Gary, I scored the Swanson Merlot a little higher. My palate loves the way the American oak, which I believe was on the medium to heavy toast side, morphed into a chocolaty finish. The 04, which I think was a slightly bigger wine, also showed this characteristic. I also believe that bottle age may enhance this characteristic

I am going to get this movie. Merlot has been my wine of choice since I started drinking wine and it will be interesting to learn more about it.

Went and ordered DVD on Amazon, was an enjoyable movie to watch. I enjoy watching pretty much anything that has to do with wine and since the selection is slim it was worth getting.

Nice show and an interesting sounding movie. I will have to pick that one up.

QOTD: Cleveland, OH - I take the blue collar work ethic with me from Cleveland, even though I'm an engineer and plunk on computers all day long. There is also a tremendous sense of family and friends in the entire midwest which I also think sticks with you wherever you go.

Essex Fells, NJ

I learned how to be a preppy punk! AMM

qotd: for me, I grew up in fort worth with my family, but then I've been going to college at Texas A&M University for the last five years. And I feel like my personal terroir would be College Station, because the campus creates such a sense of community among such a large population. And I can get a sense of that in almost everything I do: my favorite local pub (Obannnon's), the civil engineering computer lab, walking across campus, the rec center, etc. And while I want to eventually move somewhere else and go get a job once I graduate this December I feel like I'll miss this town if I leave.

Cool show, my favorite since i watch it (about two years...). This guest is so "true" and spontaneous.
Anyway : Gary, your show is fantastic, it's a great source of inspiration, not only for wine but also for your way of life and thinking. Thank you man.
(Sorry for my hasardous english, i'm from Lille, France)

PS : No more blind tests ???.... Damned, i loved them.

I thought this was an awesome show. I am a neophyte in the Merlot wine drinking arena. I have a lot to learn ... it was great to hear the perspective on the show of someone who appeared to be 'Learning while he Worked' yet seemed to glean as much information that could possibly be absorbed in each filming ...while he continued to work. I LOVE IT!!!

Great guest! I'm buying the DVD in 10 seconds. DRINK MORE MERLOT, it has feelings too.

QOTD: Boston
And I didn't win.

Great guest, really enjoyed it! I also checked out the Merlove.com website.

QOTD: My mom. She passed away 7 years ago but I take all of her values, principles, and positive outlook on life everywhere I go!

Good show - good guest -best of luck with the movie.

QOTD - Great question - from Texas, rooted in the land, sense of purpose, strong sense of right and wrong, watch over the ladies and children, they are to be protected.

QOTD: I'm a Southerner trying to make sense of the people in California.

GV,

Yes, we're nosey and we love free stuff. Sucks to be late on the giveaway. I was at Provenance in May 09 and wasn't too impressed with any of their stuff.

QOTD: Walnut Creek, CA. I'm bringing the paper route too. My buddy and I would have paper throwing competitions on Saturday morning. Whatch out...you put too much muscle in it and BAM you slam that paper into the front door and wake 'em up! HELLA fun though. Plus we used to "cruise" the Creek (downtown) and bump Too Short. Definitely bringing that flava wherever I go.

GV pulling out great guests left and right! More power to you Rudy, and congratulations on just running with an idea. We'll definitely be picking up a copy.
QOTD: Born in the adirondack region of NY and living in central VT for the last 18...for all the fun and games there is a practical yankee underneath, whicis why a wine's PQR is so important.

Great guest! Love Rudy's passion. Gonna look for his movie based on his passion alone.

QOTD" From Detroit. . . I bring a "blue collar"/hardworking/"get your hands dirty" attitude to wherever I go.

WOW, Rudy was an AMAZING guest, so pumped, so passionate, he's in the zone.

QOTD: I am from Clinton Ontario, southwestern Ontario. I grew up Lake Side, daily trips to the beach, spring, summer, fall, winter, I love the changing of the seasons, the smells, the views, the weather, the storms, I am a voyeur of the lake and whenever I am close to water I get giddy, I feel that, I am close to home feeling. I bring the water and the lake where ever I go and when ever I am near water, my roots come out of me.

QOTD: I'm from Cranston, RI and sure there's some of the greater Providence area that's always with me. But I spent a huge chunk of my life living in New York, NY and that'll always be with me.

w-o-w the best QOTD of all time - Rudy should be employed by every brand in the world to be an ambassador - he sees the subject truly - he has a sense of place and so do wines - so do cows and the milk that make sthe cheese and, and, and, and.
Gary you tell the masses to step out of their 'comfort zone' to try new things - and he says don't forget where you came from while you are doing it

Awesome.

you need more real people like this on the show - maybe an impossible ask but the real nerds who stay up til 5 am are one thing - these legit, wine-snapped individuals are so good to watch

In Hamilton Ontario we have this whole "down in the city proper" at lake level and the constant going a thousand feet up and down the escarpment; industrious, old red brick, active harbour, steel mill flame, hundreds of streams and waterfalls flowing. The water freezes or trickles on the escarpment (which is dynamited cliffs for the accesses). Cool. I bring my "I'm real people" with me with a definite royal abundance, "coming together" flavour. Constant electrical storms in the summer, sharply defined seasons. Red soil.

QOTD: I've lived in more than one place. Originally I am from Philadelphia. When living in other places, I've noticed that people cheer for the away team too frequently. I've been to sports areana/stadiums where a majority of the fans were transplants rooting (spell??) for the visitors. I feel like people should learn to Root Root Root (spell??) for the home team. Otherwise there will only be fans wherever the Yankees are playing (for example).

Finally was able to sit down and watch this episode and it didn't disappoint! I pre-ordered this movie on the Merlove website and watched it the moment it came in the mail. A good merlot has always been my favorite red wine and I love that Rudy did a movie to counter the whole 'Sideways' reaction to this wine. The movie was a lot of fun to watch and I learned quite a bit. Thanks Rudy!

QOTD: My terrior is Sonoma County, CA. Beautiful country and great wine! What more could anyone want?! Don't get back as often as I would like.

Washington coming up on top yet again...

Good show guys. Really enjoyed your guest today. He had a lot of energy. QOTD was a good one. Im sure you already have your 5 (and then some). Im originally from Dorchester, MA. Im all about the family. We are not always right in our direction, but we always stick together. Sometimes thats good and sometimes it gets us in trouble. :-)

Another awesome show and exciting guest! Wish I had been near my computer during the holiday, maybe could've gotten in on one of those DVDs! I'm gonna try and check it out anyway.
QOTD: Deep, Rudy I like it! Originally from West Palm Beach, FL--love the sunshine, golf, and the beach; spent 9 years in Pittsburgh PA--love the Steelers and learned to deal with cold weather too; I've also lived in Baltimore, Dallas, and Philadelphia. Like Merlot, I am a cameleon. Looking forward to your next project!

QOTD – I come from the Mediterranean region (Israel), where we have warm climate and warm people. So wherever I go I take this warmth with me.

Good guest, great question.

QOTD: South Dakota - family, common sense and the one-finger steering wheel wave.

qtod: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
West Coast relaxed, with that good ole Canadianness? hah

Great guest! I LOVE MERLOT! One of the all time most trusted grapes for my palate. Always a fall back when I can't decide what to drink.

My terrior is Eastern WA. We don't get the love and respect of the west side of the state AND we suffer through 6 months of winter (seems like it). Us EW folks have to hustle harder to make a name. Go Zags, Go Cougs, Go Eags (Eagles)! Spokane wine should start to get some credit.

Josh @nectarwine (twitter)

Garry another long long long time lurker coming out! I've been watching your show since the Amon-ra episode on decanting. You have been instrumental in my progression into the wine business. QOTD my terrior is Calgary in Alberta and growing up on the prairies in Canada and spending time with my family harvesting wheat, rye, and peas. Man I wish we grew grapes on the prairies!

Rudy, you were a great guest- it's so cool that you did the Merlove movie! Merlot is a great example of a grape that is just out of vogue. Lets just enjoy it while everyone else is on the Malbec bandwagon.

Nice show, love Merlot, mostly thats what i drink. And my mom rarely drinks anything but, she is the one i normally taste with.

QOTD: CT, i have some idea how others see Connecticut, but its mostly personal for me, i have lived a number of places. But in CT we have trees, lots of trees, and it gives you a sense of nature and earth, its always in your mind when the trees are not around.

Which makes me ask my own question about terroir, does oak have one? Being from the Charter Oak state, i wonder is French oak different then American, and America is a big place, southern, western or New England oak might be different?

What do you think

QOTD: I'm from Central Washington (AVA: Columbia Valley). I was six when Mt. St. Hellens blew. We grew up playing in the ash that fell from the sky and still to this day there is a band of ash in the terroir. I love Washington red wines and wonder how much, if at all, the ash plays a factor in the columbia valley wines. That is my terroir!

Rudy and Marisol are THE BEST! Look for them to be in the darkest of glasses at Cannes one day!

QOTD: Big Creek, Calif. Cold water over warm granite stone in Yosemite smells like really great Sauv Blanc! Wind through high country pines and firs speaks to me of aromatic reds...

QotD: From the central valley of California, so I bring produce.

QOTD: I was born in Potsdam near Berlin. I remember sitting in the forrest with my brother and fooling around with dirt and leaves and everything. Thats my terroir.

As a long time Merlot fan, I look forward to picking up Merlove.

QOTD: Also a Milwaukee area boy, I take with me my strong midwestern work ethic.

I look forward to seeing the documentary.
QOTD: Since I was an Army brat I grew up in a number of terroirs - Panama; Berlin; Pacific Groves, Cal.; Utica, NY; Miami; Havana; Baltimore; and New Mexico. I think the varied backgrounds left me with a willingness to try and accept new things, and a nostalgia for almost everything.

Excellent guest (he's my cuz... I'm so proud!). Rudy: love the QOTD! I am definitely a farm girl living in Boston, and will always be so!
(hugs)

QOTD: My terrior is Detroit, and I take my midwestern humble-working atttitude wherever I travel.

QOTD: Personal Terroir- GREAT concept and question! I currently live in LA, but I'm from RI and will NEVER forget my VERY small-town New England roots. I'll always take with me the concept of working hard to earn ANYTHING, as I'll never forget starting my own little landscaping business at the age of 10, doing noble gruntwork on a local farm and for my town's Department of Public Works every summer to save up for my first car, and eventually delivering pizza and bartending to get my through college and across the county to pursue what I am passionate about. No matter where I end up, I'll never forget my family and close lifelong friends, and where I came from.