French wine scandal in the US

[Caliga]

I avoid all wines.

I much prefer spirits.

FAIL.

[Ed Anger]

The Red Bicyclette Pinot Noir single grape wine is hugely popular in the United States.

You can make a wine with one grape?  Huh, must be a big grape.

I wish.

[Admiral Yi]

Veeery tangentially related, heard on NPR that American wine producers have coined a new term to describe high-end blended wines: meritage.  Wine snobs are incorrectly pronouncing it in the French style, the nobs know it's supposed to be pronounced a l'americaine.

[The Minsky Moment]

Veeery tangentially related, heard on NPR that American wine producers have coined a new term to describe high-end blended wines: meritage. 

That term has been used for at least 20 years.

[Admiral Yi]

That term has been used for at least 20 years.

Quit stalking me.

[citizen k]

Merlot, the comeback kid

Once a darling, then condemned by a movie––this grape deserves another taste
Pouring wine

Five years ago, a fictitious character shredded the reputation of one of the world's great grapes.

No matter that there's more Merlot than Cabernet planted in France's legendary Bordeaux region.

When Miles threw a tantrum in the movie Sideways at the prospect of someone ordering Merlot, a ton of us stopped buying it.

Yet just a few years before that, the grape was golden.

There's the rub: A wine is "discovered" by fans, gets planted in spades to chase the demand, and loses credibility because it really shouldn't have been planted in all those places.

Even so, don't write Merlot off. More and more West Coast winemakers are turning out versions that defy the wine's wimpy reputation.

We asked Jeff Smith, who recently launched a beautifully structured Merlot from his new Hourglass Blueline Vineyard, in Napa Valley, just what he was thinking.

ASK THE EXPERT:  Jeff Smith, Hourglass Blueline Vineyard

What do you love about good Merlot? Merlot is one of the most seductive wines in the world. It relies less on power and more on finesse, drifting toward red fruits (dark or sour cherry, raspberry) rather than the black fruits of Cabernet. Most important, its delicate balance and structure make it an incredible food wine.

Obviously, you planted Blueline long before the economy went south. Has it been hard launching a vineyard now―and with such a maligned grape? We've been fortunate, probably because of committing very precious land to Merlot. It's a site with some of the best-drained soils (an ancient, gravelly, upturned riverbed) that in the hands of our winemaker, Bob Foley, produce truly magical wines.

Our big challenge ahead has less to do with the economy and more to do with getting people over the hump to taste our Merlot. We're working for that lightbulb moment when they say, "Wow, that's what Merlot is all about."

So you don't think Merlot deserved Miles's scorn in Sideways? Of course, the true irony is that Miles's Holy Grail wine [the bottle he chugs with a burger at the movie's end] is Cheval Blanc, a Merlot-inspired Bordeaux! The fact that most people missed the irony highlights that we have a lot of educating to do.

5 TOP MERLOT PICKS

Firestone "Discoveries" Merlot 2007 (California; $10). With tart red cherries, a touch of mocha, and chalky tannins, there's a lot of Merlot here for the money.

Buena Vista Merlot 2005 (Carneros; $18). Spicy dark fruit, mocha, herbs, and leather are set off by the lively acidity and good bones that cool temps create.

Franciscan Merlot 2005 (Napa Valley; $22). Aromatic forest aromas surround minty berries and black cherries, with a touch of soft cocoa.

Chateau Ste. Michelle "Ethos" Merlot 2006 (Columbia Valley; $31). This is a plush, complex wine with lovely red fruit, vanilla, spice, herbs, and firm but velvety tannins.

L'Ecole No 41 Seven Hills Vineyard estate Merlot 2006 (Walla Walla Valley; $37). Dark chocolate, dried herbs, and mint accent beautiful black fruit from this Merlot pioneer in eastern Washington.

PAIR WITH:

Merlot goes best with hearty proteins–think beef, lamb, or pork–that are big on flavor. Try a glass with a pot roast, for a cozy winter night in.

[Razgovory]

I decided to look if there were images on the Internet of the Simpsons episode where they put anti-freeze in the wine.  I did find something far more amusing.  An honest question on Yahoo answers: "What percentage of antifreeze should I use for grape wine?"

I've heard from places that you can put antifreeze in wine and it acts as a preservative and keeps it fresh. But I've heard if you put too much in then it can cause harm. My question is, how much antifreeze would be too much? For reference, I will be making wine with fresh orchard grapes to sell at the fair down here. It's actually for my girlfriend to raise money for her school. Even if I could just use like 5% or 10% antifreeze it would save me a lot of money because I'm making like 50 bottles and I have spare antifreeze bottles lying around my shop. My other question is, what can I do to prevent the wine from turning green after I add it? I can use dark bottles but obviously when people pour it they will see it's green. Can I use food colouring in the wine to disguise it? Thanks for the help!!!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070104215402AA9cedB

The sad part was some people suggested an actual amount to put in the wine.

[Jaron]

I tried a merlot once, I found it too overpowering for me. Could someone suggest a more mild, perhaps fruity wine?

[The Minsky Moment]

Merlot is not a particularly good "food wine" b/c it is rather low in acidity.

The best Merlot-based wine is made in Bordeaux and virtually all of it is blended.  "Meritage"-style.     On its own, it tends too much to flabbiness.

The Ecole 41 wine from Washington is pretty decent, but it is also a blend.

[The Minsky Moment]

So you don't think Merlot deserved Miles's scorn in Sideways? Of course, the true irony is that Miles's Holy Grail wine [the bottle he chugs with a burger at the movie's end] is Cheval Blanc, a Merlot-inspired Bordeaux!

Cheval Blanc is 57% cabernet franc! 

[Jaron]

So you don’t think Merlot deserved Miles’s scorn in Sideways? Of course, the true irony is that Miles’s Holy Grail wine [the bottle he chugs with a burger at the movie’s end] is Cheval Blanc, a Merlot-inspired Bordeaux!

Cheval Blanc is 57% cabernet franc!

Now THAT is a wine scandal!

[Savonarola]

I decided to look if there were images on the Internet of the Simpsons episode where they put anti-freeze in the wine.  I did find something far more amusing.  An honest question on Yahoo answers: "What percentage of antifreeze should I use for grape wine?"

I've heard from places that you can put antifreeze in wine and it acts as a preservative and keeps it fresh. But I've heard if you put too much in then it can cause harm. My question is, how much antifreeze would be too much? For reference, I will be making wine with fresh orchard grapes to sell at the fair down here. It's actually for my girlfriend to raise money for her school. Even if I could just use like 5% or 10% antifreeze it would save me a lot of money because I'm making like 50 bottles and I have spare antifreeze bottles lying around my shop. My other question is, what can I do to prevent the wine from turning green after I add it? I can use dark bottles but obviously when people pour it they will see it's green. Can I use food colouring in the wine to disguise it? Thanks for the help!!!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070104215402AA9cedB

The sad part was some people suggested an actual amount to put in the wine.

Great find, Raz, I like the best answer:

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Just use 50% per bottle, add green food coloring and some liquorice candies and call it absinthe. That way you can charge more and make a killing!!!

[Savonarola]

I tried a merlot once, I found it too overpowering for me. Could someone suggest a more mild, perhaps fruity wine?

[Razgovory]

I tried a merlot once, I found it too overpowering for me. Could someone suggest a more mild, perhaps fruity wine?

Ask Marty.  He seems to always has some fruity whine going.

[grumbler]

I tried a merlot once, I found it too overpowering for me. Could someone suggest a more mild, perhaps fruity wine?

Ask Marty.  He seems to always has some fruity whine going.