QOTD: I had the unfortunate luck of really starting to get into wine right before Sideways came out. I like the movie. It’s entertaining and whatnot, but for the longest time as a new wine drinker I avoided Pinot Noir and Merlot because I didn’t want people to think that I was drinking it solely based on that movie. Although lately, not that I think about it, Sideways is almost always playing in the background when my few wine friends and I pop open a bottle.

100% love what Sideways did to the cost of Merlot and Cab Franc prices! I prefer those grapes over California Pinots anyway.

Sideways was great and Paul G. was amaizing. This movie made me appreciate Pinot Noir and try different types of wines that I never paid attention to before.B4 Sideways, all I drank was merlot and Cabs.

6:15 and no new episode? Bad w/e in Chi-town?
We await the new arrival with patience…

So true Ken.

Merlot is what I generally want to drink while my Cab is laying down for several years 😉

Since there’s apparently no new episode today, let me take a moment to mention another amazing Pinot Noir: Duckhorn Goldeneye Anderson Valley 2004. WS91: “This wine exhibits dusty berry, cola and wild raspberry flavors in a complex, well-focused style. Ripe and tannic, it finishes with nice fruit and tannin traction. Drink now through 2011.”) Another review said: “This is a delectable, full-bodied wine with a smooth mouth feel, fine tannin structure, lush texture and a lingering finish. The aroma is complex with notes of cherry, earth, smoke, cedar and flowers. The flavors are predominantly plum, blackberry, and strawberry with a hint of truffles and a spicy dash of black pepper on the lingering finish.” I agree. The Duckhorn was an incredible PN. It had a medium-light color, but the nose was seductive – dark, earthy, and a little gamey. The flavors were cherry and dark berry, and a little spice. It was rounded, fairly full-bodied, and had a great, lasting finish. I know I’m echoing Spectator’s notes, but they are dead-on IMHO.

Also, last night my Dad and I shared a Sapphire Hill Pinot Noir 2004. It was hot at first (would decanting have helped that?), but delicious flavor profile and finish. Black cherry/berries/tea/spice.

QOTD: Sideways was a gateway to bring wine into the spotlight…I don’t think you can account for a movies success in the rising prices of Pinot Noir. I think that possibly the movie opened peoples eyes to wine as a whole…and thus brought more people to the market. With more people in the market there are less available wines…driving up the prices. I’m just glad that they shot the film in Santa Barbera and not Newburg, OR. I personally didn’t find the movie altering my tastes at all…however a weekend touring Willamette Valley DID. As for other trends…I’d like to see a movie shot about the finger lakes…maybe that’d be a great way to see if sales go up there. Look for an increase in popularity of Provance, France in the next few years….and if it happens we can all thank Russel Crowe.

For us Pinot Noir lovers, Sideways just made them more expensive.
Although i liked the movie, it is interesting to see the Hollywood influence even on Wine.

If there is grape that can get you in good mood. That is Pinot Noir!

If you drink no Noir, you Pinot Noir !! 🙂

Gary-
Great Ep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can’t afford these yet………………..
Susan
🙂

Not Fair! Why did you taste an 04 Chambolle in this mix… 04s just don’t stand up… I’d be curious if you had tried an 02 or 03 from the same producer, would you have had the same notes….I think it’s important to match apples to apples.. Yes? Of course, the Aussie was the wild card.

Glad you loved the Chehalem, and happy someone corrected your mispronunciation of Oregon. I loved Willamette Valley pinot well before “Sideways,” and the good ones have always seemed pretty spendy, but many worth it, too.

I thought Sideways was a brilliant movie! I’m amazed by how many comments refer to the dislike of the characters. Personally, I would never judge a movie based upon the “likability” of the characters–I watch it for entertainment, not to find friends. In fact, if I find myself “hating” a character, then I’ve obviously been moved, emotionally speaking, and that’s impressive in my opinion. As for the repercussions on the wine market…I’ll keep a positive attitude and appreciate the affordable merlot.

Really kind of liked Sideways. Some funny bits that were still funny the second time around. Great movie? Not quite, but what other wine movies were?

As for the prices, I got hit by the fact that Hitching Post was featured. It was one of my early favorites and the mid-90’s vintages were my first Pinots that sat in my “cellar” for a few years. Those wines were delicious. They weren’t all that cheap back then (for me / around $32-$35). and I suppose the movie accelerated that inflation. But some day I’ll buy them again.

There should be a movie for all the grapes, from aglianico to viognier and from pinot grigio to petit verdot. They’ve all earned the effort.

How nerdy is it that Im excited that the screen is about 3x larger than the one on youtube? Love the tasting notes on the Chehalem… Im a huge pepper and spice fan.

QOTD: Absolutely loved Sideways. Pinot Noir wasn’t my favorite type of wine, but the movie got me to try more of them, and enjoy them very much. I was never a big Merlot fan, but that hasn’t stopped me from drinking them and finding some I like. Unfortunately, the Cali Pinots began to saturate the market and people trying them for the first time, thought they should be a big, sweet wine that contained a hefty amount of Syrah. I don’t remember the year Sideways came out, but admittedly, I boycotted French wines for a long time because they didn’t join us in the War. If you look at my wine-buying receipts, you will notice I’ve gotten over that a long long time ago. Viva La France….

QOTD: Can I say both? I wasn’t a big pinot drinker until Sideways, preferring cabernet sauvignon. Now I have tried more pinot and have realized I was missing lot. I still am not a huge fan of merlot, in general, and that made the parts dissing merlot funnier. On the other hand, pinot prices are starting to get a bit ridiculous. There are some small-production pinots I’ve had recently that are charging $40/bottle that are worth maybe $10. “Buy with care” seems to apply particularly to pinot noir.

However that may be, Sideways was good for the wine industry overall.

qotd i do like how the cheval blanc he’s been saving the whole movie is a merlot.

Gary, how about throwin a vin jaune on the show?

QOTD – NEITHER! I was too young to buy my own wine in 2004… I haven’t even SEEN Sideways yet (it is next on my Netflix cue)! That being said, I am happy at YOU, Gary V, for putting me on to pinot noir!

It is strange that the Yarra Yering was packaged in that bottle… I wonder how much impact the bottle actually has on the wine…..?