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I am not drinking any Fing Merlot
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I use this wine key: Forge de Laguiole Ebony
I have used the following glass in this video: –
I have tasted the following wines in this Video:
2019 Golan Heights Winery Yarden Merlot, Galilee, Israel
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/golan+heights+yarden+merlot+galilee+israel/2019?referring_site=KSB
2019 Moulin du Cadet, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/moulin+du+cadet+st+emilion+grand+cru+bordeaux+france/2019?referring_site=KSB
2021 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley, USA
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/duck+horn+merlot+napa+valley+county+north+coast+california+usa/2021?referring_site=KSB
2019 Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio `Caselferro` Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/barone+ricasoli+castello+di+brolio+casal+ferro+tuscany+igp+italy/2019?referring_site=KSB
2021 Kellerei-Cantina Andrian Gant Merlot Riserva Alto Aldige, Trentino-Alto Aldige, Italy
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/kellerei+cantina+andriana+giant+merlot+rsrv+alto+adige+trentino+sud+tyrol+italy/2021?referring_site=KSB
2012 Charles Smith K Vintners Northridge Vineyard Merlot, Wahluke Slope, USA
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/charles+smith+k+vintner+north+ridge+merlot+wahluke+slope+washington+usa/2012?referring_site=KSB
The 100 Point Scoring System (from www.robertparker.com):
96-100: An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this caliber are worth a special effort to find, purchase and consume.
90 – 95: An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines.
80 – 89: A barely above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavor as well as character with no noticeable flaws.
70 – 79: An average wine with little distinction except that it is soundly made. In essence, a straightforward, innocuous wine.
60 – 69: A below-average wine containing noticeable deficiencies, such as excessive acidity and/or tannin, an absence of flavor or possibly dirty aromas or flavors.
50 – 59: A wine deemed to be unacceptable.
Merlot – is it the worst grape variety in the world? If you listen to some wine experts you might think that. Merlot bashing was almost as popular as Chardonnay bashing when both grape varieties experienced great success in the early noughties.
Chardonnay is still going strong while Merlot suffered a unique decline.
I mean tastes change and grape varieties fall out of favor – that is not uncommon – but Merlot’s fortune turned when a movie was released exactly 20 years ago.
The movie was called Sideways and for the 20th anniversary if you want to check whether it is time to revisit Merlot.
I know, I have talked about Sideways a few times but I recently bought the book the movie is based on and realized that the probably most famous wine-related movie scene ever. Does not even appear in it. I mean the main character Miles talks a LOT about how great Pinot is in the book and he also makes it clear that he isn’t a big fan of Merlot.
But the famous line from the movie originally was “They’re not going to order Merlot. They’re way too hip for that. And if they do, I am splitting.” In the book. This might be one good explanation for why the film grossed more than 100 million USD worldwide, while I only bought the book recently to hold it into the camera.
Regardless, the story had a strong impact on the US wine market and caused a drastic decline in interest in Merlot, while boosting Pinots image.
22 Comments
Guys, this is not a political show. I am a guy sitting in my cellar, tasting wine. I do not taste and rate wines based on politics. Nor do I endorse a political party or movement by tasting a wine from a given country.
Wine is made for sharing and helps find agreement where there was none before. At least, that is what I believe. I travel to places and meet people who have very different political views. But I can sit with most of them over a glass of wine and find common ground, no matter where I am.
I did not select the wine that offends some viewers. I also did not know much about the story of Golan Heights before recording this video (excuse my ignorance).
For anyone who wants to learn more about the history of the region, please read the following entry from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golan_Heights
Pinotage is not so wonderful
Now we are drowning in a sea of crappy California pinot noir
As an Israeli follower of your channel I was super excited to see you cover a wine from my country!
The Golan heights is home to my favorite Israeli winery, called Château Golan, it'd be awesome if you ever got to cover any of their wine (or even better, visit the place, as it's beautiful!).
In general, the Israeli wine scene greatly developed in the last 20-30 years, and offers some really worthy options, including many small boutique wineries, most of them non-Kosher
Are those the riesling performance riedel glasses?
Merlot, in my top 3 favorites.
I have been drinking wine for about 5 years now, and I still don’t understand how you get cherry flavors from a grape? My brain just wont let that happen.
My favorite Merlot has been, since 40 years, château Trotanoy in Pomerol. But since the last 10 years become a rich man wine and way too expensive for my wallet. Therefore the last vintage I bought was 2013.
I ❤ Merlot.
marketing marketing marketing lead to really crappy made Merlot.
They just have to understand, Petrus is all Merot,
K Vintners is insane for the value. I'm a WA resident. I was doing a K Vintners tasting the other day at a local wine bar. They pulled out some 8 year old Barbera from Jack's Vineyard, in Walla Walla. It blew me away and I bought a bottle:). I will try that Northridge. I recently decided to return to WA roots and buy more Merlot. Let's bring it back!.
Hey! Can anyone enlighten me on if there is any significance to Konstantins way of dressing? Traditional wine maker clothes? Is it because wine makers otherwise would catch a cold in the cellars, or something like that?
Wow better than Petrus? What vintage Petrus?
Another proof of American stupidity.
Ja den Film kenne ich aber es gibt schönere Wein Filme. Welche sind deine Top 3 ?
There are some great Merlot wines, but in the US there’s a lot of really bad cheap Merlot.
I adore Sansonnet and Soutard -Cadet. I've been buying them for years, so it did not surprise me that the Moulin showed well. K Vintners wines always punch above their weight.
Please taste more Canadian wines! Merlot does insanely well in the Okanagan!! Cheers 🎉
Only imbeciles reject merlot out of hand. Pour out your Petrus et al then. Tragic movie for wine appreciation. As for chardonnay, try a Macon Villages instead of a California Retsina. There I'm done.
Poor call with the Jewish wine.
Hilarious!