I’m probably in the minority on this, but I’m glad Sideways ripped merlot. Why? ‘Cause it turned people off to one of my favorite varietals and in doing so, it helped keep the prices in check. Although, I do hate what it did to Pinot Noir and the prices that followed.

As usual…Thanks for content.

I’m probably in the minority on this, but I’m glad Sideways ripped merlot. Why? ‘Cause it turned people off to one of my favorite varietals and in doing so, it helped keep the prices in check. Although, I do hate what it did to Pinot Noir and the prices that followed.

As usual…Thanks for content.

Good show – love merlot. Thanks Dominus for the QOTD: and I think it should be someone from France or Italy, so I’ll say either Voltaire or DaVinci. (sorry Bertrand Russell, you’re not from a classic winemaking country.)

Love to see you having fun (despite the negative comments you might have gotten. I guess being constructive with criticism is the key).

I enjoy merlot. Lest we forget the right bank of Bordeaux…Merlot makes some of the greatest wines in the world. I find it to be an elegant and seductive grape with great potential. However, most Cab. and Syrah drinkers might not seek the subtleties present with merlot based wines. Therefore, Syrah/Merlot blends might be a more appropriate approach for non-merlot drinkers.

PS Thanks for the schwag!

I’m not sure why i’m leaving a comment when u poked yourself in the eye and are probaly in too much pain to read this….anyway, drop me a line if you need eye advice!!!!

2nd comment. sorry, my browser hung.

thanks for the surprise gift in the secret pack. wow! better than another wrist band! hahahaha. kidding. I got my yellow wrist band from show 444 or whatever, thanks for sending that!

Merlot… hmm. I don’t like it normally. The first one – save for 3 years, decant for many hours and serve with big animals. hmm. Elephant, Giraffes, oh, my. ha.

I like the prices ranges – good for you!

I will seek out the third wine – I like oak. And Hacksaw! yooo!

QOTD… QOTD… popeye face with no question of the day? ok, then.

qotd: I’d have to say Prof Albert Einstein. Since he defined insanity as repetition with an expectation of differing result, tasting wine with him would be hilarious to be sure. And he (like GV) was always himself – reminds me of when he stuck out his tongue at the press on his 72nd birthday…

In terms of how Merlot has been treated the last couple years, it really just shows how immature the US is in terms of “wine confidence.” People must not know what varietals are produced in Bordeaux, because their sales certainly haven’t suffered…

When Gary says stuff like “Only 200 cases”, how many bottles are in each case?

Glad to see the Merlot back on the show – keep pushing it! You need to convince people not to listen to Hollywood.

I think talk like a pirate day was last month. Hope you are not seriously hurt.

I love pirates so this episode was extra special to me. Also, the laugh at the end, good from the belly laugh.

@Daniel Kemp – A case is 12 bottles my man…

Nice of you to give Merlot some props.
I will have to look for some of that Mercer H3.

Who cares what Miles says. I like Merlot. I had a bottle of gCook the other night and was impressed. A few friends and I got together at The Hitching Post a couple of weeks ago for dinner and had a bottle of their Pinot Noir “Highliner”.
Very nice.

Gary Veeeeeeeeeeeeeee….. you spaz!!!!! OK – that was funnier than hell! Loved that show, and glad you agreed that Mercer Estates make some great wine. In case you didn’t know, the Mercer Estates winery is a joint effort between Bud Mercer and family and Mike Hogue and two of his kids. Mike is the former owner/founder of Hogue Cellars, the huge (primarily) value producer here in Washington State. He is back!!!!

Mercer also owns vineyards in the Horse HEAVEN (NOT “haven”) Hills, and this merlot, I believe, is an estate wine. Their Dead Canyon Vineyard is adjacent to the world famous Champoux vineyard, where Quilceda Creek and many other top wineries get at least a portion of their fruit. The Horse Heaven Hills is a killer AVA, and Gary, if you remember the Robert Karl cab sav you reviewed awhile back and raved about – Robert Karl uses 100% Horse Heaven Hills fruit and now has their own estate vineyard there.

Speaking of Spokane wineries (such as Roibert Karl), when are you going to do a show on SPOKANE WINERIES??? Hmmmmmmm……

Cheers!
Tim

Yar, maitee! Great show, Gary. It’s nice to see people not hating on merlot, because good merlot can be very good (although like anything, bad merlot can be very bad…)

Okay, so I need the web addresses of all the Randall Grahm interview detractors so I can critique (bash) their shows. WHAT? They don’t have video blogs? How can that be? They’re so knowledgable, so correct! Jeez!!!!!!!!!

Thank you again for a beautiful piece of video.

Gary, I would just like to take the time to say thanks. The comments on last weeks episode were nasty, mean, and uncalled for. Sure, there were some technical difficulties. And yes, in your excitement, you had a slight tendency to interrupt. But Randall was not offended, I was not offended, and I believe the general viewing populace was not offended. When people told you to shut the %&^% I took great offense. As an occasional watcher of the thunder show I have come to appreciate your quirkiness and your brutal and up front bravado and honesty. However, when discussing wine, you do not come off as harsh and pompous. You let your guests speak their mind and lend their own expertise to increase the knowledge of the wine drinking community. To all you “vayniacs” I would like to take the time to say cut it out. This show and this community should not be one of hostility and ranting; it should instead be one of discussion and insight. I hate to take the time to preach from a pulpit; I just thought I would stick my two cents in.

I Loves me some Merlot. Sideways was fine, for distracting the sheepish portion of the wine public. I never strayed. Big props for many years to Bob Foley at Pride Mountain, but when Sideways was out, the monsters of my merlot world were Ahnfeldt (Craig MacCohnlean, ex- Markham, Cain), Selene (Mia Klein,- Etude, Dalle Valle), and B.R. Cohn(at a modest $30).
Tough times right now – just got Chaz Smith’s Holy Cow Merlot, cause I love his work – and many up there in Wash. And in Bordeaux, recently loved a 2003 Chat. Lafleur- Vauzelle, Lalande/ Pomerol. Great stuff at $20. Peace. Aarrrgggh.

oops. typo. That’s Craig Maclean. sorry.

If I could only drink one varietal, I’d probably pick Merlot…great, versatile wine, all kinds of styles, all kinds of price points.

I don’t know too many people who can turn poking themselves in the eye into a pirate imitation and be so funny about it, so expecting a question of the day as well is pushing it, I think. : )

(Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused…)

Good show. Glad to see merlot get some attention.

Good focus brother…

Bring it back…Merlot that is…bring that beat back, bring the ruckus!

BTW, if Mott’s going to be prez, who’s his veep?

Sad to see the changes at R3 today. Sorry you lost your still developing spot but I feel especially bad for those such as Sarah and Martin to who I have now personally witnessed this occurring not once but twice.
As always, your shows are great.