We’re bringing Merlot back. A Merlot wine tasting event!

We’re bringing Merlot back. A Merlot wine tasting event! – Episode #565

October 27, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk tries a couple of different Merlot wines from around the globe.

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Comments on this episode(127) Leave a comment ›

“Nice ending, I love the pirate sound!

QOTD: TOQ…” by CBone
“Nice way to end the show. I think that eye gouge threw off your though…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
View all 127 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre MerlotChilean Merlot
2005 Mercer Merlot Horse Heaven HillsColumbia Valley Merlot
2005 Bravante Howell Mountain MerlotNapa Merlot

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Election Day Secret Pack

127 Responses

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February 4, 2009

CBone
Nice ending, I love the pirate sound!

QOTD: TOQ
January 24, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
Nice way to end the show. I think that eye gouge threw off your thought process. Ive done that though and its never fun. No need to worry about me, Im down with merlot!!! I knew the Washington wine would win, too *nudge nudge*. I use a lot of merlot in cooking as well as the drink here and there.
December 16, 2008

yowens
Hey GV! My girlfriend and I were in Napa a few years back figuring to come back with a ton of Cab but when we looked at what we bought the most of it was Merlot! Good QPR right now.
November 8, 2008

Kristen
Hell yeah, way to bring merlot back. In no way is it a pansy wine! And the “cherry juice train”- love it! And by the way, that pirate look was good too. )

QOTD: oh I’m so trained by this point, but where oh where was that QOTD?
November 4, 2008

Sharon
Hi! No QOTD! I usually avoid the ’spade’ phrase as it could be construed as racist.
November 3, 2008

ChiroGuyDC
Great show and a very interesting episode!
November 1, 2008

Dan-o
Decent show! I am a fan of Merlot and I am happy to see you bringng it back!
Best Merlot I have had is Paloma from CA and right bank reds from Bordeaux.
October 31, 2008

Ilse
totally agree with zach…we know you’re very enthousiastic, but it was over the top during the episode with RG. Never mind, when you’re on your own, it’s great because you can do whatever you like all of the time )

nice episode…I like merlot a lot, and it’s nice to see it appreciated once in a while…
October 30, 2008

Zach
Gary, the issue with the Randall Graham episode was not just a lack of editing. You did most of the talking! A couple of times you interrupted him when he got long-winded, but most times you interrupted him before he even got going. It might be worth watching the episode again if you have time. Still love you.
October 30, 2008

apj_bobswineguy
Slapstick!!! Bringing back merlot & some of that old-fashioned comedy!
Still, Merlot, American Merlot, is mostly boring compared to other options. (Pride Mtn is an exception)
Casa Lapostolle Merlot is one of those wines that makes me question WS scores. I’m glad you said bell pepper. That’s usu what I get from their Merlot. Usu a sign of under-ripe or over-yield cold climate grapes. They do make some great wines but IMHO the Merlot is a pass. Clos Apalta – try it.
Still, like you said, trust your palate & look at the QPR.
October 29, 2008

BW
Comments:
1) No QOTD???
2) Casa LaPostelle – Had that in the past – had a strong petroleum taste – my wife thought it tasted like a phone cord (back in the day when phones had cords). Just thought I would throw that in there for interest
3)Columbia River valley / WA st Merlots rock ! The winner today & one of my personal favorites. We have a bunch of them in the cellar. In general , they have very good QPR.
October 29, 2008

Peter K
Good show and way to represent Washington State!
October 29, 2008

JudeMurphy
Aaaahaha! You forgot the QOTD! That’s the first time ever! : D
Ah well, I suppose you got distracted by poking yourself in the eye!
haha
Nice show anyway!
October 29, 2008

KVolk
QOTD: Well I will answer my own….I like merlot because it was the first red wine I drank with any regularity….usually like it first if we are not starting with a white……

GV I think your interviewing skills work for your show. I watch for the type of energy you bring so trust your instincts there…it’s what makes you unique….
October 29, 2008

Richard Ritter
QOTD:
October 29, 2008

JayZee
What? No QOTD? Why, yes, I do drink Merlot and it is (or at least can be) very good. I’ve especially been enjoying Washington State Merlots – usually good bang for the buck. Oh, yeah, and DOH!!
October 29, 2008

MattieJ
The whole time I was thinking of Paul G saying “I’m not drinking any F*#*in’ merlot” Not a big fan of the Oak Monster myself but I’m looking forward to you getting the 2005 Mercer Merlot Horse Heaven Hills back in stock… Will definitely pick up a couple bottles. May drink one during my “Pens ‘n at” video blog.
October 29, 2008

Taster B
Merlot is back! Sideways is soooo 2004. There are even some decent Cali merlots.
October 29, 2008

LT
How can you bring back merlot without talking about Long Island? Come on man!
October 29, 2008

YoungDave
QOTD: HAHA- great outro… wow. I hope you’re ok, and if you are then that was totally worth the laugh. Great show- keep trying to bring Merlot back. The quality is there, and until people smarten up and start buying enough good Merlot to boost the prices back up, many of us will enjoy some great values in the meantime. Cheers.
October 29, 2008

T. Bone
You know how when you go see more of a “thinker” film, you analyze and critique the film against way more stringent standards? Well, it’s like that with you and the RG episode. You raised the bar, so you’re assessed against the indy flicks instead of the action pix.

That said, I felt bad for being so direct, as one of the ones who gave you sh#t for interrupting him so much, I was a little blunt. But you know, with these comments, there’s no going back (we can’t edit, man), so you hit submit and then read that sucker, and you think, maybe I should have re-read that one.

Anyway, no regrets, right? And honestly, I can’t let you off the hook that easy. No editing? I get it, but I think you could have handled him better. I think it’s just a case of really completely different personalities. Obviously Randall can talk, and talk, and talk. But he seems to almost always be going somewhere interesting – he has a point he’s trying to make, it’s just not a 30 second sound bite. Instead of starting in on 20 of his points and cutting off 18 of them, how about doing just 3 or 4 and letting him finish? He’s never going to answer a question in 20 seconds, but his answers are hugely fun to listen to.

Like I said, you’re two different peas, man, and you’ve got a show to run, so don’t listen to my sorry a**. But I really think, even without editing, you could have gotten more out of Mr. RG.

Oh, and personally, if you did a WLTV episode that was 3 hours long with RG, I’d be here with my glass and watch every second. I give you a standing O. I’m always bummed when I see the time indicator at less than 10 minutes. A RG episode that runs 2:30:00? That would be epic.
October 29, 2008

ev
shit, I’m still laughing……….really, I’m laughing, not really that you poked yourself in the eye, but how great you continued and rolled with it. Yep, I’ve done it before and know how clutsy it can feel.
———Major Kudos to you (and I don’t ‘kudo’) for not being stupid towards merlot. While I feel it can usually use a bit of cab or franc or pv rather than a standalone, I love merlot based wines and am sick of people badmouthing it because it’s the cool thing to do. Please people, have faith in your face………your eyes and ears get you from place to place, dogs ur smart and use their noses for confirmation and direction………….be the same with yours !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 28, 2008

wayno da wino
Yo G, that’s what Ya get (finger in da eye-piece) for badmouthin’ me
Jets……a little karma-action there……..
October 28, 2008

kaybee
Yes, let’s keep Merlot from coming back. Keep the prices low. I like another merlot from Washington, which is my fav.
October 28, 2008

Roberto
great show, gotta find some more drinkable Merlot, which there is definitely a lot of around the world (I tried a good South African the other day)

thanks for the B Day shout out to my dad¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

best,

RR