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EP 833 Washington Merlot and Twitter Tasting

Gary wanted to join in on the Twitter tasting for Washington Merlot, going on Thursday March 25th. Grab a bottle of WA State Merlot, use the hashtag #WAMerlot , and start tweeting next Thursday to share your thoughts on these wines!

Wines tasted in this episode:

2008 Charles Smith Velvet Devil MerlotColumbia Valley Merlot
2005 Bergevin Lane MerlotColumbia Valley Merlot
2005 Long Shadows PedestalColumbia Valley Merlot

Links mentioned in todays episode.


Latest Comment:

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luca bercelli

87/100

line of the day – ‘If you ever had rusty nail juice, you’ll know what I’m talking about’

GV seemed a bit bored in this episode; either that or as he said, he was tired

Tags: merlot, red, review, Video, washington state, wine, wines

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  • QOTD: Texas A&M

  • guymandude

    Happy St. Patrick's Day to my favorite Irishman Pat MaGroin!

  • iwalkthevine

    Love WA Merlots – Charles hosted a rock n roll tasting here in PDX at Doug Fir 2 weeks ago – the Syrahs and Merlots were amazing – Go WA!

  • Not a great though not a bad showing for Washington Merlots. I thought the Bergevin Lane would be the top dog but alas, it was not to be. I could have sworn I've had their Merlot or maybe it was their Cab and it was very good for my palate.

    QOTD: Cinderella as in seeded 8 or higher? I will go with Louisville. I'd love to see them meet the prima donna Dukies in the 2nd round and give them the smackdown they deserve.

    Cheers!

  • Lyman

    Northern Iowa

    I like that Charles gives us a pretty decent choice at that price point. Mr. Shoup's wines are usually pretty amazing. The twitter tasting should be interesting.

  • FINIAL FOUR

    Kentucky
    Kansas
    Syracuse
    Baylor

    The 'Cats win it all over the Orange.

  • KCity

    San Diego State will win at least 2 games… Go Aztecs!

  • Great to have you back G

  • today was one of those days where my mind started to wonder and when GV asked Mott what he did over the weekend and Mott was like nothing, I was like, hmmm….why nothing? Is it cause GV doesn't pay Mott enough money? come to think of it, what is Mott's title? Does he just shoot videos and upload them? or is he like the WLTV IT guy who fixes computer issues, maintains websites, etc.? Does Mott have other sources of income? If not should he? Should he quit WLTV and go into his own web blogging where he covers the Giants routinely routinely talks trash about the Cowboys and invite a fellow Cowboy hater slash Eagles fan like myself?

    As for the episode, good for providing some exposure to WA state Merlots, but a meh~ overall

    QOTD: Gonzaga, though not quite Cindarella team nor do I think they'll win, but matches today's episode. In fact, I don't even care….

  • ONUMello

    Hmmm, I may just have to join in that Twitter tasting to expand my merlot palate; in general I'm not a fan of merlot and it has nothing to do with any movies, just my palate.

    QOTD: sorry, I don't follow basketball so I can't say. Although a Cinderella wine I'd love to see soon to drink during the final 4 I'm going to have to jump on the Ah Mah Row Nay bandwagon there!

  • Michael D

    Gary,

    I watched the Charles Smith episode that you linked to today's show, even though I had watched it when it was first aired. The guy is really passionate about his wine-making, and it would be interesting to see him on WLTV again to see how he is evolving – along with his wines.

  • Mott

    I didn't say I did nothing I said I bailed. My other job is the WL system admin.

  • tooch

    QOTD:

    Temple Owls.

  • pawncop

    Good episode, am appreciating Merlot more and more.

    QOTD – I always hope the very best for Texas.

  • Anonymous

    Never heard of these bourbons. I’ll be looking.

  • boomy13

    Dont have a pick.

    By the way, bought a Malbec recently and pop it last night. I have not experience the secret Syrah blend until last night. Wow… So heavy, big, and fruit bomb. The biggest fruit bomb I have every had. Maybe someone has had it: Graffigna Centenario Reserve, 2007.

  • Anonymous

    Chinese Algebra!

  • Anonymous

    Every bar I stumbled into tonite, you know that’s how it’s been.
    Nothin cold about Randi!!!

  • BrooklynPaul

    good to see Washington Merlot make an appearance

    QOTD: I will answer first in the form of a question… how the heck is Baylor a cinderella pick? They're a #3 seed?! If that's the criteria, I'm going with The Town

  • Anonymous

    tweeter twit

  • Anonymous

    Yes it is worth it. You can pour a whole bottle in it and still get a great sniff mcgee.

  • DAveAll

    I have never learned to enjoy Merlot, even before the movie. Odd since it is the only wine I don't like – well, other than unoak Chard – I like that buttery and oaky to the max.

    good show, nice and quick. thanks.

  • Tom T.

    The Terps.

  • late_start

    QOTD: Catamounts

    Had the Pedestal at an offline and it had nice fruit but disjointed and flabby, but I know the WA peeps love it

  • Kyle

    QOTD- gotta go with my alma mater- fitting for this episode- Go 'Dawgs! (UW- and no, I don't really think they'll win it all =)

  • Don Simpson

    Haven't had any Washington State Merlots.

    QOTD: Texas A&M – just feeling it – and I dislike Duke…

  • lawrenceleichtman

    UNM!! I have had two of these wines, the Pedestal last week and the Charles Smith as I bought two bottles. Let me say, I think you over rated the Charles Smith and I haven't liked any of his wines so far and have had 3 different varietals. He messes with the wines too much for my taste. I would only rate it an 80 for my palate. The Pedestal was better had it in Snohomish last week and someone else bought it which makes it taste even better. The Charles Smith saga brings me back to your winemaker guests. While some of them make very good wine, some of them seem to get you to plug their wines just by being present on the video blog. I think GV needs to independently rate the wines without the guests present for them to be valid. I know GV always says he doesn't rate the wines with the winemaker there but again their presence makes it a tacit recommendation.

  • Don Simpson

    Does a cinderella have to be seeded 8 or higher? If so, guess Texas A&M wouldn't qualify… I'll go with Louisville in the 9 spot.

  • LEATHER TO THE HIZZEELMET

    Notre Dame Beaaatch..

    Rock Chalk

  • johnfarrin

    QOTD: Who in their right mind could bet against Ark PB after the beat down they gave Winthrop 🙂

  • johnfarrin

    QOTD: Who in their right mind could bet against Ark PB after the beat down they gave Winthrop 🙂

  • Thursday

    pappy van winkle…. any of them!

  • Thursday

    pappy van winkle…. any of them!

  • Thursday

    I love Syracuse… therefore I must expect Gonzaga to stomp them out. The 'Cuse has ulcerated fans for years and the only way I can watch them is to bet against them. Remember those nasty Spiders back in '91? I still have Tourette's style anger over that one.

  • Michael C in MKE

    I'm with Thursday. Van winkle is super good. Old Rip, Lot B, Pappy gets a bit pricey though. George T Stagg is no slouch though.

  • Nice little episode…

    QOTD: WV all the way…

  • There will be no Cinderella winning the tourney, but a team that will over achieve is Texas.

  • zrm

    nice and quick and sweet

    QOD: siena

  • Mariobnskn

    I agree with XpensiveWino #3 seeds are not Cinderellas. I would have to go with the Washington Huskies or Maryland Terps.

  • I pick the Hickory Huskers in a shocker over the South Bend Central Bears. Coach Norman Dale goes out on a high note!

  • laurieinvt

    Eating fruit salad in an auto body shop? Ick. I think I could get wine like that at the local grocery.

    QOTD: I have to say UVM Catamounts. Loyal to my alma mater even if I don't care for the current president…

  • PurpleGrillz

    Cindy NCAA is Saint Mary's

    Afraid of washington merlot since ethos but regular Columbia Crest merlot a great QPR!
    Especially 05 if you see one kicking around your local dirtbag wine shop for around $10.

  • PurpleGrillz

    0 likes!

  • I have to say, I am a big fan of Melot, even the Fruit Bomb-Jammy ones. That being said;”Eating a rusty nail in an autobody shop?” Dude WTF. Cremesicle, Twizzler, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, those are cool and I have even stolen them at times but “autobody shop?”

    QOTD: Can't wait for football season. GO PATS!

  • Pat__B

    QOTD: Would love to see Clemson show up big.

    Would also like to see a “vintage” episode where you look at a year from the perspective of three different growing regions and talk about the effect of the weather on the grapes. Would be neat to see 2007 in Napa, Bordeaux, Tuscany, etc.

  • KVM1985

    QOTD: Someone from Michigan. I don't have any educated response, so I'll just say that anything from Michigan I'll root for since it's my home state 🙂

    As far as the show, I've actually really liked some Virginia merlots recently.

  • sonofman888

    SIC EM!!!! BEARS!!!!! I love you Gary V!!!! Instant classic simply bc of the MERLOT!!!!! LOve them both

  • WineWoman

    I've had two of these wines. I completely agree with you on the Devil. Didn't excite me at all. The Pedestal was enjoyable–would be nice as a Cindy wine. A fav producer of mine is Reininger–also the inexpensive, Independent Producer's Merlot was excellent for the money—far better than the Charles Smith.

  • Anonymous

    I would probably argue the Cabernet vs Merlot thing when it comes to QC (I believe that Quilceda Creek’s Cabernet Sauvignon is probably the finest produced in the new world), but if you like that style, have you tried Leonetti? They’re a little proud of it ($65+), but they have reason to be; it’s world-class stuff. The new kid on the block that (almost) nobody’s heard about, but makes a tremendous merlot for the coin is Airfield Estates. They also produce a Cabernet, Syrah, Cab. Reserve, and a Bordeaux blend that are exceptional, considering their most expensive wine is around $26. Value!!!
    Whoda thunk it?

  • Anonymous

    The ’04 probably wasn’t vegetal enuf for him…but that’s HIS palate, remember? ;-]

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