Long time “lurker” but I had to make my first comment and defend all of us Craig’s out there. I can’t believe you called us all boring!!

Great show, really enjoy it and I download it and watch it on my iphone so it is hard to make comments quickly.

When are you coming down to Australia to Crush it???

Absolutely, you should do more blind tastings! Perhaps even go back to different varieties in the lineup etc.

Definately revist a merlot blind tasting….or even just go and handpick 3 merlots to try. Like you, I can’t believe merlot has fallen from best selling varietals to it’s current status due to a line in a movie. Good for me though!!

QOTD: BEST MERLOT – Last week the wife and I drank a bottle of 2004 Nickel & Nickel Suscol Ranch that was “silk in a glass!” Just an incredible wine.
WORST: Last year at a party, the host bought cases of Woodbridge Merlot that was horrible.

QOTD: “Wente Merlot” Really a nice smooth wine, now that they have a new wine maker.

Blind tastings are always fun. You always crush it in them.

QOTD…does raise a valid point for me: I don’t dislike Merlot yet I don’t buy or hardly ever drink any (Sideways is not to blame). My cellar (400+ bottles) is mostly french therefore 100% varietal Merlot is non-existant with the closest contenders being the Pomerols and St-Emilions.

I don’t remember drinking any bad Merlot while the best so far would be the 1997 La Fleur-Petrus back in 2005.

Eventhough the wines sucked in your opinion I enjoyed this episode. It was kind of fun to watch you with these bad wines. 😉
QOTD: Well the best one I had was actually a blend of Merlot and Tannat called Brumont from 2008 made by Alain Brumont. The worst would be some kind of box-wine I had a few months back. I didn’t even bother remembering the name but it was nasty.

Thanks Gary. I love these blind tastings. Keep up the great work. 05 blind Merlot tasting from Bordeaux would yield better results I think.

Okay Gary, you got me to stop lurking. But I have an excuse. After years of too much computer use, I have hand problems which preclude me from using the computer much. Watching your show is one thing, typing is another matter however. In this case, I’m using voice recognition. Still, I try to minimize my computer use (something I’m sure you can’t relate to).

I don’t know that I have had enough Merlot to answer the question of the day. What I will say is that I like the blind tasting format and you should definitely do more of them. Also, it’s not your fault if the wines suck.

………………………….
……………………………..
………………..
……………………….
………………………………….
Whoops – I forgot to turn on the keyboard. A doomed show from the onset.
I like my good ol’ Jacobs Creek Merlot for seven bones a bottle. ;-}

AotD:
Best – Jacobs Creek Merlot
Worst – Jacobs Creek Merlot

Regards,
I. M. Cheep

can I suggest you retry the woodward canyon and the wine from Cali I have always loved is the spring mountain wines from Robert Keenan awesome Merlot and blends.

Mernot!!

Glenn

Good try at the merlot. I agree there’s good merlot out there but it seems like most of it is so so. The best merlot I’ve had was a 1989 Sullivan Merlot. I drank it 15 years ago but still remember how good it was.

Gary,
good point about itune. I watch 90% of time on my phone. Does make it
more difficult to leave comment.
I always enjoy an occasional blind tasting full of dogs. It’s kinda like watching pro golfers struggle on the incredibly difficult US Open courses.
QOD best merlot 2000 Hartwell Vineyards Napa Merlot
worst Silver Charm North Carolina Merlot – this tasted like urine soaked in wood chips. Completely Awful!

In recent months I have liked the 2006 Shafer Merlot mucho.

In recent months I have liked the 2006 Shafer Merlot mucho.

How about a show on fine white Burgundies.

I love the blind tastings. I wish merlot had been better as it is one of my favorites. thanks for eliminating a few for me. I’ll keep on tasting. Good show!

Gary,
Even a show where the wine is disappointing (or rather, mostly sucks) is highly entertaining AND informative. I love Sideways, but do sometimes drink Merlot. Just had a nice bottle: 2004 Paso Creek. Can’t remember my worst – probably a $2 Chuck.
First time comment – I’ll try to do it more often.

I liked the 06 Duckhorn Merlot as well….I think its still very young but approachable.

My notes:

Nose: The nose presents tart raspberry and a wonderful spiced, blackberry component. There is a wonderful nutty, cherry cola aspect which is very interesting and attractive. We also pulled a bit of vegetable aroma out with a greenish tomato component adding to the mix.

Mouth: Up front there are bright, fresh blackberries with wonderful acidity pulling through the mid palate. This wine also has a creaminess to it, which ties it together and integrates those fresh tannins across its mouthwatering finish. The flavor sensations are a touch angular and we believe that with a bit of bottle aging these will soften to make the experience that much more harmonious.

Blind tasting episodes are my favorites, even when the wines aren’t good. I like this show because it highlights the frustrations we wine consumers can have with Merlot. I know there are good Merlots available, but it can be really hard to find quality examples at reasonable prices without guidance. Maybe it’s time for a Merlot-quest on the Thunder Show.

QOTD: The best Merlot I think I’ve had was a sample of an older Chateau Valandraud, the precise vintage of which I sadly can’t recall. The worst Merlot I’ve had was some boxed plonk a friend of mine served up, the details of which I happily can’t recall.

GOOD SHOW ! i dig the blind tastings.

best merlot..hmm..i dont drink much however i do remember enjoying columbia crest
reserve merlot. Worst .probably Marilyn Merlot.

Lurker no more…1st, Heidi Barrett is a goddess…thank you from the bottom of my heart for the interview. BTW, you did just fine. As far a favorite Merlot…2004 Pedestal. Not so many stinkers…guess I just don’t drink it that often.

QOTD: Being fairly new to wine and not drinking as much as I would like, I actually cannot think of two merlots I can remember, let alone rate as best or worst. I’ve always been more pulled to tempranillos and sangioveses to buy much merlot. I’ll have to give it another shot since you seem so passionate about it.

Love the blind tastings and I think the reason is they consistently surprise you, which results in great moments for the show. The candid, unscripted responses to the tastings and the reveals really brings out that authenticity that makes your show so great. KEEP CRUSHING IT!

I think you may have done in Merlot a bit more than Sideways did. Who would buy Merlot after that show!!!!

Gary, I must confess that I was a victim of Sideways. I turned 21 and got turned onto wine right around the time Sideways came out. I was immediately influenced by the film’s message, Yes to Pinot, Hell No to Merlot. I started out drinking, Pinots, Syrahs, and Rhones and steered cleared of Merlot. Honestly based just on the film’s message. But as my pallet developed and many thanks to you and your mantra of always being open-minded and trying new wines, I now love Bordeaux varietals, with Merlot being one of my favorites.

QOTD: Favorite Merlot is the 2005 Tin Roof Merlot, being a few years older than a true CKC my wine budget is tight. This is a gret value $8 – $10. Worst Barefoot Cellars Merlot, just awful.