I love that you are trying to get people out of the “Merlot is so not cool” funk. I am, however, a bit disappointed in how some of these wines showed. It would be fun to see you retaste one of the ‘higher’ end wines that didn’t show too well in another blind episode.

Please, please, please do not have tags that show what wine you are tasting when doing a blind episode. I don’t want to know what it is until the reveal. Part of the fun is trying to guess the country/region.

QOTD: worst= 3 Blind Moose….best= a great right bank Bordeaux (can’t think of ‘the best’ off the top of my head)

I love that you are trying to get people out of the “Merlot is so not cool” funk. I am, however, a bit disappointed in how some of these wines showed. It would be fun to see you retaste one of the ‘higher’ end wines that didn’t show too well in another blind episode.

Please, please, please do not have tags that show what wine you are tasting when doing a blind episode. I don’t want to know what it is until the reveal. Part of the fun is trying to guess the country/region.

QOTD: worst= 3 Blind Moose….best= a great right bank Bordeaux (can’t think of ‘the best’ off the top of my head)

Always love the blind tastings. It’s more of the helpless feeling I get when I taste a wine where I can see the label information!

I’ve been all around the world in my wine tasting, but haven’t had enough Merlot’s to answer the question well(but very nice question).

Hey, I’m leaving a comment. I hope you have enough comments to continue on making shows – we all love them, whatever you can do whenever you can do it.

Just an observation. To some people, the last comment of yours could really tick them off, and remind them of some popular actor on a popular show for years, who thinks that he wants to go bigger and leave the great show and start making movies, only to return with their tail between their legs and start making great shows again.

Not that this is that situation, and I don’t think that you’d ever have to return with your tail between your legs… It’s just that I can possibly see people getting really angry with you, like you’re threatening to yank the show and strong arm them into action. If you back people up against the wall, some may turn on you.

Knowing you the little I do, you probably innocently thought of some creative way of increasing viewer interaction, and did so with no malice aforethought.

Hey, I guess it worked. I’ve left my longest comment yet!

Nice show; they are always appreciated. Thank you.

Always love the blind tastings. It’s more of the helpless feeling I get when I taste a wine where I can see the label information!

I’ve been all around the world in my wine tasting, but haven’t had enough Merlot’s to answer the question well(but very nice question).

Hey, I’m leaving a comment. I hope you have enough comments to continue on making shows – we all love them, whatever you can do whenever you can do it.

Just an observation. To some people, the last comment of yours could really tick them off, and remind them of some popular actor on a popular show for years, who thinks that he wants to go bigger and leave the great show and start making movies, only to return with their tail between their legs and start making great shows again.

Not that this is that situation, and I don’t think that you’d ever have to return with your tail between your legs… It’s just that I can possibly see people getting really angry with you, like you’re threatening to yank the show and strong arm them into action. If you back people up against the wall, some may turn on you.

Knowing you the little I do, you probably innocently thought of some creative way of increasing viewer interaction, and did so with no malice aforethought.

Hey, I guess it worked. I’ve left my longest comment yet!

Nice show; they are always appreciated. Thank you.

Hey Gary, long time creeper. I have given Merlot a shot on numerous occasions and usually end up a bit disappointed. Although i have had a few nice ones. I really enjoy the Merlot that Nickle and Nickle make but a great bargain is one called Amador from chile, Paul Hobbs oversaw the operation down there if im not mistaken. Rough show but keep up the good work.

I really enjoyed this show. Gary’s candor was very refreshing. I have been watching for a few months and really look forward to it.

Worst Merlot: Rodney Strong

Butch

Serious backend like J-Lo…

Now that’s a wine description.

Gary – Thank you for what you do. You have inspired me to follow my passion and create a bog about Michigan wine.

I love the fact that some of your shows don’t go as planned. That is what makes you real and that is what keeps us coming back.

Keep up the great work. I will try to watch everyday in between hustling the new blog and work (at least I am not spending time watching “F**king Lost” every night!

Rough day for Merlot at the Wine Library. When I drink Merlot I tend to go right bank Bordeaux…..so not usually 100% merlot. You should treat yourself to a bottle of Petrus to remind yourself of the greatness of Merlot.
QOTD: Like I said, usually blended with Cab Franc so I cant really say. But like always…Thanks for the show!

Yo G, FUUUUUUUUUUUN Episode, even if the Vinos weren’t sooo hot!!!
Ya must have JINXED them since you were boosting about Merlot the
other day. Mooochoo Mooooochooo Thanx for another Blind Tasting!!

qotd: The few Merlots that I have drank I have enjoyed, Shafer &
Columbia Crest Grand Estates (a steal at 6 to 7 bones) come to mind.
Ya know, on the top of me head, I can not remember drinking a Merlot
that I did not like……

As momma said ‘honesty is the best policy’.

QOTD: Toss up between Delectus and Miner Stagecoach Merlot for best, worst is much harder to say. As any who’s worked in the business for years can attest to, you taste a lot of really awful merlots in the search for a good one. But then again that can be said for any varietal when building a wine program. Although South Africa doesn’t seem to excel at merlot, in my experiences.

As momma said ‘honesty is the best policy’.

QOTD: Toss up between Delectus and Miner Stagecoach Merlot for best, worst is much harder to say. As any who’s worked in the business for years can attest to, you taste a lot of really awful merlots in the search for a good one. But then again that can be said for any varietal when building a wine program. Although South Africa doesn’t seem to excel at merlot, in my experiences.

SWEET! WLTV in HD!!!!!

Ah…not new. It’s just that I watched the past few episodes on my iPhone. Very cool, though!

Merlot? Why bother? Good show anyway. It’s what I love about wine. You just never know until you drink it. Glad you gave it a chance to succeed as a player among the “real” grape varietals of the world. Best I ever had was a Sterling and an unfiltered Newton.

I have been drinking Duckhorn since I visited the Vineyard in 1999. I am not surprised it outclassed the competition in this episode. I just had a bottle this past Friday night. It was great.

Best Merlot I ever tasted was last summer. I was in Bordeaux and tasted Cheval Blanc at a tasting bar in St, Emillion (50 euros for the glass but had to try it).

My QOTD- have you been watching Rex Ryan’s press conferences on the Jets Website? I can barter tix for wine if interested.

GV….love the JLO comment. Never drink straight merlot, more of a merlot blend guy.

Oh ya, I agree with Mark Fitzpatrick, and must add “…serious backend like J-Lo…” to my repertoire of wine descriptors.

I smell possible T-shirt and/or wristband material with this comment…

Oh ya, I agree with Mark Fitzpatrick, and must add “…serious backend like J-Lo…” to my repertoire of wine descriptors.

I smell possible T-shirt and/or wristband material with this comment…

GV-
hey man, you put yourself and merlot out there. can’t blame you…blame Ian picking them :)! anyways, good show, rough results. keep the blind coming though, i think we all dig on them and like to see how the name doesn’t matter, just the taste.

QOTD: worst – haven’t had many so can’t name one. best – Duck Pond Merlot, 05 maybe. friend (JC!) picked it up in WA when we lived there for 4 bones a bottle. couldn’t beat that one even on a rainy day.

peace- matty b

Bummer of a show… and Duckhorn, as good as it is, pretty stiff at $40+…

Time to do a “Right Bank” tasting!!!

QOTD: My favorite is Chateau La Pointe, Pomerol… if you have any ’05 around, give it a whirl… for the price, I think you may like it… would LOVE to hear your opinion on it…

I was willing to give Merlot another chance but you said it Gary..
Maybe Paul Giamatti was right.

QOTD: Go back to 1995 vintages to find a “good” merlot. Today, good merlot if found in a blend with cab and or petit verdot.

Worst Merlot ever: the “Merlot Christian Moueix / 2000 and 2002 Bordeaux” found in Costco and Sam’s Club… EWW!

I was willing to give Merlot another chance but you said it Gary..
Maybe Paul Giamatti was right.

QOTD: Go back to 1995 vintages to find a “good” merlot. Today, good merlot if found in a blend with cab and or petit verdot.

Worst Merlot ever: the “Merlot Christian Moueix / 2000 and 2002 Bordeaux” found in Costco and Sam’s Club… EWW!

Ugh.

Thanks for the show

Had good merlot from Washington State

Qotd:
Best: Angelus and wines from Denis Barraud
Worst: Cant remember name but a chilean Merlot that was not even good for a sauce