Best in the US

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey everybody, and welcome back. Thanks for joining me for
a little all things mall back where we're gonna talk
a lot about malbacks and some other wines. We're gonna
get serious with some stuff, and we're gonna have some
fun with some stuff too. So I really like to
have fun and just kind of make fun of all
the stuck up wine snobs and just make fun of them.
You know, come on, look wonders about having a good time.

(00:20):
You know. Anyway, we are talking wine. We're talking. We're
doing a little series right now about how ridiculous some
of the wine snobbiness is. Right, so we're dispensing with
all of that crap and we're getting into number one,
we're gonna make fun of it, and then number two,
we're gonna treat wine for what it's meant to be.
And that's fun. The time to relax enjoy a glass

(00:44):
of wine, your beverage after a hard day's work, hard
day yard work, an intense day with the family. I mean,
who knows. For me, that glass of wine in the
afternoon or the evening is just that's I look forward to.
That is a time of just saying, okay, I'm finished
with the meat of the day. And now I can

(01:04):
kick back, I can have some me time, and I
can have a glass of wine. And I could go
on and on about this because this is January, the
something for thirteenth, I guess, and I'm in. My wife
taught me in to dry January, so I don't just
want to talk about the wine. I want to go
to the store and get a bottle right now. But I

(01:27):
said I wouldn't do it, and I'm not going to
do it. But I'm gonna if I'm doing a lot
of that. Why I'm talking about this, it's because my
mouth is watering so bad because I really just wanted
to a glass of wine. I'm not in withdrawal. I'm
just in, you know, a want. I'm in a wanting state.
So let's celebrate the taste of wine. A celebration of taste. So,

(01:51):
like I said, we're going to dispense with the stuffy
pronouncements and the overly serious wine critic face. You know
that face of this is very serious business, you know,
I mean, get me a break in portal wine. Wine
tasting at its core is about pleasure? Am I not right?

(02:12):
Why else am I drinking this slightly overpriced beverage. It's
about a century symphony plane. That's hard to say what
I mean. Oh, I don't know what I'm trying to
say it. I haven't even had any wine. See, my
mind is all just messed up because we're talking wine
and I don't have any. It's about a sensory symphony

(02:34):
playing out on your tongue, in your nose, and even
in your mind. Forget the intimidating tasting notes. You know,
I have a Oh, I have notes of BlackBerry, wet dog,
and low tide. Yeah, I'm passing on that one even,
and I'm curious people go out and buy it for

(02:54):
that reason if you said that, you know, So forget
the intimidated tasting notes and the complete the complex of
flavor profiles, not just for a moment, but forever, if
you ask me, Let's talk about the sheer, unadulterated joy
of experiencing wine. Yes, baby, imagine this. You're holding a glass,

(03:19):
the cool, smooth curve of it fitting perfectly into your hand.
The wine itself a shimmering ruby or a pale golden straw.
It catches the light and it has legs, And before
you even take a sip your brain is already engaging,
anticipating the experience. This is where the magic begins, the anticipation,

(03:45):
the build up, the promise of censory, the light. It's
a ritual, a prelude to the main event, and it's
utterly delightful. I mean, that's me right there at about
you know, five point thirty in the afternoon, and I'm
just playing it in my head, and I'm like, man,
i can't wait to get home and pop that court.

(04:09):
And I'm starting to sound like I need like a
twelve step program. But it's just one of my you know,
things that I can do that I enjoy and help
me relax a little bit. You know. I don't use
it to hide from anxiety in real life. It's just
a relaxing thing for me. And you know, I'm almost
sixty years old. I've been working hard, i think, you know,

(04:30):
and I'm still I'm a father of an eighteen year old,
a seventeen year old, thirteen year old. That's a reason
to have a whole bottle right there. So the first
act of the symphony Symphony is the Aroma. Okay, and
we're not doing this with a wine snob face. Gently
swirl the wine in your glass. Okay, don't get crazy
and have it sloshed all over the place, releasing and

(04:52):
captivating fragrances. So when you know, give it a swirl
and give it a smell. You know, don't be afraid
to bury your nose right in there, because if you do,
you're just going to fit right in with the rest
of the wine snobs. Just stick your nose in there.
It's perfectly acceptable and encourage. What do you smell? Red fruit,
black fruit, wet dog, low tide. I mean, I don't know.

(05:16):
I heard that somewhere. I thought it was funny floral notes,
earthy undertones, spices. Don't worry about identifying each note with
pinpoint accuracy. Just let the smiles the smells wash over you.
It's reminiscent of a sun drenched vineyard, a damp forest floor,
a spice market in marra Cash. Never been there, have you?

(05:40):
I doubt it. The beauty fies in the subjective nature
of It's all your personal ol factory interpretation. So this
is your interpretation. Just because some big time small ya
over here, who's in his big time suit and vest
and all that kind of stuff, comes over and tells
you this is the wine that you should have because

(06:01):
it has this, and this and this. Let me tell
you something, ask him this, say, okay, you know, I'll
take your word for it, but I want to taste
it before I buy a you know, one hundred and
fifty dollars bottle of wine. Okay, I mean, and if
he opens that bottle of wine and you take a
sip and you don't like it, then you don't like it.
You don't owe anybody anything because you know what, he's

(06:21):
just gonna take that bottle, take it around back, and
he's gonna drink it after the restaurant closes anyway, So
it's not going to waste. Enjoy the wine that you enjoy,
not enjoying the wine that somebody else enjoys or someone
says has all of these accolades. There's no right or
wrong answer, Okay, there's only your experience and your taste.

(06:42):
Think about the context too. It is the aroma reminiscent
of a particular memory. I mean, we could get down
some really really big rabbit holes if we take that
too far, So we're not. So does it transport you

(07:04):
to another time or place of the power of scent
to evoke memorable and undeniable, and is undeniable. A particular
wine might unlock a forgotten vacation I cherished childhood, or
maybe last night's over indulgence, or even a ghost of

(07:24):
a past relationship. Nope, didn't do it. So that's the
beauty of the century experience. It's not just about the
wine itself, and this is the truth. It's about the
just the array of all the associations that it weaves
into and out of. Now the moment of truth. The

(07:45):
first sip. Now listen, No one here is a stop,
but listen, have a little bit of etiquette, right, So
don't gulp it right. This isn't a shot glass and
it's not a beer chucking contest, right, so don't go
up it down. Let the wine linger on your tongue.

(08:05):
Might be a Kenny Chesney song coating your taste buds.
Pay attention to the texture. Is it silky, smooth, crisp
and refreshing, slightly tannic? I didn't say satanic when these
tactile sensations are crucial components of the experience. And then

(08:27):
the flavors explode sweetness, acidity, bitterness, saltiness, you name it.
These five basic tastes interact to create a complex and
ever evolving flavor profile. Look, we're talking this way, and
we're not win stops. We're talking this way because it's cool.

(08:48):
Consider the temperature of the wine. A chilled white wine
will have a different character than one served at room temperature.
All right. I don't know if the character suddenly they
have a bad character, or if it gets to be
a good character. I don't know, but maybe they just

(09:08):
have character flaws. What do you think? Similarly, a slightly
warmer red wine will reveal different subtleties than one that's
been improperly stored in the garage. Listen, I won't drink
it anyway. Temperature profoundly affects the century perception and can
either enhance the experience or completely derail it, Okay, creating

(09:35):
a jarring contrast instead of a satisfying harmony. And I
kind of get that. You certainly don't want to drink,
you know, a chardonnay that's been out in the hot
sun for forty five minutes, and of course you probably
have a bunch of flies in there too, But not
a song. I don't forget about, and don't forget about
the finish right, the lingering impression that wine leaves on

(09:58):
your palette after you swallow. Does it fade quickly or
does it linger? Is it pleasant? Or does it leave
a slightly bitter or a stringent aftertaste. The finish is
the final note of the century symphony, the lasting impression,
and an important aspect to the entire wine tasting experience.

(10:18):
The real skill in wine tasting isn't identifying obscure great varieties.
It's predicting vintage potential or predicting vintage potential. It's about
paying attention, about engaging your senses and you're appreciating subtleties
and the surprises. It's about discovering the unique pleasure that

(10:38):
your palette finds in each sip. And you see what
I said in this All the time, you're okay, this
is your taste. This isn't somebody else's taste, you know.
I mean, it's just like some people like Miller Lite,
some people like Courslight, some people like I don't know, PBR,
God rest their soul or help them in I don't

(10:59):
know what it is, you know, or Bud long Neck
or you know, some boutique beer or a small batch
craft beer. You know, everybody has different tastes in what
they like and what they don't like, So don't be
intimidated if the wine that you like isn't the one

(11:19):
that the expert recommends, because it doesn't really matter because
they're not the ones drinking the daggum bottle of wine.
So let's say you're confronted with a bottle of sevenyon blanc.
Instead of searching for textbook descriptures like grassy or cat pee,
I get the cat pee. I mean, I really do,

(11:39):
because sometimes I smelled a seven yard blanc and that
is one of the first things that I think of,
not being a snob. Focus on your own impressions. Does
it remind you of freshly cut grass on a dewy morning,
I'm not romantic. It reminds me of first football practice
right there. Does it evoke a bracing spring rain, or

(12:00):
perhaps a crisp tart green apple, whatever your senses tell you,
that's the correct answer. That's what we're getting at. Your
answer is the correct answer, because it's all up to you. Similarly,
with a Cabernet savignon, forget the over. I almost went
into some kind of crazy accent because I said Cabernet savignon.

(12:22):
Forget the overwrought descriptions. I'm very bad at that of
black currant and cedar. What does your nose tell you?
Does it smell of dark ripe cherries or a dark
moist cave? You know, I mean, who knows? Whatever you
think it is, that's what it is. Does it have

(12:42):
the earthiness of damp soil after a thunderstorm? I mean,
I'm making all this sound really cool, but sometimes it
just doesn't smell good to you. Does the hint of
the warm spice of clothes? The experience of personal intensely individual?
Let your own century symphony unfold. So let's consider the

(13:06):
impact of a presentation on our sensory experience. The simple
act of pouring the wine into a proper glass can
enhance the aroma and improve the overall tasting experience. The
shape of the glass, the tulip shaped glass, for example,
is Okay, listen, the glass is great. This is what

(13:29):
I'm getting at. However, it doesn't really matter. You know,
it's what you enjoy. If you enjoy drinking a chardonnay
in a cabernet glass, so what nobody? Nobody cares, you know,

(13:50):
and the subtle differences that it may or may not
make you're not going to notice. Let's be honest. I'm
just the old redneck boy drinking wine. I don't care.
I mean, I'm not really into the box, but if
I had to, you know, I have a glass from
a box. You know. I don't particularly like drinking wine,
any wine out of say a YETI even if it's

(14:11):
a yetti shaped like a wine glass, I don't like it.
I don't like that metallic part of it. But if
it's glass, I don't care. If it's a highball, I
don't care. If it's a shot glass, I don't care.
If it's a water glass, I don't care. If it's
the perfect glass that it's supposed to be. I just
like the wine. So don't forget that. Don't get too

(14:31):
wrapped up in that stuff. So the next time that
you open a bottle, remember it's not just about the
wine itself. It's about the entire symphony of sensations. Your sensations,
the sights, the smells, the taste, the textures. And I'm
gonna go in there and say your sights, your smells,

(14:51):
and your tastes, and your textures, the environment, right, your
environment and the company that you're in. Embrace the entire
sense re experience. Laugh at the spills, Laugh at the
idiot Somoya who's like trying to sell you a six
hundred dollars bottle of wine and that's above your you know,
three hundred dollars credit limit on your credit card. He

(15:12):
doesn't know that, And embrace the journey, for it's the imperfections,
the inconsistencies, and the utter humanity of the experience that
the true joy of wine appreciation resides. Amen, thank you. Yes,
So now you can relax and you can enjoy your wine.
You don't have to have all that pretensive crap, all right,

(15:36):
So hey, cheers, bottoms up, pop that cork. Let's go,
And I do happen to have, just by luck, my
top ten list of US mallbacks. Okay, Now, I know
the US isn't known for great ones just the way
it is. Most of them are Argentina, Argentina based and grown.

(16:00):
But uh, you know what, the US does some things right,
So I do have a list of ten. They're not there.
It's subjective. Like I said, I'm not a huge mall
back guy, but I have good sources. How about that.
So number one on my list is Camus Siouxsun Grand Driff.

(16:22):
I don't know how to pronounce it. It's so good.
So it's a California wine. And this is from the
Wagner family. We all know the Wagner family or it
is famous with the Camus and Camus vineyards and wine.
So this is a very bold and structured mall back.
It's a stand out with deep fruit and velvet ten.
And see, this is the stuff I kind of make

(16:42):
fun of, but it's as this is what we're gonna do.
Uh berg of and lane moon spell. Mallbacks have some
cool names. Man, this is Washington State. It's a rich
complex mall back from Walla Walla. And that's fun to
say to Walla Walla Stompman. That sounds, you know, very

(17:03):
German stolp. M a n Vineyards. That is California, a
Ballard Canyon. It's a vibrant and fruit forward mallback. Number
four le ecole sounds like a disease. Number forty one,
it's a Washington it's also a Walla Walla. Number five

(17:27):
frogs leap mall back. Now this one, this one sounds
kind of cool. Organically grown and beautifully structured. This is
a more elegant take on mall back with a floral
and red fruit notes that sounds good to me. Force
Mazure Malback Washington Red Mountain sounds very intimidating. It's a

(17:49):
powerhouse mall back with incredible depth and intensity and aging potential.
I don't wonder how much aging potential I have really
feeling old lately, so Number seven Vina Robless Malbeck, California,
Paso Robless velvet and fruit driven mall back with a
perfect balance of dark fruit and spice. And Number eight

(18:13):
Novelty Hill mall back again in Washington, Columbia Valley, a
well structured, small production mall back with a black fruit, tobacco, spice,
wet dog and low tide smells and hints. Now I'm
just kidding about the last two there, but it's kind
of funny. I can't help but make fun of it.

(18:36):
Schaeffer mal Back. That's easy to say. I probably said
it wrong somehow. This is a NAPA. This is a rare,
luxurious mall back with rich layers of dark fruit and mocha.
To Number ten a grammar sya cellars and I have
bad grammar, and I can't read very well or spell
or speak, so probably not for me anyway. This is

(18:59):
also from washing intend on the walla Walla. It's a
refined Old World style all back with savory and earthy undertones.
Great for aging. So there you go. There, it's the
top ten. That's a pretty good list. So hope you
guys enjoy it. We talked them all back here and
I tell you what we'll we'll catch back up next time.

(19:22):
Until then, God bless you all. Enjoy your wine.