We kicked it off with a tasting panel of 7 winemakers and Merlot gurus: Jeff Bundshu of Gundlach Bundshu, Chris Millard of Newton, Russ Weis of Silverado, Chris Phelps of Swanson, Alex Guarachi of TGIC, Christopher Huber of Cakebread, and Joe Cicero of Matanzas Creek.
It's crazy to think that such a prominent grape as Merlot would warrant an entire event to re-educate the public, but I'm glad it gave me a chance to taste through some bitchin' Merlot. So what was the general opinion?
Seems the going theory is a kind of perfect storm of wine marketing. Merlot had garnered a huge following in the 80's and 90's, leading everyone to throw their hat into the merlot ring. What resulted was a sea of inexpensive, less than cared for, overgrown, under nuanced, Merlot. Add to that the perfect timing of Miles chiming in that if any body orders Merlot he's leaving and that he's not drinking any fucking Merlot, and the US economy in general taking a bath, and it spells trouble for Merlot.
Not necessarily says the panel.. what this really means, is a thinning of the herd. A drop off of the lesser Merlot, leaving the right players in the game. Good in the long run, they say, since Merlot is here to stay. And hot damn, is it ever. I'd love to do a Folger's switch in steak houses across the country. I'd like to blind all these ardent Cab Sauv lover's on a cab and a merlot and see which they'd prefer...
Gearing up for the trade tasting just before the people arrived.
The start of the after party, with Richard Blade spinning.
1 comment:
Jealous. I hear the after party was ridiculous.
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