excited about the 2004 Bordeux show and have taken it a bit further. Iâ€™ve >>started hunting down 2004 Bordeux varieties from all the regions (France, >>Chile, Washington, Oregon, California, etc.) to do a â€œThunder-tasting!!!â€ >>Iâ€™ll let you know how it goes.
>>
>>(Iâ€™d also welcome any suggestions.)