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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“QOTD: Just had the Salomon Undhof “GROOVEY SALoMON” Gruner Veltliner, …” by richardvinifera
“QOTD: 2006 Sterling Cabernet (not the vitner’s collection), some Gamay…” by ulu ulu ulu ulu
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Wines tasted in this episode:

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

277 Responses

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March 3, 2008

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

QOTD/2 – I only have the newest wristband.
March 3, 2008

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.
March 3, 2008

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.)
March 3, 2008

pawncop
I really enjoyed the series of head to head. I would suggest that you do this on a regular basis. Again, I have said this over and over but truth will never be too boring, I learn so much and remain very grateful for your approach to wine.
March 3, 2008

SaraMHCRU
i found myself at a random bar around 1pm on saturday with some friends i hadn’t seen in a long time, and i ended up with a glass of redwood creek merlot. i wouldn’t run out to buy a bottle but it wasn’t half bad…for an “afternoon wine”.

i’ve enjoyed these head-to-head shows and think you should continue to do them periodically, but i’m looking forward to seeing what other tricks you have up your sleeve!
March 3, 2008

Kathleen Lisson
I had the Sodero Estate (Napa) 2004 Cabernet Franc with my vegetarian enchiladas.
Kathleen Lisson
March 3, 2008

Lindsey
clarification: the Laveguilla, I believe was joven.
March 3, 2008

Lindsey
ItÂ´s Monday now, but Saturday night I had an Arguaga Crianza and a Laveguilla, both Ribera del Duero (joven, I believe), canÂ´t remember the vintages. Oh, and also some horrible homemade wine (also Ribera) and an albariÃ±o. IÂ´m trying to try non-Spanish wines, but itÂ´s hard!
March 3, 2008

DHerbie
Got all 3. I sent you a pic wearing two of them a little over a week ago and I received the third last week.

QOTD: was at a wedding which was great, but unfortunately the wine wasn’t worth remembering.
March 3, 2008

YoungDave
All 3 wristbands? WHAT DO YOU THINK?! I’ll get a pic to you soon!

QOTD: Argentine Torrontes and Adami Prosecco.
March 3, 2008

J.E. Villeneuve
Talking about great winemakers, look at what I found about Stephane Derenoncourt…that is now acting!! I have a dream: see all famous wine players (J. Robinson, M. Roland…and Gary of course!) create such videos and give me a good laugh!…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfSQCXZ7Wj4

J.E.
March 3, 2008

KingLurker-Trav
GOOD ep. Love seein mott!

thanks for the laid back friday!
March 3, 2008

Teddy T
This would be a great first episode for any new Vayniac to see (tell your friends!). This weekend I didn’t get a chance to open a bottle, but I did buy some lemonade from a kid with a stand, and it was…meh…a little Crystal Light on the nose, and kind of off balance with the sugar. I’d give it 88 pnts. At 50 cents per little red cup, i would have liked to see a better effort…
March 3, 2008

LL from VA
GV! Had another couple over to have a side by side comparison of an ‘04 Chateau Lascombes Margaux vs its 2nd wine (but different year), an ‘02 Chevalier de Lascombes.
March 3, 2008

KW
QOTD: Cali cabs this weekend. Saturday – 1998 Kendall Jackson a bit too hot, Sunday – 2001 St. Francis. Very nice – chocolate and tobacco flavors. Very smooth.
March 2, 2008

Rice
QOTD: H2O and one Gatorade… wine, nada. Sorry
March 2, 2008

malliemcg
QOTD:

What I drank on the weekend along with the fellah’s throwing me a bucks day (after paintball):

1x 2006 Brown Brothers Tempranillo (magnum, 1/2 used as sangria base)
1x 2003 Wirra Wirra `The Angelus (aka Dead Ringer)` Cabernet Sauvignon
1x 2004 Banrock Station Red of some decription
1x 200? Shiraz Cleanskin – fruitbomb all the way, but so much better than YT
1x Pirramimmma Digby Tawny Port

The The banrock station was not memorable nor that nice, the Wirra Wirra was exceedingly good (and what I started the arvo on), the banrock not so good the others drinkable and the port was a brilliant capper to the evening.
March 2, 2008

Eric
GV, it’s Daniel BOULUD (not Bouley – that’s David Bouley).

QOTD: went to a Catena wine tasting this weekend in Philly at the Tria Fermentation school (http://www.triacafe.com/store/cart.php?m=product_list&c=1). Fun night as always.

Followed that up with dinner at a BYOB where I had a 1999 Domaine du Jaugaret – excellent wine, got the heads up from Eric Asimov’s blog.

Now drinking a David Coffaro Escuro.
March 2, 2008

Daniel O
I gotta say, this week has to rank up there as one of my favourites! I love the head to head format and hope to see it again soon!

QOTD: It was my birthday so I drank a Marques de Caceres Rioja Gran Reserva 1975 (The year I was born!) and man it was great!
March 2, 2008

ktw
GV – I have all 3 WBands and can back it up with a pic – just tell me where to send it…i smell a new contest…
March 2, 2008

Donna Marie
QOTD: 2001 M. Chapoutier “Belleruche” Cotes du Rhone. Vicks Cough Syrupy, black cherry for days…licorice, anise component, balanced by age, not super complex–rather one-dimensional.
March 2, 2008

Orville B
Alamos Malbec –wow– only 10 bones here in Calgary. Nice

JB
March 2, 2008

wannaBconnoisseur
Great WEEK of shows!!

Q-Friday had an Argentine Malbec, that was pretty good…a little fruit bomby though. Saturday had a S. African Syrah at a wine bar, not great, rather blahh. Tonight with dinner had a really good, reasonably priced Oregon Pinot, 2006 Montinore Estate, Willamette Valley.
March 2, 2008

Panosh
Went to a party this weekend. You were asked to bring a bottle of wine that you could tell a story with. Something that meant something or something made up. Most people brought some great wine and it was a great time.

We took my last bottle of Neal ‘04 Cab.
March 2, 2008

Hank
bro – when you whipped out that line about donny b singling up the middle i almost fell out of my freakin chair. fantastic reference – made my day for sure.
qotd: Zardini Valpolicella and Zind Humbrecht pinot blanc