Brilliant. So many things well done in this video. I think you are getting better and better. I personally have two modes with Merlot. At entry level I drink natural Merlots from eg Cahors or Ardeche. And I only step out of the natural wine world if it’s an extraordinary Merlot. Very little in the middle for me.
@@drmatthewhorkey One Ardeche producer I like is Gilles & Antonin Azzoni. Antonin has now taken over the winemaking from his dad. They make wild, briary, digestible wines. They are simple drinks without complexity - but quite soulful. Lots of Merlot in their blends. And inexpensive. If had over dinner, you may require a bottle per person. Then there is Gerard Oustric, who learnt a lot from the natural Bojo producers in the 1980s, and in turn guided the natural producers in Ardeche. One is Andrea Calek, who moved there from Czech and is now making fresh and alive wines which are popular in the natural wine scene. There are others too - Les Deux Terres who focus on Grenache and Syrah. Also Domaine Ozil. And Hirotake Ooka, who worked a bit with Allemand and Jean-Yves Peron from Savoie - btw Peron makes wines much more sophisticated than most of the above and well worth exploring. So that's a bit of the natural scene in Ardeche. Of course none of these wines could stand up to great winemakers who are geographically proximate, like the great Cornas producers, but they are great every day choices.
I'm a big fan of Couvent des Jacobins! I have had the chance to taste vintages in all decades back to 1920's! Not so famous, yes but an amazing value for money 😀🍷
great video as always! being the Hungarian wine fan that I am I love the Gere Solus Merlot. Of course on the pricier side, but an absolutely gorgeous wine with amazing aging potential
I think Merlot can be really great if you are a bit choosy about your bottle like you said, but I’ve never had to go super expensive to find something I like. My two favorites are Ferrari Carano and Markham Vineyards, and neither breaks the bank (in the $18 - $25 range)
My opinion is that Long island New York is surpassing California when it comes to making wine. I recommend you to try spiced wine made at osprey vineyard located in the town of Peconic on Long island. Their red spice wine has to be hot like a sake in order to drink it. It's very different and I don't know any vineyards in the world that would make a wine like that.
I actually remember having the Contenda Merlot (the cheapest in this tasting) in a hotel I stayed at a few months ago... The sad thing is, that it was still the best wine in that hotel... xD
Watching this on a Wednesday 5pm... You got me thirsty 😄. My favorite merlot, or at least my favorite one in my cellar? Number 3 in your test 😉. I'm just wondering. since you already had this wine a couple of weeks ago in one of your short videos. How long does it usually take you between recording and posting? And do you keep track to post it simultaneously on CZcams and score on vivino?
Hey Nick, I hope you have some good Merlot! The last few months there is no synchronization, these long form videos take a long time to shoot, edit, and refine. It's the same bottle, I just happened to post the shorts video first.
I remember a line from the TV show Frazier; Niles-“how can we build a case against Lilith to show how certifiably insane she is?” Frasier-“oh I got it I got it….she once ordered a bottle of white Zinfandel” Niles-“yes that’s it!” Sweet wines are nasty and a waste of stomach space. Do yourself a favor and pivot into the stronger wines.
As I grow in my appreciation of red wine, I will be on the lookout for this profile now. Lol we all have a taste or smell that we like that is questionable, I guess. If you ever taste "musty basement" in a wine, let me know. That is a childhood favorite of mine 😜
Brilliant. So many things well done in this video. I think you are getting better and better. I personally have two modes with Merlot. At entry level I drink natural Merlots from eg Cahors or Ardeche. And I only step out of the natural wine world if it’s an extraordinary Merlot. Very little in the middle for me.
Thanks Vlad. Tell me more about Ardeche. I’m not familiar.
Cahors is more Malbec in general
@@drmatthewhorkey One Ardeche producer I like is Gilles & Antonin Azzoni. Antonin has now taken over the winemaking from his dad. They make wild, briary, digestible wines. They are simple drinks without complexity - but quite soulful. Lots of Merlot in their blends. And inexpensive. If had over dinner, you may require a bottle per person. Then there is Gerard Oustric, who learnt a lot from the natural Bojo producers in the 1980s, and in turn guided the natural producers in Ardeche. One is Andrea Calek, who moved there from Czech and is now making fresh and alive wines which are popular in the natural wine scene. There are others too - Les Deux Terres who focus on Grenache and Syrah. Also Domaine Ozil. And Hirotake Ooka, who worked a bit with Allemand and Jean-Yves Peron from Savoie - btw Peron makes wines much more sophisticated than most of the above and well worth exploring. So that's a bit of the natural scene in Ardeche. Of course none of these wines could stand up to great winemakers who are geographically proximate, like the great Cornas producers, but they are great every day choices.
@@CreativeFabien Yes of course absolutely
I'm a big fan of Couvent des Jacobins! I have had the chance to taste vintages in all decades back to 1920's! Not so famous, yes but an amazing value for money 😀🍷
#jellybean
great video as always! being the Hungarian wine fan that I am I love the Gere Solus Merlot. Of course on the pricier side, but an absolutely gorgeous wine with amazing aging potential
Ohhh that is a big, dense wine for sure.
I think Merlot can be really great if you are a bit choosy about your bottle like you said, but I’ve never had to go super expensive to find something I like. My two favorites are Ferrari Carano and Markham Vineyards, and neither breaks the bank (in the $18 - $25 range)
Ohhh Markham!
My opinion is that Long island New York is surpassing California when it comes to making wine. I recommend you to try spiced wine made at osprey vineyard located in the town of Peconic on Long island. Their red spice wine has to be hot like a sake in order to drink it. It's very different and I don't know any vineyards in the world that would make a wine like that.
Wowww hot take! So it’s like a mulled wine? Nicee, that’s popular in Northern Europe in the winter
@@drmatthewhorkey awesome. In the United States, that kind of wine is rare.
@@drmatthewhorkey I was wondering if you made any CZcams videos on tasting and rating mulled wine.
Watching your videos and adding bottles to my Total Wine shopping list. I'm up to 41 bottles! Time to get drinking!
OMG!!! Have fun
Glad to see a croatian merlot by Krauthaker. My favorite merlot for everday use is by winemaker Buhač (40 HRK). Did you tried that one maybe?
Many times and I’ve visited him before. There’s an interview with him on the channel from years ago
Nice buying tips at the end there thanks!
Thanks bud!
In Cali my favorite ''cepage'' were the Zin. and the Pinot noir.
Ahh popular choices!
opening a 2019 napa stags leap, having some anxiety its gonna disappoint - but the cab is so good
It should be good!!
I had a really good Merlot from the Red Mountain region in WA state several years ago. I wish I could remember the name of it!
I bet! It's a very good place for bold reds
I actually remember having the Contenda Merlot (the cheapest in this tasting) in a hotel I stayed at a few months ago...
The sad thing is, that it was still the best wine in that hotel... xD
Hahahah that is a sad thing!
Watching this on a Wednesday 5pm... You got me thirsty 😄. My favorite merlot, or at least my favorite one in my cellar? Number 3 in your test 😉.
I'm just wondering. since you already had this wine a couple of weeks ago in one of your short videos. How long does it usually take you between recording and posting? And do you keep track to post it simultaneously on CZcams and score on vivino?
Hey Nick, I hope you have some good Merlot! The last few months there is no synchronization, these long form videos take a long time to shoot, edit, and refine. It's the same bottle, I just happened to post the shorts video first.
I like the King Stag Merlot. I just had a 2020 bottle and it was really decent for the price.
That’s the most important part, that you enjoyed it
@@drmatthewhorkey The 2019 Decoy is better though.
Noticed Gary Vee used to do wine reviews :)
Yea, he was pretty decent 😝
Your thougts about Avignonesi Desiderio please?
You’ll see it in upcoming Merlot video and on the showcased video on the channel homepage
I'm new to wine drinking but I prefer a semi sweet wine just tried papi merlot to bitter for me
It’s ok! Like what you like 😀
I remember a line from the TV show Frazier;
Niles-“how can we build a case against Lilith to show how certifiably insane she is?”
Frasier-“oh I got it I got it….she once ordered a bottle of white Zinfandel”
Niles-“yes that’s it!”
Sweet wines are nasty and a waste of stomach space. Do yourself a favor and pivot into the stronger wines.
Sideways killed it for me!
Really??? I love Merlot
@@drmatthewhorkey All the low end producers that make the shite Merlot need to be executed to quote my second favorite person in wine!
cow shed notes
Hahaha indeed
Wait a second, college kids mix Merlot with Coke?! I just learned something.
hahah I never did but in Europe, it's a common thing. Nice to see you again.
The question is, do we WANT to taste shaved pencil graphite?
Hahaha it sounds funny but I do crave it in certain red wine
As I grow in my appreciation of red wine, I will be on the lookout for this profile now. Lol we all have a taste or smell that we like that is questionable, I guess. If you ever taste "musty basement" in a wine, let me know. That is a childhood favorite of mine 😜
Me too although that’s not always attractive in wine hahahah
Sutter home is my favorite it’s all the same shit
Drink what you like!
College kids are mixing wine wit Cola-Cola? I've heard it all now. You don't mix wine, with anything! You plebiscites!
Happens in Europe with cheaper wines
You can mix wine with other wine tho…
Have to agree with Paul, I hate Merlot
Waaaaahhhhhhhhh???!!!