Randy Sloan from Match Vineyards Comes by the Thunder Show

Randy Sloan from Match Vineyards Comes by the Thunder Show – Episode #640

March 10, 2009

Gary Vaynerchuk welcomes Randy from Match and talks about Napa, wine and a few other things.

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Comments on this episode(143) Leave a comment ›

“Cool show but crazy expensive bottle- too rich for me. QOTD: I have t…” by yowens
“Titus Titus Titus for Napa Valley Value…incredible…” by RD
View all 143 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Match Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill
2005 Match Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill
2005 Match Baconbrook Cabernet Sauvignon

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

143 Responses

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March 30, 2009

yowens
Cool show but crazy expensive bottle- too rich for me. QOTD: I have to pass out of ignorance.
March 27, 2009

RD
Titus Titus Titus for Napa Valley Value…incredible
March 25, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
My hands are amazing! Great episode. I had a dream about this episode a week before I watched it. It was a good day to die. I’ll have to see if some of these wines are available in my local shop. They seem interesting but im still on the hat about a $70 tag or so. QOTD: I couldnt tell you if you tied me down and tossed necks on me.
March 21, 2009

Dan-o
Good show – enjoyed the guest.
QOTD – I really can’t remember, but go with Albarino!
March 17, 2009

Carlitos
QOTD. The ‘06 Montroig Xarel-lo.
March 16, 2009

Jeremy Ross
I do love me a good Napa cab. But for my palette and wallet, they cost 2-4X more than they’re worth. Good thing Napa has such a strong brand, cuz so many areas of the world are killing Napa wrt value.
March 16, 2009

Lawrence Leichtman
So many that I can’t even come up with an answer as I have bought a dozen that I liked from all over Spain. I think the $70 price point is not too much for the Napa Cab market but I have never had any of the Baconbrook wines yet. I will.
March 14, 2009

Jeff
oscar falcón lara:

A wine that’s represented by the monastrell grape is not the same as one represented by the cabernet sauvignon grape. While I am a huge fan of the jumilla valley in spain. You would be comparing apples to oranges here.
March 13, 2009

Jayhitek
QOTD: Panaroz
March 13, 2009

Zino
Murso

That’s cool. I’m not offended. I’ve enjoyed the discussion. I’m all for small producers who make wines that not only take advantage of nature, but also express their own creativity. These are always the wines with the most character and when they are on song there are none better. But I would always be wary of paying high prices for a new wine from such young vines. Having said that, the next time I’m in the US I will seek out a Match wine. Randy Sloan seems like a great and genuine guy and I’ll check out his the website.

Zino
March 13, 2009

Jeff
Patrick, Spain has it’s rather pricey producers too. Vega Scilia, Palacios, Pingus to name of a few that sell for far north of 200$ at times.

I personally, do not drink wine every day, or even every week but I do hit up a few of the tasting circles and I must say, you are missing out on a whole world of wines that could potentially “wow” you.

I would never advocate to anyone that they should only drink XX$+ bottles, but to say I would never try a wine because it’s over XX$ I feel is just too restrictive.

You’re right on one thing and that there is indeed a whole world of wine out there, only it’s not all below the 20$ mark =).

As with your point of discussion with the elevation, acidity, brix what not, it really depends on the wine nerds you’re drinking with =)

btw, the wine that first “wowed” me was a 100$ 01 Cakebread Vinehill reserve. I was a believer after then, that some wines can indeed be better than just good and I wouldn’t blink at trading in a case of good 10-15$ wine for a single bottle of that.
March 12, 2009

Patrick
Jeff makes a good point, I haven’t tried this wine and so I have no real opinion on it. But sadly, I will never buy it. There is a whole world of wine out there that is available at half the price of the one discussed here. And I am talking about reasonably priced wine that can be laid down several years and popped for that special occasion, as Jeff mentioned. What incentive do I have to go out and try wines from California when they are so consistently overpriced?

One of my first misconceptions about good wine was that it was an inherently expensive product. I know now that this isn’t true. Even when the euro was at its strongest, I still found the best values from abroad, say Spain.

Murso, as a wine consumer I refuse to let all those factors enter into my buying decisions. Why should I? I just want something for my 10th anniversary. Such talk (real estate? elevation? scoring?) is what arouses suspicion. Why not talk about differences in nose, taste, aging potential, etc…the more tangible things about wine.
March 12, 2009

Laurie in VT
Still playing catch-up. Informative and fun episode- thanks!

QOTD: In general, Albarino. I don’t remember Gary’s specific recommendation(s), but it led to us finding Martin Codax Rias Baixas Albarino (2007). Well-liked by friends of all levels of wine knowledge/ experience.
March 12, 2009

Murso
Bravo, Jeff.

Dear Mr. Zino,

I am sorry, I did not wish to imply, or state that you, or anyone else didn’t know the value of this, or other wine (but April did ask for an explanation).

However, after many years in the service of the public in the wine industry, I AM aware that more people than not, ARE NOT aware of such important factors to a wine’s provenance as graft/type, clonal selection, micro-climates, high elevation plots, non-irrigated vines, low- yields, gravity-flow, etc. and on and on. Specifically, in the case of more artisinal wines,and not factory, industrial, or conglomerate size production wines, which may have their own merits of low-cost, ‘consistency’, and wide availability.

A cursory look at Match’s website revealed more than a general look at their attitudes AND aptitudes. My point about their talent was that you don’t pay for top tier winemaking (and all the rest) unless your raw resources and materials are up to smack. Again – the addage “If you want to make a small fortune in the wine world, start wth a large one!” It would be like Mario Batali using McDonald’s ingredients. Or Helen Turley making a wine blend for Sutter Home. (Don’t get any ideas, Sutter…)

Over the years I’ve spoken to numerous big names in these upper heights of the wine world, and many said that the phylloxera and Pierce’s Disease problems become a mixed blessing for the knowledges gained by uprooting and replanting with superior rootstocks and clones. Good, viable fruit is often harvested in three or four years of planting.

And finally, I will repeat – 90points Parker at $10, though tasty, good, and cheap, will NEVER BE IN THE SAME LEAGUE as 90points Parker at, say $50. (arbitrary figures). My whole point is that they are simply not made out of the same (quality)(sic) stuff, whether the same or diff. varietal, country, or even from the same producer.

I may have taken that pedantic tone, again, and I apoplogize if it was offensive. My intention was to shed light on a subjective subject where I thought it needed.

I hope we can be friendly again, if you excuse my outburst.

Thanks, and cheers!

Murso.
March 12, 2009

Jeff
while I understand the need to watch ones wallet in these times. I can’t understand my fellow wine drinkers who comment about a wine they’ve never tasted. This is an incredibly young, young wine that the winemaker himself stated should not be drunk now. Having tasted Match’s 02 and 03, which are drinking beautifully and very youthful, the 05 and 06 will probably become fantastic wines. Certain wines are meant for every day drinking, some wines are meant to be cellared and popped open on those special occasions. The joy of going into the cellar and opening up a bottle that one has stored for a few years is immensely more enjoyable then stopping by my local wine store and picking up a 10$ bottle.
March 12, 2009

Andrew D
Thanks guys,

Interesting episode.

QOTD: Interestingly I don’t buy much on Gary’s recommendations. Occasionally something from the Old World he recommends grabs my attention, but I actually find it very difficult to source many of the wines he tastes. Even though Hong Kong (where I live) has a good (and improving) selection of international wines, I find it very interesting that many of the ‘common’ wines Gary tries aren’t available here. Maybe this has something to do with the different packaging required for the US (Surgeon Generals warning…) or maybe it’s a result of different markets = different tastes.

Cheers
Andrew
March 12, 2009

Patrick
California has a very poor QPR compared to other parts of the world. Naturally, this generates mistrust among consumers. I see no reason why people shouldn’t be suspicious about paying $70 for a bottle.

QOTD: Not sure if it is a Gary wine, but Gaba Do Xil Godello 2006– $12 !!!
March 12, 2009

Zino
Murso,

Why do you assume that I know nothing and haven’t tasted the types of wines you mention? I understand the costs, dedication and hard work involved, but that doesn’t necessarily justify high prices.

Gary’s scores sums it for me: 90pts for a $72 Napa and 93pts for a $24 montepulciano d’ Abruzzo
March 12, 2009

Andy & Edie from MT
Great discussion with a very nice guest.

QOTD: Albarino is sooooo good on a hot day! Not so much now though as we’ve been around -10.
March 12, 2009

M
QOTD: We just had Rueda wine this week on WLTV. Good timing.

With Spring right around the corner, I’ll stock up on a few Spanish whites myself.
March 12, 2009

Tchilds
Good ep, Gary- I like to see the tension when you bring the honesty to a winemaker sitting right there next to you! This is wayyyyy out of my price range, but it’s fun to occasionally window shop and daydream.
March 12, 2009

Murso
Zino, April, et al –

Fact #1. even if we lowballed Napa valley real estate figures, the low end is around $500,000/ acre. For 2.75 acres (the size of just the actual PLANTINGS of Baconbrook Vineyard, thats over 1.5 MILION dollars before you set foot in just that tiny vineyard, if it actually were at that price.

#2. High Elevations and with legendary sub appellation addresses like Howell Mtn, Mt. Veeder, and Spring Mountain are the MOST SOUGHT AFTER locations in the most sought after region of California. This land can easily sell for many times the price of ‘any old land’ in Napa, and to have a sub- appellation in your name and address is cache like platinum. This fruit is most always non-irrigated, stressed, and at real nature’s whim. The yields often held to extremely low, intesifying thresholds.

#3. In reality, Mountain grown fruit (and real estate) makes probably the top one or two percent quality, and there’s about 100,000x less of it in quantity. (Many grape growers, like John Caldwell, for example, also make extraordinary grapes in slighty lesser extreme, but very good locales.) The limited quantity fruit from such sites is very expensive, if and when it is even offered to other winemakers.

Then you have the factors of top echelon producers, like hand picking w/ out machinery, meticulous (FAR beyond big name wineries) bunch,and grape selection. (Much of their cast off fruit and juice that doesn’t make the grade is sold to others – STILL at commanding, premium price. Lavishly gentle handling, and gravity flow exclusively. (In frail Pinot Noir production, the world over, the greatest prevent even bruising the juice. Might sond ridiculous to you, but the results of the wines ost often shows…)

I, along with the World, smirked and gestured in questioning doubt when Jarvis (w/ legend Dmitri Tchellistcheff as winemaker) came on the scene in the early nineties with what we thought their arrogant, overblown indulant pricing. Many thought they wanted us to pay for the fancy cave they dug out of a mountain. Then the wines spoke for themselves. That example is played over and over by top winemakers around the world. The knowledge and abilities in agriculture, genetics, and a number of other sciences ultimately, have brought us a wider array of higher quality wines than ever in history. The normal wines you and I drink anyday are fine (though many, also suck). The ultrapremium tier is new to maybe the past 20 years, and the names and productions are small and unknown, but rabidly watched and followed. If you enjoy wine, it is worth tasting to see (with your tongue) exactly how and why Napa boutique, or Red Moutain (Washington), or Garagiste (Bordeaux) wines are so good. They’re not always ridiculously prohibitively expensive. Go to a wine bar, and find a glass. Or a good wine shop and get a half bottle. And READ about appellations, winemakers, grapegrowers, geography, and related topics. With google, Wiki, and the net, we have no excuse not to know anymore.
March 12, 2009

April
I would love for Gary to explain to us why this wine is worth $70 + when there are plenty of wonderful wines from Napa you can get between $20 – $40. I went on a tasting trip to Napa last year, and found lots of wines in that price range that were fabulous. What makes this wine worth $70 plus? Especially since i’ve never even heard of them. Please forgive my ignorance, but can Gary (sans guest of course) please explain this so that us commoners can understand?
March 12, 2009

Zino
Am I questioning anyone’s talent? My guess is that Match wines will be very good, but I was surprised at their price considering the age of the vines and in the present economic climate, this is a very risky policy.
March 12, 2009

innA
The part about First/Second Growth numbers is an interesting point.. I didn’t realise until I saw a recent documentary that noted that Cos d’Estournel produced 220,000 bottles in 2005 and Chateau Margaux generally produces around 150,000 bottles a year of its ‘grand vin’. Insane numbers and makes you realise how ridiculous the Bordeaux classifications are.

p.s. I can never post in time to be read out on the show as I always watch on my iPod – do you still read every comment that is posted Gary?