EP 581 5 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines – BLIND!

Gary Vaynerchuk tries 5 wines blind and sees which tickle his palate, as we continue the Napa Cabernet theme this week!

Wines tasted in this episode:

2004 Beringer Napa Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet
2005 Barnett Cabernet Sauvignon Spring MountainNapa Cabernet
2004 Steltzner Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Barrel SelectNapa Cabernet
2005 Newton Unfiltered Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet
2005 Cliff Lede Stag’s Leap District Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet

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luca bercelli

92/100

line of the day – ‘a flabby lame duck that went 70 yards’

I’ve loved every blind tasting that Gary has done. How many other major wine critics in the world would be happy to do ‘one-take’ blind tastings? My guess is less than 1. Phenomenal

Tags: Blind Tasting, cabernet, california, napa, red, review, Video, wine, wines

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  • JoE

    Fantastic segment! I agree, every 3rd episode or one a week would be great.

  • JoE

    Fantastic segment! I agree, every 3rd episode or one a week would be great.

  • NYSE Wine

    QOTD.

    Love the blind shows. I think it keeps you on your toes. I don’t think all blind in ’09 is a good idea. The show is well rounded. I think more blind shows should be added. Maybe once every week to week and a half.

    Cheers!

  • NYSE Wine

    QOTD.

    Love the blind shows. I think it keeps you on your toes. I don’t think all blind in ’09 is a good idea. The show is well rounded. I think more blind shows should be added. Maybe once every week to week and a half.

    Cheers!

  • Jess

    Blind is fun but not every show please. Variety is the spice of life! It is a good idea to have one day a week dedicated to blind tasting- something to look forward to each week.
    Thanks for another great show!

  • Jess

    Blind is fun but not every show please. Variety is the spice of life! It is a good idea to have one day a week dedicated to blind tasting- something to look forward to each week.
    Thanks for another great show!

  • QOTD: Yes.

    However, a note, perhaps Mott could bury the links to the wines somewhere else, or perhaps not put them in winning order?

  • QOTD: Yes.

    However, a note, perhaps Mott could bury the links to the wines somewhere else, or perhaps not put them in winning order?

  • TommyBoBo of WI

    Heck Ya!!!! do it,,, but stay green,, recycle the bags, Francis will love you for it. = )

  • TommyBoBo of WI

    Heck Ya!!!! do it,,, but stay green,, recycle the bags, Francis will love you for it. = )

  • Brian

    The blind tastings are a definate “YES”…
    Couple of times a week is good, I like the idea someone else had about “Blind Thursdays”. I like to see your reactions at the end of the day when the wines are un-wrapped.
    PS. Happy be-lated Birthday!

  • Brian

    The blind tastings are a definate “YES”…
    Couple of times a week is good, I like the idea someone else had about “Blind Thursdays”. I like to see your reactions at the end of the day when the wines are un-wrapped.
    PS. Happy be-lated Birthday!

  • MikeL

    Great show! Love the blinds show, but I think once a week would be perfect!

  • MikeL

    Great show! Love the blinds show, but I think once a week would be perfect!

  • YvetteW

    I think blind tasting is an excellent idea! Definately adds more surprise, mystery, and the unexpected to your show! Would shoot off like crazy.

    Keep it up, love your shows as always though.

  • YvetteW

    I think blind tasting is an excellent idea! Definately adds more surprise, mystery, and the unexpected to your show! Would shoot off like crazy.

    Keep it up, love your shows as always though.

  • Gary, Can’t figure out IF anyone liked this ‘blind’ episode…………………………………….hum……………………….LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Gary, Can’t figure out IF anyone liked this ‘blind’ episode…………………………………….hum……………………….LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • chukhead-ted

    MY FIRST POST EVER!

    Huge lurker coming out here just for you Gary! I HAVE WATCHED EVERY EPISODE–I started watching with ep 1 in April 2008 and after an 8 month non-stop barrage of WLTV in my face I am finally all caught up to date and now a LURKER NO MORE!

    I felt so bad watching all those episodes as a lurker, but I didn’t want to really old episodes.

    QOTD–Gary, YES! Blind episodes are my favorites. You always talk about getting rid of preconceived notions and this is the only way. PLEASE do a weekly blind episode–like “blind tuesdays.”

    Also–since you asked recently–the real short hair does not suit you so well–better to keep it a little longer.

    I am a law school student in NYC, so i am not too far removed from the CKC (big shout out!)

    also gary–you have toned it down WAY too much on the openings in the last 50 episodes or so, I want you to SHOUT IT OUT on Monday “HELLO EVERYBODY WELCOME TO WINELIBRARY TV I AM YOUR HOST GARY VAY-NER-CHUK…” after the jets win real big on sunday in tennessee!

    I am a giants fan (what up mott!) but i root for the jets over anyone but the giants, so no animosity there at all. I am going for the JETS big time this weekend especially for you, and I was trying to picture your reaction when the jets beat the pats in OT! Happy belated birthday too!

    p.s. the new opening with the vaynerchuk cab is actually too loud.

    anyway, look for my posts now hopefully every day and thank you so much SS CHRIS for the awesome, awesome job on the scores! Thank you Mott for being the mottster (so glad he finally got a shirt!), and thank you GARY for teaching me so much about wine and encouraging me to expand my palate… and always reminding everyone the importance of family and friends.

  • chukhead-ted

    MY FIRST POST EVER!

    Huge lurker coming out here just for you Gary! I HAVE WATCHED EVERY EPISODE–I started watching with ep 1 in April 2008 and after an 8 month non-stop barrage of WLTV in my face I am finally all caught up to date and now a LURKER NO MORE!

    I felt so bad watching all those episodes as a lurker, but I didn’t want to really old episodes.

    QOTD–Gary, YES! Blind episodes are my favorites. You always talk about getting rid of preconceived notions and this is the only way. PLEASE do a weekly blind episode–like “blind tuesdays.”

    Also–since you asked recently–the real short hair does not suit you so well–better to keep it a little longer.

    I am a law school student in NYC, so i am not too far removed from the CKC (big shout out!)

    also gary–you have toned it down WAY too much on the openings in the last 50 episodes or so, I want you to SHOUT IT OUT on Monday “HELLO EVERYBODY WELCOME TO WINELIBRARY TV I AM YOUR HOST GARY VAY-NER-CHUK…” after the jets win real big on sunday in tennessee!

    I am a giants fan (what up mott!) but i root for the jets over anyone but the giants, so no animosity there at all. I am going for the JETS big time this weekend especially for you, and I was trying to picture your reaction when the jets beat the pats in OT! Happy belated birthday too!

    p.s. the new opening with the vaynerchuk cab is actually too loud.

    anyway, look for my posts now hopefully every day and thank you so much SS CHRIS for the awesome, awesome job on the scores! Thank you Mott for being the mottster (so glad he finally got a shirt!), and thank you GARY for teaching me so much about wine and encouraging me to expand my palate… and always reminding everyone the importance of family and friends.

  • Once A week would rock.

  • Once A week would rock.

  • Glenn

    caught this episode @ 30K ft on my Ipod. great show. do one blind month, 20-25 different varietals blind via region. would be a fun month…

  • Glenn

    caught this episode @ 30K ft on my Ipod. great show. do one blind month, 20-25 different varietals blind via region. would be a fun month…

  • Go blind until 2009. Interesting to see how things will pan out. Great tasting today. I was glad to see the Newton make a mark.

  • Go blind until 2009. Interesting to see how things will pan out. Great tasting today. I was glad to see the Newton make a mark.

  • candapete

    I agree with Logan, a day a week of blind tastings would be great. Everyday is just a little overboard.

  • candapete

    I agree with Logan, a day a week of blind tastings would be great. Everyday is just a little overboard.

  • Tim Wiseman

    Absolutely! +1 on Blind in ’09.

    I love the blind tasting … GREAT SHOW.

    Thanks GV!

  • Tim Wiseman

    Absolutely! +1 on Blind in ’09.

    I love the blind tasting … GREAT SHOW.

    Thanks GV!

  • Marc

    QOTD: all blind, all the time.

  • Marc

    QOTD: all blind, all the time.

  • All blind – single blind, you know the wines, but not the order.

  • All blind – single blind, you know the wines, but not the order.

  • qotd – not all the time, but yeah maybe do a double-blind tasting of a single varietal and its expressions around the world – like syrah from australia, cali, and rhone, stuff like that….

  • qotd – not all the time, but yeah maybe do a double-blind tasting of a single varietal and its expressions around the world – like syrah from australia, cali, and rhone, stuff like that….

  • Miko

    i <3 blind! You should go blind at least once a week!

  • Miko

    i <3 blind! You should go blind at least once a week!

  • good show.
    Mix blind with single bottle in-depth shows.

  • good show.
    Mix blind with single bottle in-depth shows.

  • As an impartial observer I believe that blind is the only way to go. When your tasting blind your removing yourself from the hype, the branding, and the celebrity of the wine industry.

  • As an impartial observer I believe that blind is the only way to go. When your tasting blind your removing yourself from the hype, the branding, and the celebrity of the wine industry.

  • Keith Brown

    QOTD: Love the blind tastings…but it should maybe be 60/40…do 3 a week, and do other features the other 2. Hmmm… on the other hand, maybe 40/60. The problem is, when you go blind, you’re at the mercy of whoever picks out the wines. When you do the other formats, I learn a LOT about varietals, domaines, tasting, culture, etc… so I’d hate to lose all that. Everything’s a tradeoff I guess, but bottom line, I WOULD like to see MORE blind tastings.

  • Keith Brown

    QOTD: Love the blind tastings…but it should maybe be 60/40…do 3 a week, and do other features the other 2. Hmmm… on the other hand, maybe 40/60. The problem is, when you go blind, you’re at the mercy of whoever picks out the wines. When you do the other formats, I learn a LOT about varietals, domaines, tasting, culture, etc… so I’d hate to lose all that. Everything’s a tradeoff I guess, but bottom line, I WOULD like to see MORE blind tastings.

  • Dr. Dan

    Definitely like the blind tastings, Gary. But, I don’t think that an entire year of the them would be great. It’s nice to mix it up.

  • Dr. Dan

    Definitely like the blind tastings, Gary. But, I don’t think that an entire year of the them would be great. It’s nice to mix it up.

  • John M Heavey

    Go with the blind once a week. Love the format. Also, I like to see how Gary’s scores match up with the WS and RP.

  • John M Heavey

    Go with the blind once a week. Love the format. Also, I like to see how Gary’s scores match up with the WS and RP.

  • MNGeorge

    Blind tastings- let’s face it- there is NO other way to be completely credible about opinions on tastings. I find when I get together with wine friends, we all want to do tastings blind to test ourselves. Frankly, I watch your blind tasting shows 10-1 versus the others…

  • MNGeorge

    Blind tastings- let’s face it- there is NO other way to be completely credible about opinions on tastings. I find when I get together with wine friends, we all want to do tastings blind to test ourselves. Frankly, I watch your blind tasting shows 10-1 versus the others…

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