QOTD — checking CT, I see I haven’t had much American Merlot in the last 2+ years. This show didn’t send out signals to change. Guess I’ll stick to right bank blends

You should try having a Chateau Lafite-Rothschild Vintage 1959, corked, or a 1961 Chateau Lafite-Rothschild being shown up by a 1964 CARRUADES de Chateau Lafite-Rothschild at a standing rib-roast diner party with friends..

old bum, old wines, bad memories

Hey GV, weird episode to watch… I like merlot, unfortunately the Sideways disease hit the UK as well, and for a few years you could buy very good merlot quite cheaply. I think you should soon do an episode where you choose some good merlots, maybe non-blind, to make up for this episode?

QOTD: Some of the best and worse merlot I have drunk were Greek, cannot remember the names…

Good show. Have to agree with another comment. How about a show on Long Island Merlots? Come on Ian get with it.

QOTD…. Duckhorn Merlot was the best and I can’t remember what the worst one was.

Lynx-O Episode!

Gary, I need a good Merlot. I have not lost faith in Merlot, but I need something that is pleasing to my palate and inexpensive ($15 – $20?). Please keep doing these. Dissapointing result, but always fun.

Redo redo redo redo redo. You have to redo a blind Merlot show. One corked wine made the entire show bad I say. We the Vayniacs love the blind tastings and we must see another one this week Gary. Do Merlot again. More people won’t care about it than will care about it. Only thing is only the people that care will be the only one’s that comment. You know that’s true Gary!

Come on lurkers leave a effin comment!

QOTD: Started buying some everyday Merlots. The Charles Smith Red Devil Merlot–great nose–a fun wine. Rock River was also good. Haven’t tasted any recent vintages. One of the french wines in a secret pack was excellent–thought it was primarily merlot but can’t remember the name–Chateau Pontet??
There was a dry spell after Sideways, kind of a moratorium on merlot-buying so I don’t recall a bad one in recent memory.

Thanks for another blind tasting episode, Gary, maybe this is why I don’t drink Merlot much . . .
QotD: An older Duckhorn Three Palms quite a few years ago was a very good wine.

Maybe 25 years ago I was buying wine for a giant restaurant wine list and gave in to the temptation of buying a single bottle of 1947 Ch Cheval Blanc. I overpaid and thought it would never sell, just be a standout on the list. Well, it sold the second day on the list and I had to reprint the list immediately. That taught me an early lesson on how wine ratings can impact the salability of a wine . . . and this one was a couple of thousand even 25 years ago.

Bummer that the WC was corked — they make some great wine, and I bet you really missed out on something good.

Bummer that the WC was corked — they make some great wine, and I bet you really missed out on something good.

Love Merlot, always have, always will, (today’s results notwithstanding).

QOTD:

Best – Right Bank blends aside, would probably be a Duckhorn last year in SF.
Worst – Lots of plonk merlot out there, would hate to pick on just one.

CALL IT OUT GARY! Sideways was a POS! I actually don’t care for pinot, and really like merlot.

QOTD: Not sure about best/worst, but this merlot kicks ass: http://winelibrary.com/wines/32192-2005+Les+Secrets+De+Cardinale-+750ML

I haven’t commented in a while, but have been watching faithfully. I REALLY enjoyed today’s show even though, no maybe because it was so awkward and weird. I don’t drink much Merlot, not because it isn’t “fashionable”, but just because I don’t seek it out for whatever pre-programmed reason in my brain. I do love the blind tastings – please keep them in the rotation. I’d love to see a Lodi Zin show.

Loved the show. I think Merlot can be hard to do right and not enough people focus on Merlot. Right now it seems people are focusing on Pinot or Cab.
QOTD: Worst Merlot, have no idea. I’ve had some bad ones, how about good old 2 buck chuck. Best: Again no idea but had a Merlot reserve over the weekend at Greenwood Ridge Vineyards winery in Anderson Valley. Liked it enough to buy it. Bottle’s beautiful with a little Frank Lloyd Wright story to go along with it. Prefer the Merlot blends myself. Give me a nice right bank Bordeaux.

Geez, that makes me want some Merlot….NOT!!! what a klunker…..but hard to follow-up a Taylor tasting with that…..

would have been nice to see merlot from chile, bordeaux, long island, etc. that would have been more interesting too!!!

Too bad that Woodward Canyon was corked. I tasted that at the winery not too long ago and it was NICE!

QOTD: Best Merlot – 2002 Five Star Cellars Walla Walla Merlot
Worst… (not counting really cheap stuff) was the Merlot from Northstar (can’t remember the vintage). I’m not as down on oak as you, but this was insanely oaked. Terrible and pretty expensive.

QOTD: I try not to dwell on the worst. I have been liking merlots lately. I realy enjoyed the Rutherford Hill 2005 we got as a prsent on the Thunder Cruise. It had 5 varietals which always makes me like a merlot more.

QOTD:

Best : 2001..ish Sullivan Vineyards Napa Valley Floor
Worst : There are just 2 many to mention,

But now that you bring up Merlots I have a question.
Why do people serve Magnums/Jug Merlot at their Holiday Party’s??
I wish they would not do that. This is not a tradtion we need to hand down to future wineiacs. I would only hope that everyone would splurge a little, just a little on these Festive Days and check out the annual:
“Gary V Holiday Wines U Should Buy for Your Parties LIST” for their Festive Party Pics. Just a thought regarding the MERLOT MISTAKES.

** When are you releasing the first taping of “Sahsa & Mott fom the Basement” episodes?

thanks
RichE
Upsate NY

QOTD:

Best : 2001..ish Sullivan Vineyards Napa Valley Floor
Worst : There are just 2 many to mention,

But now that you bring up Merlots I have a question.
Why do people serve Magnums/Jug Merlot at their Holiday Party’s??
I wish they would not do that. This is not a tradtion we need to hand down to future wineiacs. I would only hope that everyone would splurge a little, just a little on these Festive Days and check out the annual:
“Gary V Holiday Wines U Should Buy for Your Parties LIST” for their Festive Party Pics. Just a thought regarding the MERLOT MISTAKES.

** When are you releasing the first taping of “Sahsa & Mott fom the Basement” episodes?

thanks
RichE
Upsate NY

That was a brutal show but there’s always next time.

where’s SS Chris?

Thank you, as always, for the show.

I may just give that duckhorn a try.

Something you showed me me ignore the stats look at the bottom line. Your family is well, you have food in in your larder and wine in your cellar, life is good.

GV on the roulette table now that’s fun, bet you win more than you lose

“Serious on the back end like jalo” if any one missed that go back and enjoy in the best descriptor ever!!!!!

Greg gets a hard time. I like him not saying anything in the game I want to WATCH THE GAME 🙂

Cutest person in a six person town I’m killing myself my belly hurts from laughing.

You rock bring that thunder to London

QOTD: Merlot, I’ve yet to be blown away, good be rarely great