California vs Washington State Syrah Showdown

California vs Washington State Syrah Showdown – Episode #461

May 8, 2008

Today in a head to head confrontation Gary Vaynerchuk pits 2 Syrahs against each other, one from Washington State and the other from California.

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Comments on this episode(164) Leave a comment ›

“You Made Some Good Points There. I Did a Search on the Topic and Found…” by Knipe
“Looking for a Washington Syrah on Google brought me to this episode.
…” by mrzitro
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Rhapsody3 Syrah
2005 Gramercy Cellars Walla Walla Valley Syrah

164 Responses

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May 10, 2008

Jim in Atlanta
QOTD – I have had quite a few mediocre wines over $30. Many wines are over priced these days. Someone recently shared a glass of a $100 Napa Cabernet with me and it was nothing special.
May 10, 2008

tom
Plumpjack Syrah 2005 — too over the top, too much fruit, sugar, alcohol — too new world…..
May 10, 2008

Justin Viger
Yay, a head to head. Oh not that exiting of wines.
May 10, 2008

bob c
Actually, havent bought a 30 dollar wine yet…..
May 10, 2008

Vinacull
Nice EP Gary. Too bad these were both Vaynerpazzz’s. QOTD: Not all of these were recent, but here are some that readly jump to memory. Some of these are more than 30 bones, some less.
Duckhorn Vineyard Paraduxx Cab. I think it was ‘02. Smooth and fruity but unidimensional and definitely not worth the $$ (I think it’s around $42)
2004 Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta (WL EP 298). I can’t believe WS gave this a score of 93. Again great mouthfeel but this was definitely not memorable in the right way. Gary you were kind with an 89.
2005 Turley Old Vines Zinfandel. Very good zin, but not multidimensional or interesting enough to warrant the $30 price tag. People are quick to jump on the bandwagon and say Turley is overhyped, but I am not in that camp. I have had some that are sublime – especially when they taste like Rhones.
2005 MollyDooker Boxer. Not $30, but in the $20 range this was a MASSIVE disappointment, and shocking when looking at the 95 point WS score. Drank this three weeks ago and I still can’t get over what a gloppy alcoholic mess it was. Also drank the ‘05 Maitre D Cab which was almost as bad. The ‘05 Two Left Feet was somewhat better than both, but still not in the excellent to outstanding range.
2003 Guigal CDP. Have to agree with other commenters here, which hurts because I am an avid Guigal follower. Drink em’ if you got em.
2002 Pegau CDP. We are HUGE fans of Pegau CDP (the ‘89 Reservee is one of the best old school CDP’s I’ve ever had). This one is just so thin, it unfortunately is not worth the price tag, which is about $45.
2004 Delisio Catalyst. This one gets a borderline vote. Huge and like a velvet glove, but definitely not the 96 that RP gave it and questionable regarding 34 price point, IMO.
‘Nuff said. There are so many examples.
May 10, 2008

T. Bone
A lot more than $30, but the last 3 Sea Smokes have been atrocious. Not sure if it’s bottle shock or what, but they are sucking. No fruit, something off – not corked, just a strange funk that kills the bottle. Would love to have that $$$ back.

Head to head is better with the back and forth, I second the second glass idea. Go Mott.
May 10, 2008

Mason
QOTD: Chateau Villefranche Sauternes, half bottle. What a load of crap! It could be that it was corked, judging from the slight mold on the cork….
May 10, 2008

Cuse Wino
QOTD- Chateau Cantelys Wasn’t ready for
all the poop taste
May 9, 2008

keith
Good show, we have had better wine
May 9, 2008

chezjosh
Got nothing to say for this QOTD.

Come to Chicago!
May 9, 2008

dAve
I don’t buy wines over $20. I’d rather have caviar with cheaper wine. smile. haha. I like Syrah’s!
May 9, 2008

agentorange
QOTD: We don’t buy wines at or over 30 bones retail.
May 9, 2008

terroirist
I was unhappy with the E. Guigal Chateauneuf-du-pape 03′..

I paid 30 clams.. It did not represent like the 01′…

In sooth,

aka Mike In Nebraska
May 9, 2008

Bernard
QOTD Okanaga the napa of 2020
May 9, 2008

kaybee
Nice head to head GV!

QoTd
I disremember what it was. We bought a nice champagne (we thought) for our anniversary. It was lousy. I can buy lousy for less, so I quit buying $30 wines. But usually I buy winners for less than 30.
May 9, 2008

Arnaud H
QOTD: 2004 Iron Horse Wedding Cuvee. That wine tasted like… well, iron to me. Bitter almonds, dead leaves, and not in a good way. Almost no fruit for me. The gf liked it OK, but I couldn’t enjoy that wine – just goes to show how personal palates can be.
May 9, 2008

Len
Good show even if the wines were disappointing…QOTD: Not any that I can think of…you pretty much kept me clear of them but if you want to know about wines that were not bad…just a big disappointment and were $70+ …I can tell you few and then some….
May 9, 2008

italianwinelover
What a shame two losers in one show.

GV-What has happened to Sir Vaynerchuk? Did he crawl under some old gnarley vines and not come back? He hasn’t been seen in a while?

QOTD: Had some good picks lately. Can’t remember a bad one.
May 9, 2008

Harley Stan
Cool little head to head today.
QOTD- I was disapointed with the Martha Stewart label I had at a party but I don’t know the price that the host paid.
May 9, 2008

Paul C
Go into Nicolas and buy any red burgundy for 20 euros, it’s guaranteed to be rubbish. In fact, I had a Clos Vuegeot from Domaine Faiveley for 60 euro, it was also rubbish. I was very surprised.

Nice show, I think that show was good as you were honest and the snappy 10/15 mins max format works much better than the 20 minutes.

Any chance of a Langue d’Oc tasting ? (top producers)

Paul C
May 9, 2008

Mike Palmason
QOTD: Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Eroica was very disappointing. I had heard great thins about it, but found it rather boring.
May 9, 2008

Vbellore
Ridge’s Lytton SPring’s 2003. Maybe it was too young, or didn’t wait long enough, bu felt really gipped considering the hype and the price.

Like the Head to head, especially when you go back and forth. Keep on keeping on.
May 9, 2008

Xavier
third person already now that comes out to be let down by this E. Guigal chateauneuf du pape..01 and 03, must be something to it…
May 9, 2008

Johnny C. a.k.a SmokinActuary
The most disappointing that I can remember was some Amarone. I forgot the name though.
May 9, 2008

Brian V
Love the head to head format!
QOTD: I have never bought a $30 wine. My wife would kill me.