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Weekly Wine Quiz #54 – Grapes Trivia: Merlot
Here comes our next quiz in the Grape Trivia series. Today’s subject – Merlot.
Merlot is one of the most popular grapes in the world, used both for blending and single-varietal wines. Merlot has thin dark blue colored skin, and its taste profile typically includes plums, blackberries, chocolate and tobacco notes. As it is often compared with Cabernet Sauvignon, one of its most popular blending companions, Merlot ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, has higher sugar content and lesser level of tannins. While France has the biggest plantings of Merlot in the world, Merlot is universally grown in literally every wine producing country – great Merlot wines are produced in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, California, Washington, Long Island, Spain, Chile, Argentina and many other places.
Done with basic facts – let’s proceed with our quiz now, shall we?
Q1: Merlot was named after a:
A. town
B. person
C. bird
D. song
Q2: Name the movie where Merlot was dissed on uncountable number of occasions
Q3: One of the grapes from the list below was assumed to be a Merlot – but it was not. Do you know which grape was mistaken for the Merlot? Bonus question – name the country where confusion took place.
A. Mourvèdre
B. Carignan
C. Carménère
D. Cinsault
Q4: Some place, some time ago, Merlot successfully crossed (by accident) with Cabernet grape, and formed a new grape which produces pretty unique wines. Can you name that grape?
Q5: Chateau Petrus in Pomerol, France makes some of the very best (and most expensive) wines in the world, and those wines are 100% Merlot. Then there is another 100% Merlot wine, made in another country, which is considered a successful competition to Petrus and done very well against it in a number of blind tastings. Can you name that wine?
Have fun, good luck and enjoy your weekend! Cheers!
Weekly Wine Quiz #20: How Much Does It Worth To You?
As you might remember, last week’s quiz was about numbers – quite large numbers, err – prices, I have to say. But if you think about it, those $168K are paid mostly for the bottle and not for the wine – you can acquire exact same wine for a tiniest fraction of that price.
Today, continuing the subject of wine and numbers, I want to talk about auctions, where for the most cases you actually pay for the wine. And while auctions take place all the time all over the world, this particular auction took place in France (mind you, not in Hong Kong or China), a little more than a year ago, and the buyer of the wine was French. He paid €57,000 for a bottle of wine, beating another (also a Frenchman) bidder in a tight battle (nobody expected that particular wine to fetch such price).
Assuming money is not an issue, which wine do you think was worth acquiring for that amount?
Have a great weekend! Cheers!
Following Wine Till Sold Out
As you could’ve noticed, I’m a big fun of Wine Till Sold Out (WTSO). For the majority of the cases, WTSO is offering good wines at very good prices, which for me is one of the most important things when buying the wine – I like value, a good QPR. As a quick reminder, WTSO offers one wine for sale at a deep discount at any given moment – and if you want to know more about how this service works, you can read about it here.
What prompted me to write yet another blog post was the WTSO 24-hours marathon, which took place on Tuesday, April 26th. During such Marathon (it happens periodically), , which lasts for 24 hours the new wine is offered for sale every 15 minutes, or even sooner. It is somewhat challenging to collect all the information about wines offered during the marathon, as the new wines are announced only through the SMS or on Twitter and not via e-mail. Those messages are short, and typically only provide wine name, ratings (if any) and the discount percentage. As you will see below, I was able to capture some additional information, but this was a very tasking manual process (time to write a special app 
). Also it was very difficult to capture the exact timing of the new wines coming in, so again I did what I can.
In the table below you will easily see some amazing deals, like Chateau Petrus 2004 at $479 (it is not even the price at 54% off, it is just sheer availability – and it lasted online for only 4 minutes), or Chateau Lascombes 2005 at $49.99. One last note before you can devour the information – here is explanation for wine rating abbreviation: WS – Wine Spectator, WA – Wine Advocate, RP – Robert Parker (equivalent to Wine Advocate for most cases), WE – Wine Enthusiast, W&S – Wine & Spirits magazine, WRO – Wine Review Online, ST – Steven Tanzer, IWC – International Wine Cellars (associated with Steven Tanzer), JN – Jonathan H. Newman (wine importer), BH – Bourghound (great source for Burgundy wine ratings).
Now, here it is – enjoy!
| Time | Wine Name | Rating(s) | Original Price | WTSO Price | Min # of Btls | % off |
| 12:00a | Burgess 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon | 68 | ||||
| 6:00a | Antiyal Antiyal Maipo Valley 2006 | 92 | 57 | |||
| Sturino Trotta Cellars Special Select Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 | $120 | $39.99 | 2 | 67 | ||
| Tenimenti Angelini Val Di Suga Brunello di Montalcino 2003 | 91WS | $67.99 | $33.99 | 3 | 50 | |
| Chateau Langoa Barton St. Julien Bordeaux 2005 | 92 | 50 | ||||
| Piper Heidsieck Champagne Brut Vintage 2000 | 93 C.G, 92WA | $75 | $43.99 | 2 | 41 | |
| Tom Eddy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 | 94 | 56 | ||||
| 7:00a | Schubert Estate Goose Yard Block Barossa Valley Shiraz 2006 | JN96, 95 | 50 | |||
| Terra Valentine Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006. | 90 | 45 | ||||
| Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Winery Rio Vista Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2006 | ||||||
| Pine Ridge Vineyards Carneros Napa ValleyDijon Clones Chardonnay 2007 | 90 | 41 | ||||
| Quinta do Crasto Vintage Port 1999 | 92 W&S, 92 | 49 | ||||
| 8:00a | Chateau Petrus Pomerol 2006, Free 2nd Day Air | 93 | 49 | |||
| Brookdale Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 | 92WE | $49.99 | $24.99 | 2 | 50 | |
| Podere La Vigna Brunello di Montalcino 2004 | 95WS | $69.99 | $48.99 | 2 | 30 | |
| Solaria Brunello di Montalcino 123 Sangiovese Grosso 2004 | 93 WE, 90 | $99.99 | $59.99 | 1 | 40 | |
| Chateau Lascombes Grand Cru Classe Margaux, Bordeaux 2005 | 95WA | $129.99 | $49.99 | 2 | 62 | |
| Amethyst Wines Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 | 91 | 56 | ||||
| 9:00a | Chateau Leoville Barton Saint Julien Bordeaux Blend 2006 #64 Top 100 WS | 94 | ||||
| Giovanni Rosso Barolo Storico Nebbiolo 2004 | 89 | $65.99 | $28.99 | 2 | 56 | |
| Rudd Estate Crossroads Estate Grown Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 | $74.99 | $35.99 | 2 | 52 | ||
| Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino 2003 | 90 | $110.00 | $45.99 | 2 | 58 | |
| Roquette E Cazes Xisto Douro 2004 | 90 | 67 | ||||
| Vignamaggio Wine Obsession Toscana IGT 2004 | 91WS, 90WA | $70.00 | $39.99 | 1 | 43 | |
| Pillar Rock Vineyard Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 | $125.00 | $39.99 | 2 | 68 | ||
| 10:00a | Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Irpinia Rosso IGT 2003 | 92WA, 92WRO | $85.00 | $37.99 | 2 | 55 |
| St. Francis Winery Behler Vineyard Sonoma County Estate Merlot Blend 2005 | 92 | $45.00 | $21.99 | 4 | 51 | |
| Chateau Angelus Premier Grand Cru Classe St. Emilion Bordeaux 2006 | 95WA, 95WE | $250.00 | $144.99 | 1 | ||
| Cerbaia Brunello di Montalcino 2004 | 91WS | $69.99 | $39.99 | 1 | 43 | |
| Domaine Louis Latour Chambertin Grand Cru Cuvee Heritiers Latour 2007 | 93WS, 91BH | $250.00 | $110.99 | 1 | 52 | |
| 11.00a | Bodegas Los Astrales Astrales Ribera Del Duero 2007 | 94WE, 92 | 47 | |||
| Broadbent Vintage Port 2003 | 90 | 59 | ||||
| Illumination Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2008 | 95WE, 95 | 44 | ||||
| Round Pond Estate Rutherford, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 | 92JN | $70.00 | $24.99 | 4 | 64 | |
| Domaine Du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Exceptionnelle Red 2005 | 94WA | $54.99 | $38.79 | 2 | 29 | |
| Juslyn Vineyards Vineyard Select Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 | 91WA | $84.99 | $44.99 | 2 | 47 | |
| Quixote Winery Panza Stag’s Leap Ranch, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 | 93JN | $49.99 | $24.99 | 3 | 50 | |
| 12:00p | Mitolo Wines Savitar McLaren Vale Shiraz 2007 | 93WA | $75.00 | $37.49 | 3 | 50 |
| Domaine du Galet des Papes Chateaneuf-du-Papes Vieilles Vignes 2007 | 91WS | $49.99 | $29.99 | 3 | 40 | |
| Silver Oak Cellars Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 | 95WRO, 92WE | $84.99 | $54.99 | 2 | 35 | |
| Domaine Louis Latour Romanee Saint Vivant Grand Cru Les Quatre Journaux 2003 | 91 | 48 | ||||
| Tenuta San Giorgio Ugolforte Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2003 | 91RP | $71.99 | $34.99 | 2 | 51 | |
| Enkidu Wines Kick Ranch Sonoma County Syrah 2006 | 94 | 35 | ||||
| 1:00p | Round Pond Estate Rutherford, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 | 92WE | $64.99 | $25.99 | 4 | 60 |
| Champagne Charles Ellner Cuvee De Reserve Brut NV | 92WS, 90WA | $49.99 | $24.99 | 4 | 50 | |
| Two Hands Wines Charlie’s Patch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 | 92ST, 90+WA | $124.99 | 39.99 | 2 | 69 | |
| Barone Ricasoli Casalferro Toscana IGT 2004 | 92 | 48 | ||||
| Xtant Wines Xtant Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 | 92 | 60 | ||||
| Champagne Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin La Grande Dame Brut 1998 | 92 | 45 | ||||
| Azienda Agricola Cavalier Bartolomeo Barolo Solanotto Altenasso DOCG 2005 | 89 | 60 | ||||
| Benessere Vineyards Napa Valley Phenomenon 2004 | 92 | 43 | ||||
| Rodney Strong Vineyards Symmetry Alexander Valley Meritage Red Wine 2007 | 94WE | |||||
| 2:19p | Solena Estate Domaine Danielle Laurent Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2007 | 91ST, 90WE | $47.99 | $27.99 | 3 | 42 |
| Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 | 92 | 29 | ||||
| 2:33P | Champagne de Venoge Brut Champagne Rose NV | 90WS | 79.99 | 39.99 | 2 | 50 |
| Celler Laurona Laurona Falset 2005 | 91WA, 90 | 53 | ||||
| Page Wine Cellars Revolver Wine Company The Fury Cabernet Franc 2006 | 39 | |||||
| Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Chardonnay Reserve 2005 | 89 | 33 | ||||
| 2:51p | Chateau Petrus Pomerol 2004 | 95W&S, 93WS/WA | $1299.99 | $479.99 | 1 | 54 |
| 2.55p | D’Arenberg The Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon 200 | 93WA | $69.99 | $49.69 | 2 | 35 |
| Villa Girardi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC 2004 | 46 | |||||
| Cloud View Vineyards Prichard Hill Napa Valley Red Wine 2006 | 94 | 53 | ||||
| 3:11p | Cabreo Il Borgo Toscana IGT 2007 | 94WS | $60.00 | $41.99 | 2 | 30 |
| Hewitt Vineyard Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 | 92 | 45 | ||||
| Two Hands Wines Lily’s Garden McLaren Vale Shiraz 2006 | 92 | 45 | ||||
| Saintsbury Vineyard Stanly Ranch Pinot Noir 2007 | 92WS, 90 | 40 | ||||
| Chateau Guillot Pomerol 2001 Library Release | 93JN | $50.00 | $25,99 | 3 | 48 | |
| 3:38p | I Giusti e Zanza Dulcamara Toscana Rosso 2005 | 93WE | $54.99 | $22.99 | 4 | 58 |
| 3:42p | Enzo Wines Magic Hill Oakville, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 | 98 | $85.00 | $26.99 | 3 | 68 |
| Domaine Louis Latour Meursault Blagny 1er Cru Chateau De Blagny 2007 | 88 | 40 | ||||
| 4:08p | The Colonial Estate Emigre Barossa Valley Proprietary Red 2006 | 93ST, 92WA | $85.00 | $42.99 | 2 | 49 |
| 4:10p | Chateau Le Prieure Grand Cru Classe St. Emilion 1999 Library Release | 92JN | $50.00 | $24.99 | 3 | 50 |
| 4:15p | Eredi Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino 2005 | 93WA, WS | $79.99 | $39.99 | 2 | 50 |
| 4:25p | Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Pvt. Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 | 95WE | $119.99 | $64.99 | 2 | |
| Michele Chiarlo Tortoniano Barolo 2005 | 90 | 52 | ||||
| 4:43p | Azienda Agricola Montevetrano Montevetrano Colli di Salerno IGT 2006 | 94RP | $112.00 | $47.99 | 1 | 57 |
| Vilafonte Series C Paarl 2004 | 91 | 57 | ||||
| Encantado (by The Famous Unnamed Napa Valley winery) Red Blend 2007 | 59 | |||||
| 4:59p | Domaine Louis Latour Corton Clos de la Vigne Au Saint 2003 | 91BH | $89.99 | $49.99 | 2 | 44 |
| 5:00p | David Bruce Winery Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2005 | 88 | 60 | |||
| Tenuta di Biserno Bibbona Insoglio del Cinghiale IGT 2006 | 94 | 50 | ||||
| 5:32p | Laetitia Vineyard & Winery Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir Reserve 2007 | 92WE | $49.99 | $29.99 | 1 | 40 |
| 5:41p | Watkins Family Winery Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 | 92JN | $45.00 | $24.99 | 2 | 44 |
| 4:49p | Grimaldi Luigino Grimaldi Vigna San Biagio Barolo Nebbiolo 2006 | 91 | 53 | |||
| 5:53p | Opus One Napa Valley Proprietary Blend 2007 | 94 | 18 | |||
| 5:56p | Brookdale Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 | $45.00 | $24.79 | 3 | 45 | |
| 6:00p | Bacio Divino Cellars Janzen Estate Cloudys Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 | 90 | 60 | |||
| Burgess Cellars Library Release Vintage Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 | ||||||
| Poderi Aldo Conterno Gran Bussia Barolo Riserva 2001 | 95ST, 95 | 50 | ||||
| Prince Florent de Merode Corton Les Bressandes Grand Cru 2008 | 50 | |||||
| Seavey Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 | 92 | 35 | ||||
| 7:00p | Costers del Siurana Miserere Priorat 2003 | 90 | 50 | |||
| E. Pira & Figli (Chiara Boschis) Barolo Cannubi 2005 | 94WE, 91 | 41 | ||||
| Burgess Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 Vintage Selection | 68 | |||||
| Podere La Vigna Brunello di Montalcino 2005 | 91 | 42 | ||||
| 8:00p | Domaine Louis Latour Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2006 | 95WE, 90 | 52 | |||
| Encantado (You Know The Winery!) Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 | 59 | |||||
| Tua Rita Giusto di Notri Toscana 2003 | 90 | 51 | ||||
| Chateau Lafon La Tuilerie St. Emilion Grand Cru Classe 2006 | 60 | |||||
| Feudi di San Gregorio Taurasi Piano di Montevergine Riserva 2001 | 94WA, 93 | 40 | ||||
| Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Wrattongbully, Australia Cabernet Shiraz 2005 | 92 | 57 | ||||
| 9:00p | Lisini Brunello di Montalcino 2005 | 91 | 51 | |||
| St. Supery Vineyards & Winery Elu Napa Valley Red Wine 2005 6 Liter Imperial | ||||||
| Chateau Le Gay Pomerol 2006 | 93WA, 93 | 46 | ||||
| Burgess Cellars Ilona Howell Mountain Red Blend 2004 | 92 | 59 | ||||
| Chateau Dauzac MargauxGrand Cru Classe Bordeaux 2007 | 87 | 60 | ||||
| Azienda Agricola Piancornello Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 #64 Top 100 2010 WE!! | ||||||
| Domaine Henri Darnat Meursault Clos Du Domaine 2008. 17 rating and 50% off | 17 | 50 | ||||
| 10:00p | Bacio Divino Cellars Janzen Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 | 89 | 63 | |||
| Maple Lane Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 | 52 | |||||
| Mer Soleil Vineyard (by Caymus) Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay 2007 | 42 | |||||
| Azienda Agricola Piancornello Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2003 [1.5 Liter] Magnum | ||||||
| Domaine du Grand Tinel Chateauneuf du Pape Alexis Establet 2007 | 94WA, 92 | 40 | ||||
| Thumbprint Cellars Four Play Winemakers Reserve Sonoma County 2008 | 56 | |||||
| 11:07p | Caterina Zardini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva DOC 2006 | 93 | 44 | |||
| 11:22p | Piper Heidsieck Champagne Cuvee Rare Brut 1998 *1.5L Magnum | 92 | 58 | |||
| 11:25p | Domus Vitae Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva 2004 | 90 | 60 | |||
| 11:38p | Tenuta dei Sette Cieli Indaco Super-Tuscan 2006 | 90 | 60 | |||
| 11:48p | Chateau Le Dome St. Emilion Grand Cru 2004 | 90 | 60 |
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