QOTD: Ditto on Washington state merlot. I had a Columbia Winery merlot a couple years ago that impressed me. Gary, you are a workaholic and selfishly I am happy about that 🙂

Gary, you should also mention that Sideways made pinot noir much more expensive. I saw a big price increase the year after the movie. When I went wine tasting in santa barbara county this past august, there were few decently priced bottles of pinot noir.
QOTD – Casa Julia merlot was really interesting- it has that green bell pepper goin on and I like that. Its also got a “Chile taste” or character that I guess can only be described as terroir. I know that bottle is from chile when I drink it because it reminds me of the wines I had when I was there.

At the entry level I really like Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot 2003. I was buying it at Kroger for under $7 a bottle. Are really good everyday wine.

Eddie Van Haeln has publicly talked about regularly drinking the Smoking Loon Merlot. I’m sure that has helped sales a bit.

I forgot to mention in my earlier post: another â??budgetâ? Merlot that I have had recently in addition to the Columbia Crest that I mentioned earlier is a Chilean wine named Santa Ema. Not bad but probably not as consistent as the Columbia Crest.

I’ve always liked Rodney Strong’s Merlot. It’s got a spiciness not found in most $15 bottles. My wife is not a Merlot fan, yet she LOVES Raymond and Rutherford Hill’s Merlots.

I’d love to get someone’s take on Twomey’s Merlots before I drop $80…

I’ve always liked Rodney Strong’s Merlot. It’s got a spiciness not found in most $15 bottles. My wife is not a Merlot fan, yet she LOVES Raymond and Rutherford Hill’s Merlots.

I’d love to get someone’s take on Twomey’s Merlots before I drop $80…

Dont know merlot too well but have been into Merryvale (especially 2002) recently

Gary, when did you record this episode? Friday night after the server crash? You look pretty beat.

QOTD – I had a 2002 Reininger Merlot that was very good. I haven’t had a lot of Merlots, so I don’t know how it compares, but I did enjoy that bottle.

QOTD: never been a big fan or merlot…always found it very one dimentional and almost like a watered down wine. Although, thats for wines under $25cdn. One of these days im going to buy one of the big merlot producers (Shafer or something similar) that always get big scores so i can give merlot a fair shot.

I see he’s on early today but will need to watch and enjoy later.

HOW ‘BOUT DEM COLTS!!!!!!!!!

Dom

QOTD – Totally agree about the trashing Merlot has received since Sideways but on a positive note, gotta love the prices for a great bottle of Merlot! My favorite over the last year (thanks to you, Gary) has got to be 2002 Charles Creek Miradero Merlot …serious juice and a fantastic buy at $15!

2002 Cakebread!!!!!

I think the blend on Cheval Blanc changes every year, but a good deal of it is Merlot. Funny, I noticed that when I first saw the movie, too. QOTD= I haven’t had it in a while, but I always liked Keltie Brook, and also Waterbrook from Washington State.

thanks for throwing one at us while on vacation. though i like Merlot mostly in blends I recently enjoyed both the 2002 Raymond Reserve and the 2002 Ferre i Catasus from Penedes, Spain. cheers!

The family favorite merlot is Clois du Bois 2001 to 2003. How about including one of these in a future tasing??

I read that because a wine has to be only 75% pinot noir to be labeled pinot noir, and wineries need to use their merlot grapes, people who pan merlot may be drinking more of it as it gets blended with pinot noir.

QOTD: I am currently trying out merlots to “learn” if I like them. In the past I have only had under $7 merlots. My education has just begun, so I’ll have to answer in a month.

I love the Colts!!!

Love that Charles Creek you had on the show. I bought two cases of it.

Best,

Mike

No Corte Riva’s in that bunch!!!….of course without Merlot, Bordeaux would be….well…i dunno but it wouldnt be Bordeaux…..I have liked recently Westerly Vineyards Merlot 2002 from Santa Ynez Valley….a very good buy at about $15 bucks, and probably has the right stuff to last another 5 years-try it!!

hope you watched some football this weekend GV! if you you must have been pumped after the AFC championships! WTG Colts!

had a laugh about your “Sky Breeze” perfume reference. You should get in touch with Ben Stiller, sounds like a perfect character for Zoolander 2 LOL

QOD: I haven’t had a Merlot or Cab Sav in probably 3-4 years. Before i had _any_ interest in wine, these two were always the one that I picked up at the supermarket. They formed my amalgamated perception of what tastes like. Haven’t had any since, but I’m sure I will find my way back eventually 😉

There are some reasonable right bank Bordeaux that is good for under 20ish dollars. From USA, Columbia Crest Two Vines, 6ish dollars. Cant complain for that price… After a little decanting it is really interesting (in a good way).

2001 Columbia Crest Merlot on a somewhat regular basis for an under $11 bottle

Finishing some 1999 Chateau Souverain that I had bought on release for $15 that has developed very well in the cellar and which I am liking very much right now.

Louisiana George

PS – Tuned into the “LIVE” show midshow on friday, about 1 minute AFTER you announced free shipping for the weekend. I did not watch the whole taped episode until this morning and I missed the FREE SHIPPING. Kicking myself all day today for that! Don’t hold out on us for too long for another free shipping bonanza like that.

In Sideways he drinks a Cheval Blanc in the end, right? Isn’t that Cabernet Franc?
Anyway, I like Merlots. I like Pinot. I like WINE 😉

QOTD: I haven’t gotten to merlot yet. I started with (and spent four years) only drinking beaujolais (in the wine world, at least – – it was mostly beer!) Since then, I’ve tried and gotten stuck on a mess of others, noteable cab sauv and muscadet, but haven’t even gotten to merlot.

What’s up with the countdown on the whiteboard? Too long to be the t-shirt contest . . . too short to be the number of work-days left in the year (245).

Thanks for everything!