Great video! Illustrating how different and yet similar wine can be, based on all the factors we know influence them, is awesome. Shows we always keep learning and being surprised. My fav Bordeaux blends are from Bordeaux, Argentina and Chile however I’ve also found a variety of blends from cooler climate producers are very interesting now because the winemakers are working hard to create very nice well balanced wines. Cheers!
Fun stuff Doc i think there is no better pallete training than working with sauces in a fine dining kitchen making each dish taste exactly like the same for each guest teaches so much. As you point out blending wines must be a true challenge and blending say 12 yr Glenfidich so it taste the same as the bottling from the last 25 years insane skill.
Interesting video, thank you. I'd love to try the Titus wines but I live in the UK and they don't seem to be available in the UK. Guess I'll have to come to California!
I have been buying and drinking Carménère blends as well as straight Carménère from Chile for years. It is certainly distinctive and many of those Chilean blends are fantastic values.
Next time, definitely do the GSM blends. Obviously including: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre. Yet, it would also be cool to include the lesser used blend grapes like Carignan and Cinsault if you can find varietal bottles of them. Great Video!
Great video. You gussed pretty good due to the fact that its more difficult to determine the grape varaity so early in a great ageworthy wines evoloution. Most likely the grape varities will be easier to determend with some bottle age. I allways enjoy your videoes. I like that you are so enthuscistic about it.
Great video! So difficult, esp if you’re not familiar with a winery’s style, and with lots of new, expensive oak. For example, I would also try to identify cab franc via leanness/green pepper/pyrazines also-that’s the rule-but new world CF can be ripe and fat. Also, I had a Petite Verdot from B Leighton (k vintners), and it was awesome! Floral, round and complete. But maybe that’s bc K vintners generally makes extracted and yummy wines all around?) Anyhow, great idea! Maybe do a Bordeaux blend side by side-California, Washington, left/right bank, Italy, South America, Australia.
What a great and unique taste test. I always took Bordeaux blends as a single unit and would have never thought to see if I could pick out the individual components. Good idea to stick to one producer so you could truly differentiate between the varietals and not the wine-making style. I'd love to try this same test but it's hard to find a single producer who offers 100% expressions of each of those varietals.
Very interesting concept for a tasting. But these varietal offerings were also blends ? My favourite BB? Well, Bordeaux is the benchmark and even the non classified and budget-friendly chateau’s offerings are often of great quality, and IMO generally better than its New World competitors. Haven’t had many top end US BBs unfortunately. But these days great wine is made in many places all over the world.
Only the Merlot and Cab Sauv, the other three were pure. You are right about great wine being made all over the world. One of my favorite Cabs (with a touch of Merlot blended in) is from Serbia!
Very nice video concept! I just had a 33/33/33 Cab/Merlot/Sangiovese Toscana and I was trying to think to myself which grapes were making it darker than some other Italian blends (I mean could also be oak XD)
Is it uncool to say that my favorite Bordeaux blends tend to come from…Bordeaux? Next favorite, Tuscany. I want to like Napa more, but I have trouble finding value (perhaps it’s there, but I haven’t figured out where to find it consistently). By comparison, over the past few years I’ve been stunned how much value can be found in Bordeaux. Perhaps part of it is a preference for the Bordeaux style, as well?
Hi Matthew. I was thinking it would be great if you could make a video of great value affordable wines. I have some good suggestions. Undurraga th syrah Leyda from chile.. I have tasted their 2019 several times. Its outstanding and cost only 10 $ on offer here. Also from chile Emiliana Coyam. Outstanding too and very interresting vine. 13$ on offer. And moscotas unanime gran vino tinto from Argentina. 10$ on offer here in Denmark. I have tasted 2017 and 2018. Both outstanding in my view. These wines all represent tremedous value.. I like to try to find as high quality as possible for the money.
Tasting young mono cepage wines blind side-by-side is indeed very difficult. In my experience it becomes easier as they get older and develop and unfold their character. Great video by the way.
Syria and Lebanon, if you can get them in the States: Domaine de Bargylus (Syria) and Chateau Marsyas (Lebanon) - both owned by the same family and both make awesome Bordeaux blends.
@@drmatthewhorkey If you've not tried it, I'd also really recommend "Chamlija" wines from Turkey: whilst they do use many indigenous Turkish grapes, I've tried some of their Bordeaux varietals and they're some of the best Turkish wine I've tried to date.
Fascinating comparison. Interesting how similar Merlot and Malbec were, I often think about them as being quite different wines but I'm clearly wrong! Very surprising.
I did a deconstructed Bordeaux tasting for some friends. We had a Bordeaux with Cab Franc, Merlot, and Cab Sauv all in the blend, and we tasted it against a single varietal wine for each grape. It was super interesting.
Blind tasting is tough... I did a big blind tasting of Sauvignon Blancs from around the world and NZD was the only one that was definitive... ua-cam.com/video/22S_Cmxk55U/v-deo.html
last friday I called for chianti classico when it was a rioja gran reserva!! Weirdness is how your taste mem totally recovers once the bottle is uncovered 🥳
I think that it's pretty difficult to find those 5 cultivars all from the same region or appellation. This was a fun, educational and interesting video, thanks. I am more of a Right Bank lover, with Merlot and CF making balanced and earthy wines. Saint Emilion is probably my fave, but enjoy the other ones as well In previous years I was rather anti red Bordeaux as I thought it was rather over hyped, over priced, stodgy and boujee. But I have come around now and I have a few on our wine rack. As to other regions South Africa has impressed me as a halfway point between European structure, complexity etc. Together with Southern Hemisphere richness and plushness. I have avoided Hungarian Bordeaux blends previously, but I am looking forward to trying some later this year. Fingers 🤞
Thanks! I am a right bank fan too, especially bc they are approachable younger. Hungary has come a LOOONNNGG way with their Bordeaux blends, I think you will be VERY impressed.
fun video! but honestly it is almost impossible these days to identify grape or a region… modern technology in winemaking is so advanced that I am sure anyone can make Merlot like Malbec and visa versa. plus, lets not forget wineries can mix 10-15% of anything they like and still say one grape on a bottle. so its all good 😅
@@drmatthewhorkey also you were in a disadvantage doing it from one winery, most wineries tends to have one overarching style which usually dominates everything else. in a weird way, doing same tasting with different wineries could actually have been easier 🙏
@@drmatthewhorkey--I agree. Pride(Spring Mtn), both wines(all their wines) have the same darkness. The Franc is a little more spicy; the Sauvignon is full & "complete".
I did this type of tasting before.. But i get harder as the wine get oaked. If you taste for example Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas you can differentiate between CS, Merlot and Carmenere pretty easily. But as you overoak wine you loose terroir characteristics. I guess that is the big criticism Europeans and South Americans wine enthusiasts have against Napa Valley. And thats why in our minds Washington State and Oregon shine some much more in the American Wine Scene.
I love it. There are three chilean wineries that taught me a lot about bordeaux vareties (and Syrah) when I was starting to get interested in wine: Toro de Piedra, Perez Cruz and Grand Viu. Those wines are really cheap, though. In time, I learnt to avoid cheap Petit Verdot. I also love portuguese wineries that do that with their indigenous grape varieties. I thought you did a pretty good job putting together wich varieties were in each glass. It's really hard to tell.
You are talking my love language in this video! Cabernet Franc! Carmenere! Petit Verdot! Our local vineyard in western NC makes a delicious petit Verdot. @overmountainvineyards and I was introduced to Carmenere from Latina La Rabicana Vineyards of Chile’.
Great video! Illustrating how different and yet similar wine can be, based on all the factors we know influence them, is awesome. Shows we always keep learning and being surprised. My fav Bordeaux blends are from Bordeaux, Argentina and Chile however I’ve also found a variety of blends from cooler climate producers are very interesting now because the winemakers are working hard to create very nice well balanced wines. Cheers!
Blind tastings are always tough. Wine is all about learning, you are correct!
Educational and entertaining. The best combination!
Thank you! That is what I was going for
quite fun blind tastings. entertaining video!
Thank you!
Nice to see Titus here. I've enjoyed their Cab. Franc for 20yrs now. At best, I get a bite of blueberry pie out of it. A great winery.
Niceee, it was in impressive wine indeed!
Cheers! 🎉 Great video. I have always though, thought of Petit Verdot as a seasoning for the Bordeaux blends! 🍷
Ahhhhh good call. Thanks and happy new year!
That tasting looks like fun, I should try similar as well! Cheers! 🍇🍷
I would be excited to hear your thoughts!
This varietal breakdown of a blend is a real dope idea!:)
Thanks, it was a lot of fun
Fun stuff Doc i think there is no better pallete training than working with sauces in a fine dining kitchen making each dish taste exactly like the same for each guest teaches so much.
As you point out blending wines must be a true challenge and blending say 12 yr Glenfidich so it taste the same as the bottling from the last 25 years insane skill.
Winemaking and blending is cooking!
Funny and instructive tasting ! Nice one :) Plenty of great tips there.
Thank you… merci
Interesting video, thank you. I'd love to try the Titus wines but I live in the UK and they don't seem to be available in the UK. Guess I'll have to come to California!
Thank you, I guess you will have to. There are plenty of good producers in Cali.
Would love to do a tasting like this, very cool! Favorite Bordeaux blends are definitely Bordeaux, more specifically Pauillac.
Ohhh very good AOC in Bordeaux to love
I have been buying and drinking Carménère blends as well as straight Carménère from Chile for years. It is certainly distinctive and many of those Chilean blends are fantastic values.
It is a distinctive grape for sure! I do like the examples coming out of Chile too.
not cheap but even at 35$ the Carménère Terrunyo by Concha y Toro is a stellar wine imo
@@jfcyr2664 it certainly is !
Excellent idea for a video! I enjoy the Titus wines.
I figured that you knew them well!
And I am sure You would have nailed the Carmenere in Your tasting, if You would have it. I think it is quite distinctive! 😅
I think so too… it can be quite leafy in a different way from Cab Franc
Next time, definitely do the GSM blends. Obviously including: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre. Yet, it would also be cool to include the lesser used blend grapes like Carignan and Cinsault if you can find varietal bottles of them. Great Video!
Thanks! Already did a video tasting those different varieties… ua-cam.com/video/WS5A-80cAQY/v-deo.html
Favourite region for Bordeaux blends? Never tasted anything which comes close to Bordeaux. Not tasted many top Napa, though :(
I’ll have to find a way to change that someday for you!
@@drmatthewhorkey I'm looking forward to the challenge :)
Great video. You gussed pretty good due to the fact that its more difficult to determine the grape varaity so early in a great ageworthy wines evoloution. Most likely the grape varities will be easier to determend with some bottle age. I allways enjoy your videoes. I like that you are so enthuscistic about it.
Wowww thanks so much, more REALLY good stuff to come. I was relatively happy with the results of the tasting, it’s tough indeed!
Great tasting, never have done it with the wines all coming from one winery, and young wines at that, props for bravery.
Thanks, it was a lot of fun!
Great video! So difficult, esp if you’re not familiar with a winery’s style, and with lots of new, expensive oak. For example, I would also try to identify cab franc via leanness/green pepper/pyrazines also-that’s the rule-but new world CF can be ripe and fat. Also, I had a Petite Verdot from B Leighton (k vintners), and it was awesome! Floral, round and complete. But maybe that’s bc K vintners generally makes extracted and yummy wines all around?) Anyhow, great idea! Maybe do a Bordeaux blend side by side-California, Washington, left/right bank, Italy, South America, Australia.
That video is coming soon ;)
I'm fairly sure Petrus has a small % of Cab Franc in some vintages??
I think in recent decades it’s 100% Merlot
What a great and unique taste test. I always took Bordeaux blends as a single unit and would have never thought to see if I could pick out the individual components. Good idea to stick to one producer so you could truly differentiate between the varietals and not the wine-making style. I'd love to try this same test but it's hard to find a single producer who offers 100% expressions of each of those varietals.
Thank you. If you get close with any producers you could do a blending session with them… those can be intense!!
The domino effect of getting one wrong can punish fast, at least your Cab sense has some reliability!
Hahahaha blind tastings like these are always humbling
Very interesting concept for a tasting. But these varietal offerings were also blends ? My favourite BB? Well, Bordeaux is the benchmark and even the non classified and budget-friendly chateau’s offerings are often of great quality, and IMO generally better than its New World competitors. Haven’t had many top end US BBs unfortunately. But these days great wine is made in many places all over the world.
Only the Merlot and Cab Sauv, the other three were pure. You are right about great wine being made all over the world. One of my favorite Cabs (with a touch of Merlot blended in) is from Serbia!
Very nice video concept! I just had a 33/33/33 Cab/Merlot/Sangiovese Toscana and I was trying to think to myself which grapes were making it darker than some other Italian blends (I mean could also be oak XD)
What was the wine???
Modus Ruffino Toscana 2017
Is it uncool to say that my favorite Bordeaux blends tend to come from…Bordeaux? Next favorite, Tuscany.
I want to like Napa more, but I have trouble finding value (perhaps it’s there, but I haven’t figured out where to find it consistently). By comparison, over the past few years I’ve been stunned how much value can be found in Bordeaux. Perhaps part of it is a preference for the Bordeaux style, as well?
I like Bordeaux too and you are right, there is a lot of value to be found there! You’ll see a Super Tuscan blind tasting in the coming weeks here :)
Nice! Can’t wait for that!
Hi Matthew. I was thinking it would be great if you could make a video of great value affordable wines. I have some good suggestions. Undurraga th syrah Leyda from chile.. I have tasted their 2019 several times. Its outstanding and cost only 10 $ on offer here. Also from chile Emiliana Coyam. Outstanding too and very interresting vine. 13$ on offer. And moscotas unanime gran vino tinto from Argentina. 10$ on offer here in Denmark. I have tasted 2017 and 2018. Both outstanding in my view. These wines all represent tremedous value.. I like to try to find as high quality as possible for the money.
Niccce suggestions! That is what a lot of the channel is about, finding the best bang for the buck.
Tasting young mono cepage wines blind side-by-side is indeed very difficult. In my experience it becomes easier as they get older and develop and unfold their character. Great video by the way.
Thanks a lot. Tough indeed. I have so much respect for those that go through blending sessions…
Syria and Lebanon, if you can get them in the States: Domaine de Bargylus (Syria) and Chateau Marsyas (Lebanon) - both owned by the same family and both make awesome Bordeaux blends.
There are two Lebanese blind tasting videos coming soon… and those are nice wines indeed
@@drmatthewhorkey If you've not tried it, I'd also really recommend "Chamlija" wines from Turkey: whilst they do use many indigenous Turkish grapes, I've tried some of their Bordeaux varietals and they're some of the best Turkish wine I've tried to date.
Love the wines and Mustafa is a funny man
Fascinating comparison. Interesting how similar Merlot and Malbec were, I often think about them as being quite different wines but I'm clearly wrong! Very surprising.
Thank you! With the new oak on these, it was pretty difficult to discern between the two.
I did a deconstructed Bordeaux tasting for some friends. We had a Bordeaux with Cab Franc, Merlot, and Cab Sauv all in the blend, and we tasted it against a single varietal wine for each grape. It was super interesting.
Ahhh you are a wine geek!
@@drmatthewhorkey Guilty as charged 😁
Love it (aka P Giger)
Paaaaatt PREPPPPPPPP
I did a tasting try to identify a sancerre and a sauvignon blanc (villa maria) that i know well. I was sure of my choice and failed. 😇
Blind tasting is tough... I did a big blind tasting of Sauvignon Blancs from around the world and NZD was the only one that was definitive... ua-cam.com/video/22S_Cmxk55U/v-deo.html
last friday I called for chianti classico when it was a rioja gran reserva!!
Weirdness is how your taste mem totally recovers once the bottle is uncovered 🥳
😝🤣😂
I think that it's pretty difficult to find those 5 cultivars all from the same region or appellation. This was a fun, educational and interesting video, thanks.
I am more of a Right Bank lover, with Merlot and CF making balanced and earthy wines. Saint Emilion is probably my fave, but enjoy the other ones as well
In previous years I was rather anti red Bordeaux as I thought it was rather over hyped, over priced, stodgy and boujee. But I have come around now and I have a few on our wine rack.
As to other regions South Africa has impressed me as a halfway point between European structure, complexity etc. Together with Southern Hemisphere richness and plushness.
I have avoided Hungarian Bordeaux blends previously, but I am looking forward to trying some later this year. Fingers 🤞
Thanks! I am a right bank fan too, especially bc they are approachable younger. Hungary has come a LOOONNNGG way with their Bordeaux blends, I think you will be VERY impressed.
fun video! but honestly it is almost impossible these days to identify grape or a region… modern technology in winemaking is so advanced that I am sure anyone can make Merlot like Malbec and visa versa. plus, lets not forget wineries can mix 10-15% of anything they like and still say one grape on a bottle. so its all good 😅
It is tough indeed but it was fun to try!
@@drmatthewhorkey also you were in a disadvantage doing it from one winery, most wineries tends to have one overarching style which usually dominates everything else. in a weird way, doing same tasting with different wineries could actually have been easier 🙏
Being in a blending session is even tougher!!!
weren't the colors on cab sauv and franc obviously different?
Cab Franc from Napa is ripe and quite dark
@@drmatthewhorkey--I agree. Pride(Spring Mtn), both wines(all their wines) have the same darkness. The Franc is a little more spicy; the Sauvignon is full & "complete".
I did this type of tasting before.. But i get harder as the wine get oaked. If you taste for example Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas you can differentiate between CS, Merlot and Carmenere pretty easily. But as you overoak wine you loose terroir characteristics. I guess that is the big criticism Europeans and South Americans wine enthusiasts have against Napa Valley. And thats why in our minds Washington State and Oregon shine some much more in the American Wine Scene.
Ahhh ic. Not all Napa wines are over oaked as a lot of producers are dialing back. That being said, a lot of high end Bordeaux use 100% new oak.
I love it. There are three chilean wineries that taught me a lot about bordeaux vareties (and Syrah) when I was starting to get interested in wine: Toro de Piedra, Perez Cruz and Grand Viu. Those wines are really cheap, though. In time, I learnt to avoid cheap Petit Verdot.
I also love portuguese wineries that do that with their indigenous grape varieties.
I thought you did a pretty good job putting together wich varieties were in each glass. It's really hard to tell.
Wow thanks! Good call on avoiding cheap PV hahahah. I am huge fan of Portuguese wines too
Hey Matt, do you have any WSET online course preferences or advice?
I did Level III just to do it... For me, the courses are most helpful in the ability to taste a lot of wines in a controlled setting
@@drmatthewhorkey did you do it in person or online?
In person, the tasting is most important. All other information is just didactic
@@drmatthewhorkey thanks!
my fav part of the world for bordeaux blends is bordeaux
Hahaha fair enough!
You are talking my love language in this video! Cabernet Franc! Carmenere! Petit Verdot! Our local vineyard in western NC makes a delicious petit Verdot. @overmountainvineyards and I was introduced to Carmenere from Latina La Rabicana Vineyards of Chile’.
Ohh wow are they getting it to ripen in NC?
Yes. They are in the isothermal belt region.