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EP 803 Another Merlot Blind Tasting

Gary revisits Merlot in this blind tasting of wines around the world, with some interesting results.

Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Chateau La BienfaisanceSt Emilion
2007 Bellanotte MerlotFriuli Venzia-Giulia IGT
Segal’s Fusion RedIsraeli Kosher Wine
2007 Osso Anna MerlotNapa Merlot

Links mentioned in todays episode.


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Tags: Blind Tasting, merlot, red, review, Video, wine, wines

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  • Anonymous

    rioja tasting would be great

  • It's nice to see that people are human. Nice to see that merlot can be produced everywhere. I like blind tastings, not that i could notice any difference between wines, but just to learn and don't have any preconcieved notions.
    QOTD: Eikendal merlot 2006. Still young with lots of sting, but also craneberry, blackberry and a foreverlasting back end.

  • 1Kailuaboy

    Great varietal. I'm on a Merlot trip right now as I'm trying to mix it up after drinking a lot of Cab., Bordeaux blends. Can't P-Diddy it up, so no Petrus or Cheval Blancs. My recent faves were a 1998 Peby Faugeres, (100% Merlot) I believe and a 1999 Paloma. Still have, and am waiting to open a 2001 Paloma Merlot, and a 2006 Kapcsandy Merlot. I got good feelings these won't disappoint. Next stop, find me some Italians.

  • Nice blind show Gary

    This really surprised me with the results of some of these Merlots – It's always a problem when wines are over oaked – Having said this – oaky wines are still very popular. Not me though, I like my wine to be fruit forward and with some regionality.

    qotd – Grant Burge 2007 Hillcot Merlot, $12 – nice rounded wine with pure fruit expression

  • dave

    For me it would be the 1999 Stag's Leap Merlot. Probably the wine that 'got me into wine'. I've probably had better Merlots since then but this one just stands out as the first wine that made me really think that wine was something I could seriously get into.

    Loving the blind episodes by the way!

  • Craggy Range do a first class Sauvignon Blanc too

  • Blythesville

    Spring Valley Mule Skinner 100% Merlot (Walla Walla). Remarkably consistent for my palette.

  • Blythesville

    In addition to Spring Valley, I think Northstar and Reininger (sp?)also do some pretty good Merlot blends.

  • Avi Hein

    Interesting choice of wines, but if you're tasting varietal merlots, why are you drinking the Segal Fusion Red – a blend which includes Merlot – instead of the Segal Merlot? The Segal's also at a much lower price point than the rest of the wines, and so it's not in the same league. Their varietal merlot may have been a better choice. But still glad to see you feature Israel!

  • Kmurph

    thanks a bunch Derek! So glad to be going up to Boston…I can’t believe it’s been a year since the last Expo. See you on Saturday!

  • Kmurph

    believe me DFbwp, as a recently liberated CKC I always love finding good values. That Bellanote is super cool. But if I want to drop serious cash, I go to Bordeaux! 🙂

  • Kmurph

    thanks DKBTex! Ian’s got a crazy awesome palate, so when I’m filling in, it’s great to hear the wines went well.

  • Kmurph

    very cool Dan “On Tap”- I love Merlot so I’m glad these went well (you know…except when the Oak Monster strikes)!

  • Kmurph

    there were some guests that night MikePos.

  • Richie

    One of the good old fashion episodes. Wonderful.
    I again have to say it here Gary. You should do the one month of sparkling wines and while your at it: Do it double blind! That would be insanely fantastic.

  • Anonymous

    The Avatar os great Mott!! did not notice that last time, futurama is one of the most underrated animated shows out there. I think they are coming back!

  • rsimeone

    Gary- please do not be surprised about the Merlot from Friuli. This is one of the best wine growing regions in Italy with a unique cuisine to match. I left a more detailed comment about wines from Friuli Venezia Giulia after your Dolcetto show. Please give this region more attention. Start with the Pignolo grape, a ancient varietal with a great story. Thanks

  • pinkmoonwinery

    Love the blind tastings!

    My favorite Merlots: Merlot from Quilceda Creek especially the 2003, the Buccella Merlot (Even though the Oak Monster is visiting there…) and Redigaffi from Tua Rita!

    I love Sideways: The Buccella Merlot is as good as their cab but as it is not rated by Parker and it is a Merlot thanks to Sideways it is 40% cheaper than their Cabernet, I love it!

  • LonelyGrape

    QOTD Best straight Merlot I have had was a 2000 Tatachilla Clarendon Vineyard Merlot. Great structure and oak integrration when I drank it in 2006.

  • Anonymous

    I tried thier three palms not too long ago. Its the best one they make, thier CA labeled Merlot is ot that exciting, but thier single estate grown is not bad at all. Finally some people arnt just hating on Napa to hate on them. I do agree that tey are overpriced, and often times vastly overrated.

  • Anonymous

    That was Chico’s hay day! I went there back in 2001 for a VERY brief period of time, but lived there through elementary school. Much like Napa, the hype has died down significantly in the last decade. My friend is getting a masters there, people actually do learn AND graduate from there believe it or not.

  • I like Merlot wines but never had one without food or dessert, and for some reason the opportunity hasn't presented itself, there must be one that is suitable as an aperitif. Don't be angry at the oaky wine (osso anna), it's probably not its fault.

    QOTD: I don't have a favorite actually, I procure to buy a different brand every time.

  • MarcBelgium

    Much better show than the previous one on Merlot.

    QOTD. I don't like merlot that much because it's most of the time for me childisch wine, fruit without backbone. Except for Chateau Petrus which I drank twice.

    BTW, I ordered the wine you reviewed earlier this week, the Dolcetto d'Alba. It will be delivered tomorrow. I'm very curious.

    Another question. Why do I have to enter every time again my name when I write a comment?

  • plcb

    QOTD: I don't have a favorite. Off the top of my head, I can suggest Estancia Merlot as an everyday-type easy-sipper. Value and deliciousness, nothing complex.

  • Anonymous

    🙁

    (hi sammy)

  • Maniacal_Angel

    This has nothing to do with the Merlot. This comment is just preparing you for when the Indianapolis Colt Dominate over the New York Jets. I would love to make a bet with you on this game but sadly i don’t have the money for what i had planned. Just for kicks i want to let you know what i had in mind. I was going to say that IF the colts lost, i would come as a guest on your show with a I LOVE JETS T-SHIRT or dress on. If the Jets lost, you would have to come to my job (Bevmo in West Hollywood, California) and do an episode with a Colt jersey or an I LOVE COLT T-SHIRT on. Hey but like i said i don’t have the money to be doing things like that, but if i did have the money, it would be on bro. Love your show and keep up the great work.

    Maniacal_Angel
    [email protected]

  • poconnor

    Actually, some of the world?s best Merlot producers are from Italy; like La Palazzola and Falesco (Montiano) from Umbria, and Ornellaia (Masseto) and Castello di Ama (Vigna L?Apparita) from Tuscany.
    Merlot is also a very popular variety in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia; producing some solid Merlot-based wines like the Sossó and Vertigo from Livio Felluga.

  • LONNIE839

    GO JETS….VERY INTERESTING PROGRAM…LOVE THE “BLIND TASTING CONCEPT”..BEST MERLOT
    WAS 2005 SHAFER MERLOT AND FOR EVERYDAY CHATEAU ST.MICHELLE INDIAN WELLS 2006
    MERLOT…

  • Scruff

    Pinot is sooo out now Brandon. Small lot single vineyard Merlot is the future.

    😉 SMN (aka Scruff)

  • missatiejacket

    qotd: for a blend: 2000 Ch. Hosanna. I think it's about 85/15 Merlot/Cab Franc. Great stuff, as I remember.

    varietally labelled: probably '05 Boudreaux Merlot from WA. serious structure to that stuff and I drank it too young.

  • WineWoman

    QOTD: I actually bought the Osso Anna for under 10 bucks. Doesn't matter–I didn't like it either. I enjoy some of the Washington State Merlots such as Reininger and Casa Lapastolle (Chile). Some good choices for the Blind-Show—KMURPH!!!

  • Larry

    Looking forward to see you sporting a beard all summer.

    Go Jets

    Jets 24 – Indy 21

  • Kmurph

    thanks so much WineWoman! 🙂

  • I completely agree with you about the childishness of Merlot. Although I hve to admit that I haven't drunk Merlot from Italy, Argentina or CA. Need to try them!

    Nice show again. At least the oakmonster gave us a laughter.. 😉

    Cheers

  • Krunch

    Love the Blind Tasting, But if you are going to do “Merlot” I don't think the “Segal's Fusion Red” should have been included. It is only 60% merlot, the Others were at least 80% or more. But none the less a good show.

    QOTD: Miolo Merlot 2001 from Brazil, the wine makers are from Italy and France and they do such a great job. If you never had a Brazilian wine, then you are missing one of South America best kept secret.

  • alexkeywest

    QOTD: Darioush 2002 very interesting spicy quality. Also Frescobaldi Lamaione 1995

  • alexkeywest

    QOTD: Frescobaldi Lamaione 1995 and Darioush 2002

  • alexkeywest

    QOTD: Frescobaldi Lamaione 1995 and Dariioush 2002

  • lawschooldrunk

    remember, gary did not pick them, and although we do not know how long the bottle was opened prior to “sniffy sniff,” a closed nose is a closed nose.

  • Kmurph

    Avi, it's because we don't have their Merlot, only the Fusion and the Cab.

  • DmitriEn

    Cool episode. Interesting to see Italian Merlot trump (ok, not trump but edge) the Bordeaux one.

    QOTD: don't drink alot of 100% Merlots…as for merlot-dominated wines – 1996 Chateau Belair was very good

  • waynooo daaaaa winooooo

    Yo G, the BEARD lookin' Goooood!!!! Hope Ya got it on a few more weeks…….
    GOOOO JETS!!!! JETS!!!! JEEEEEEETS!!!!!! WAAAAAAAHOOOOOO!!!!!! :0)

  • Cy Gilbert

    My all-time favorite Merlot (to date) is from Mason Vineyards, Napa. Gary, I'd be so curious to know what you thought of it!

  • JayZee13

    Very cool blind tasting. I loved that the Napa wine got its butt kicked royally by an Italian Merlot. A little surprised that you scored the Bordeaux that much lower than RP since your palate seems to agree reasonably well with us for Bordeaux over the years.

    QOTD: Tough call on my favorite Merlot, but I am partial to Washington State Merlots. I really like the Januik Merlot in most vintages and Rob Newsom's Boudreaux Merlot is always very nice as well.

  • QOTD: The Falesco 'Montiano' is a consistently ka-blamo Merlot on the low-down in Lazio. I love their Merlots despite the high wine advocates rankings. Those insatiable Italians just keep cranking out better and better wines, even under the IGT banner.

    Perhaps a whole show on interesting IGT's? There's only about a million to choose from…

  • Agreed! Awesome avatar of Bender “Bending” Rodriguez, Mottster!

  • The more Mott the better, in my opinion

  • pinotpat

    the 06 merlot can be had for 7.00 per bottle now and the cab for 10.00

  • That’s cool that you found something good Jason. Also I am DEFINITELY going to try the “blind scoring” game at home… make a drinking game out of it, one drink for every point you’re off or something (is a + a half-sip?)…

  • A.S

    Always fun when you taste blind Gary!
    QOTD: Don't drink that much 100% merlot. I don't even have a favorite. Have had a few lately but non that I would recommend.

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