Gary, about the comments – I almost exclusively watch on my ipod on my commute home (on the DC metro) – don’t make it to the winelibrary site that often – if you could figure out a way so I could submit comments from the ipod I would do it every day….

QOTD: worst merlot? jackson triggs, thin, weak, overall not a great experience. I don’t know what the best merlot I’ve ever had is soooooooooo, the best that I’ve had in a very long time was the Mondavi Carneros Merlot. WOW! $70 but it was pretty damn good after a few years in the cellar.

Chateau St. Jean Reserve or even their Sonoma. Just stay away from their Napa blend. Totally uninspired. G Cook is very nice.

Worst? Anything Charles Shaw produces.

Love that J-lo gesture. Never thought of that “backend” when drinking. Great!

QOTD: Best = Chateau St Jean Reserve, Worst = …

Keep the shows coming – we love watching you over dinner and a bottle of wine, usually red. Tonight we had a 2007 Delas CDR St. Esprit. Have you noticed that the CDRs from 2007 are a great QPR?

When will you be in the northwest/ seattle are next?

worst: kingfish merlot $5.40 @ heb. sadley we drink it on the regular. cost reasons.

best: 2003 mercier merlot mendoncino county. $38 btl. holy-shit!!

best: 04 Paloma Merlot Napa Valley
worst: 05 Trefethen Merlot Napa

Great show Gary, even with the bad result for Merlot. I am just starting to try and drink Merlot again after being unimpressed for many years.!!

Hey Gary

Thanks for a really interesting show. It felt like you were rolling out live and even though the results weren’t fantastic it was still great to see how it all came together.

QOTD: Best Domain Portet 2004 Yarra Valley. Worst ???

Cheers
Andrew

1961 Cheval Blanc was only 1/3 Merlot, 2/3 Cab. Franc.

QOTD: Best: 1982 Troplong-Mondot in about 2002, a very very good wine. I keep buying the chateau now. and I find it great that they got the lift into the better league (IIRC). Worst: forgot or smthng…

Lurker comment as requested.

Yup, always love the blind tastings. Just started watching this episode so no detailed comment yet, but I do watch through iTunes/iPod, probably one of the reasons why I don’t leave comments more frequently. Plus, I usually watch the episodes several days after they’re posted, so this is probably the major reason why I don’t leave comments on each episode.

USA Merlot’s I like…Duckhord Estate & Napa, Whitehall Lane Merlot, Bravante Vineyards Merlot.

Not bad, but worst I’ve had…2005 Longboard Vineyards Merlot Dakine Vineyard & 2003 Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot. Both good QPRs & quaffers.

I love the blind tastings, what is Ian doing with these wines. I think he can do better! Whitehall, Havens, Neyers, and those are in inventory…AMM

Miner Stagecoast 2003 my fav. Can’t remember what acid water Merlot was my least fav.

You just accidentally killed Merlot! haha I’m right there with you though, never rule out Merlot.

QOTD- Recent Best- Thumbprint Merlot Schneider Reserve Lot, beautiful cherry fruit with a nice chocolate covered cherry hue. Nice little chalk component, almost cellar dusty. And a long luscious finish. An elegant cab drinkers merlot.
Recent Worst- every other merlot haha

So I really just have a quick comment about the itunes comment. This is how I get all of my video podcast just for convenience. It’s like having the RSS reader. Needless to Say Lurker coming out. Although am I a lurker if I’ve seen you twice live, and personally introduced myself at least a few times!?

Responding to your iPod comment, I actually did the reverse. I found you in iTunes (recognizing you from the Joel Stein article), started by watching you on my iPod to and from work, but since I always also got the episodes in my e-mail, preferred that larger format and now I only watch here.

I have drunk mostly nice cheap Merlots, like the Carmen 2006 from Chile.

Daria K from Toronto

I love the blind tasting episodes, particularly since I am still waiting for the first blind tasting episode in WLTV history with Gary not asking for a pen 😉

Haven’s Merlot. Picked up a case from a friend for 300 bones….the special lady and I absolutely thought it was phenominal at that price point. I know Michael Haven’s is no longer there, but they’re doing it right.

I think Merlot is fantastic, could care less what Hollywood is drinking….let alone anything else they’re doing. 😉

QotD: Worst merlot… Kendall Jackson… Best merlot… R.H. Phillips Toasted Head

QOTD:
Best: 2005 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Merlot – Walla Walla Valley
Worst: don’t remember

I absouluely love 2005 Cypress Merlot, made by J. Lohr. This wine has a bite when you first take a sip then you get this wonderful fruity aftertaste.

This show was a heart breaker. For me, the wine that rocked my world and got me into wine was a 1986 pomerol that I had in 2004 (wish I knew where it was from.) Please do more of these blind tastings, I just watched the Pinot blind tasting and am about to watch the chardonnay tasting, would love to see you give merlot another shot.

Good CAll AMM3rd.. I agree that Duckhorn is my favorite, the 04 Howell Mountain, unfortunately it is about 75 bucks,, in the 20ish range, my favorite is Whitehall Lane, very smooth……..AND to a surprise to all you out there, best $11 Merlot and better than most 25 and under, is Veremonte Merlot, especially the 04 or 5,, great tannic structure, good fruit, balanced, drinks like a cab, from Chile.. Chile I think makes the best Merlot along side CA…

I am new to wines and Merlot has been the red that I have started with. Thank you for doing a blind tasting for Merlot. I have been going through some of your videos to catch up on some wines.

I found your site through your book. I have gotten motivated to get going and build my brand T.A. SultaZ.

Wow. Too bad about the Woodward Canyon, almost always a kick-ass wine. Give it another try, Gary. Merlot will make a come back!!