>> Speaker A: It on the next episode of sips, suds and smokes. This is a wine episode today, and we're going to be discussing some wines. So we have from Chateau Montellena, we have the Chateau Montellena Chardonnay 2021. We have the Chateau Montellena estate Zinfidel 2019.
We, uh, have sea sun pinot noir 2021, Red Schooner Voyage eleven, Canon California Red Blend 2021, Camus California Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Camus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauignon 2021, and the Camus special select Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019. Every year, this is always an excellent wine. Every year. I've never had a bad year of this. I mean, I'm sure they've had some challenging years, but it's never, always overcome it. >> Speaker B: And what they release is just smaller. That's.
>> Speaker C: We'll be right back after this breakup. >> Speaker A: Brought to you almost live from the dude in the basement studios. >> Speaker B: Why? >> Speaker D: Because that's where the good stuff is. >> Speaker A: It sips suds and smokes with your smoke and host the good old boy. And now it's sipping time. Yes, it'sipping time again. Hello and welcome to this sips episode where everything good in life is worth discussing.
>> Speaker B: As always, uh, for the sexy time. We don't discuss the sexy time. We're a PG rated show. >> Speaker A: Well, guess what? Your wife doesn't either, so what's the difference? >> Speaker B: That's why I'm trying to discuss the sexy time with someone. >> Speaker D: Wait a minute. >> Speaker A: Still not going to help. >> Speaker D: There's nothing PG about alcohol. This is a, uh, 18 and up, I guess 21 and up.
>> Speaker B: 21 and up. Yeah, you're right. >> Speaker D: Why do we have to keep the language? >> Speaker A: Depends on what country you're in. >> Speaker D: Why do we have to keep the language PG? The alcohol is not PG. >> Speaker B: Because of NPR. Yeah, because of the radio and apple. >> Speaker A: Podcasts, all that good stuff and everyone else. Yeah, the alcohol is not good taste. Unfortunately, for work, drinking, we drink well taste. If it was good
taste, there'd only be three of us at the table right now. So just taste. >> Speaker C: Nobody works at work, so you want to be safe for work. >> Speaker A: Mhm. Well, we are the best thing on somewhere around 02:00 a.m. >> Speaker B: I don't think so anymore. >> Speaker C: Good Times switch. >> Speaker D: Once a lot of time. >> Speaker A: We were much about the time this idiot went to bed last night, so.
>> Speaker B: I didn't leave the store until 02:00 a.m. >> Speaker A: He didn't get the best authority on that. >> Speaker C: We're up against the, uh, my pillow. >> Speaker D: No wonder he didn't get his beauty rest. >> Speaker A: Look at him. >> Speaker B: I feel like I've been beat by a stick. >> Speaker A: There's not enough rest out there to make beauty out of that. >> Speaker B: This is why we're on the radio, not on video.
>> Speaker A: Kids. Yeah. Face for radio, right. Our sip segments are all about, uh, wine, distilled spirits, coffee, tea, and pretty much anything else you can drink. And this is a wine episode today, and we're going to be discussing some wines. So we have, from Chateau Montellina, we have the Chateau Montellena Chardonnay, 2021. We have the Chateau Montellena estate, Zinvidell 2019.
Uh, we have sea sun pinot noir 2021, Red Schooner Voyage eleven conundrum California Red Blend, 2021, Camus California Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Camus napa Valley Cabernet sauvignon 2021, and the Camus special select Naf Valley Cabernet sauvignon 2019. >> Speaker B: Dedicate this show to Charles Wagner. >> Speaker A: Yes, absolutely. So we are going to, uh, throw this over to justin, against my better judgment, and ask him to give us our sips ratings.
>> Speaker D: Oh, God. Put on your earplugs. >> Speaker C: All right, well, today we're going to do one sip. Give me a glass of water to. >> Speaker A: Wash out my mouth. >> Speaker B: You started out in Australia, went to. >> Speaker D: California, then you went to Robin Leach. >> Speaker B: What happened to you? >> Speaker C: California is a really big state. >> Speaker A: Man, I think he sounds like Fred the elephant boy,
if you ask me. But nice. >> Speaker C: Two sips. Nice. >> Speaker A: But what else do you have? >> Speaker B: Well, isn't that nause. That hurt. >> Speaker A: Yeah, it's not working. I'm just not feeling it. >> Speaker C: Three sips. >> Speaker A: Uh, interesting. Sorry, what was this again? >> Speaker B: Interesting. >> Speaker A: Four sips. >> Speaker C: Let's keep this secret to ourselves. Pour me another.
>> Speaker B: That's classified. >> Speaker A: I could make so many jokes now, that would be so wholly inappropriate, but I'm not going to. >> Speaker D: Thank you. >> Speaker C: Five sips. Oh, uh, my. I was unaware anything could be this good. >> Speaker B: Oh, my goodness. That's like if Barney rubble were stoned. >> Speaker C: It's a guy selling weed on Venice. >> Speaker B: Beach, but it's Barney rubble selling weed on Venice Beach.
>> Speaker A: I don't know. I didn't go in the store with you, so I couldn't really tell you went in there. I was out taking pictures, so that doesn't count. All right, so let's talk about our first winery. So the first winery we are going to be discussing today is Chateau Montellena. Chateau Montellina was originally built in 1888, and it was intended mainly as a barrel aging facility. The Chateau Montellina winery was unique among 19th century wineries in Napa Valley,
when most of the wineries in the valley are made out of wood. Chateau Montalena was made out of stone with walls three to 12ft thick and built into the hillside. The structure provided natural insulation against the cold and heat and ideal conditions for barrel aging. It was purchased by Jim Barrett in 1972, and it was his 1973 Chardonnay that was the winner at the now famous judgment of Paris in 1976, which they filmed that little movie about, um, in which put Napa Valley on the world wine map.
After Jim's retirement, Jim's son, Bo Barrett, led the winery for many years, until 2014, when Matt Crafton became the winemaker. It was Matt who spearheaded the largest vineyard replant and redesigned in the winery's history, as well as leading Chateau Montellina's sustainability program, which led the winery to become certified as a, uh, bay area green business and Napa green winery. So the first wine that we've got is the Napa or the, uh, Chateau Montellena
2021 Chardonnay. It's 100% Chardonnay, 13.7% abv, aged for ten months in french, uh, oak barrels. It's got a beautiful straw color to it. A little bit of hint of gold around the edge, um, some citrus and orange blossom, some green apple. Just sort of tart, like granny Smith. A little bit of lemon on the palate. M it's finally warmed up. We ate it too cold. Um, it's got a good mouthfeel to it. Dry stones, minerality, lots, uh, of lemon, little bit of flowers, little bit of know.
A typical Classic Chateau montellina chardonnay. Um, I think last year was a little better. >> Speaker B: Yeah, I disagree with you, Bob. I don't think this is the typical classic. I think the acid is a little bit unbalanced here. I got more white peach on the nose than you did than orange blossom. Um, and the apple was there, but it seemed to be overpowering, acidic. There's plenty of vanilla on the palate and melon, like you said, but the lemon was a little bit too much.
>> Speaker D: I agree with you, harm. I think this was not quite as balanced as I've seen previously. This was a little bit heavy on the granny Smith and the lemon citrus flavor with a, uh, little bit heavy handed on the acidity. Not as much creamy vanilla brioche notes as I'm used to seeing and have seen in the past. I mean, a very nice wine. Very well built. >> Speaker B: I like that they're pulling back on.
>> Speaker D: I like it. Yeah, very much so. But I would agree that, uh, this particular one is just a little bit off balance for me. >> Speaker B: Maybe we're drinking it young. It's got a couple more years before it starts really coming to stride. I think it should be drinking now. It's a 2021. It's two years old already. But maybe you could give this another year in the cellar. Justin, what do you think? >> Speaker C: I think if you drank this with a
sourdough bread, you'd be really happy. Um, I think it's very tasty. >> Speaker B: Specifically, sourdough bread? >> Speaker C: Yeah, I would specifically drink this with sourdough bread just to balance it out, because there are some imbalances, but those can be fixed by pairing it with the right thing. >> Speaker A: What about cheetos? >> Speaker C: Everything goes with cheetos. >> Speaker A: Which kind, crunchy or puffy? >> Speaker D: Crunchy.
>> Speaker B: Come on. Crunchy is the only way to go these days. >> Speaker A: Uh uh. >> Speaker D: No. >> Speaker B: The puffy stuff sticks in your teeth. >> Speaker A: Yeah, so you don't want that. Uh, lots of things. Sticking your teeth doesn't stop you from meeting them either, now does it? >> Speaker B: Well, sometimes. >> Speaker D: He doesn't know about sometimes. Curly q hair. >> Speaker B: You ask her to shave. It's okay.
>> Speaker A: They don't stick in your teeth on you sick bastard. I'm talking about corn. What is wrong with you? Oh, my God. >> Speaker B: Yeah, something's wrong with right in the. >> Speaker A: Toilet with the two of you. >> Speaker B: I know. >> Speaker A: Tara. Weirdos. >> Speaker B: He's a urologist. Everything he lives is like weirdos. >> Speaker D: He doesn't fraternize with women.
>> Speaker A: Oh, my God. Anyway, well, we're going to be rating the Chateau Montalena, uh, 2021 Chardonnay, four sips. >> Speaker B: Oh, my goodness. I think you're generous on this vintage. >> Speaker D: That was, uh, a little generous. >> Speaker A: We had you guys, and then we had us. >> Speaker B: Fine. We average it out. Okay. Thank you, sir. >> Speaker D: And we round up. Two plus two equals four divided by two round up.
>> Speaker A: So we're going to go to the next wine, and we're going to have Justin tell us about that one. >> Speaker C: Okay, so the next wine we're going to talk about is Chateau Montalena Zinfandel 2019. It's 100% Zinfandel primitiveo. It's 14.3% alcohol by volume. It's aged 16 months in french and american oak. And of those, 16% of those barrels are new. On the nose. I got vanilla seven, um, eleven, red slushy on the palate, cranberry. >> Speaker A: Is it 711 or 711? Sure.
Okay. >> Speaker B: It's a slurpee at 711 not a slushy. >> Speaker A: It's not quick stop or it's not Bucky's. >> Speaker B: Okay. Uh, it's a slurpee, sir. I will have you know, sweeter. >> Speaker C: Sweeter nose. On the palate, I got cranberry. It was very sweet. Kind of reminded me of, like, a mead. And on the back palate, it was really pleasant. This is a fun drink. What do you think, Maury? >> Speaker D: Well, this was a nice line. I liked the,
uh, color. I thought it was a little bit on the pale side, but it was a nice red. Um, I did get the notes of raspberry and vanilla on the nose, on the palate. Medium body, little hints of strawberry and rhubarb. There was definitely some fine tannins and some spice plum. I thought this was a pleasant middle of the road. Uh, zinfandel. It was easy drinking, had a medium finish, had a little hint of spice. I liked it. I thought it was very nice. Easy going, middle, uh,
of the road. Easy going, um, and enjoyable. >> Speaker B: Harm, I'm not too far off with what you said. Uh, Mari, it's a beautiful garnet. What you guys got is vanilla. I actually came across, for me, because of the toast of the oak and the baking spices, it came across as creme brulee to me, I got raspberry and creme brulee, and, um, it came out quite nice. A little bit dried cherry. It's medium bodied and very pleasant. Easily drinkable. >> Speaker D: Yeah, pleasant.
>> Speaker A: Well, we'll be back. >> Speaker B: Hey. >> Speaker A: And we're back, and we were just wrapping up our discussion on the Chateau Montellina estate Zinfandel. Um, it's got a nice nose to it. Raspberries and cranberries. >> Speaker B: Yeah. >> Speaker A: I think it's a really nice wine. >> Speaker B: I like this better than Chardonnay. You really love that Chardonnay. I think this is, uh.
>> Speaker A: No, I'm enjoying it. I'm really enjoying the zen. >> Speaker B: Mhm. I think the value is in this Zen right here. It's quite good. >> Speaker A: Yeah, it's extremely well put together. Well, we're going to be rating the Chateau Montelina estate Zen Vandell 2019. Four sips. >> Speaker B: That's classified. >> Speaker A: That takes us to our next winery, and we're going to have Maury tell us about that one.
>> Speaker B: Well, the fat man made a funny. >> Speaker D: Well, thank you, Bob. We'll be discussing Camus vineyards next. Charlie Wagner Sr. And Lorna Bell Gloss were both born to families that helped shape Napa Valley's wine industry in the late 18 hundreds and beyond. In 1941, Charlie Wagner and Lorna Bell Gloss. Chuck's parents purchased 73 acres just a few hundred yards from Chuck Wagner's home ranch, where they planted fruit orchards and ten acres of wine
grapes. In the 1960s, Charlie and Lorna pulled out their prune and walnut trees to devote their property entirely to wine grapes, including Pinot noir, Johannesburg Riesling, and a special clone of Cabernet Sauvignon that Charlie had acquired from Stags leap grower Nathan Fay. The Wagner sold their grapes to Inglenook winery and Sonoma vineyards, among others, and were highly regarded grape growers and home winemakers.
In 1972, Charlie and Lorna, along with their son Chuck, established their own winery and decided to name it Camus vineyards, after a mexican land grant owned by George Yont that had once encompassed their land. In 1975, Chuck and his dad noticed that there were a Few barrels that tasted better than the rest, so they decided to separate them from the batch and bottled them under a new label called special selection chemist. Special selection is the only wine in the world honored twice as
wine Spectator magazine's wine of the year. Uh, for both their 19. >> Speaker B: Excuse me, 1980, 419 80, 419 84. >> Speaker D: And their 1990 vintages. And their legacy continues as Chuck's son charlie and their daughter Jenny have joined the winemaking business. >> Speaker B: I guess they left out, um. Joe. Yes. >> Speaker D: Uh, the first wine will be the sea sun pinot noir 2021. It's 100% pinot noir, 87% from Monterey county and 13% from San Benito county.
14.7% abv. Each region where the grapes are grown. For sea sun pinot noir contributes subtly different qualities to the wine sourcing. Location of the grapes shift from vintage to vintage, and it is this flexibility that enables them to adjust to create the best possible wine in a given year. The color is a beautiful dark garnet color. A little bit darker than you'd expect for a pinot noir. On the nose, there's lots of bright. >> Speaker B: It doesn't say 100% pinot noir, does it? It does.
>> Speaker D: It's 100% pinot noir. It's 87%. How is it so extract. >> Speaker A: Thanks for paying attention. >> Speaker D: 13% from San Benito county. >> Speaker B: How is it so dark? >> Speaker D: Very dark for pinot. >> Speaker A: You keep asking Maury because he was there when they made it. I'm sure he'll give you the answer you're looking for. >> Speaker B: Whatever.
>> Speaker D: On the palate, there's cherry, light toasted oak, some dry earth, a hint of clove, and even a hint of s'mores. It's got a medium to long finish. Very pleasant. This is a light easy going, really lovely pinot noir. It's not really full bodied. It's very approachable. It's light on the palate. It dances. You can really enjoy it for an afternoon out by the pond,
out on the back patio. I really like this wine. I found it to be very pleasant, very easy going, uh, and really, uh, very enjoyable. >> Speaker C: Justin, uh, I really enjoyed your presentation and this wine. Um, I had nose. It was welcome. >> Speaker A: He's been drinking. Don't get all excited. >> Speaker C: I pound on the Nose. It was sweet and fruity. I definitely got some cherry cloves. >> Speaker D: Um, was it a slurpee or slushy cherry?
>> Speaker C: Neither. It was, like, the actual fruit that I ate once. >> Speaker D: Oh, cool. >> Speaker B: Yeah. You once ate a fruit. >> Speaker C: I once ate a fruit. Don't tell my dog. >> Speaker B: How was that? >> Speaker A: What was his name? >> Speaker C: Love it. >> Speaker A: Just wondering. >> Speaker C: Yeah, I hear you. Now, this is pretty tasty. >> Speaker B: What did you think, pop?
>> Speaker D: Uh, parm, do you sell this wine? >> Speaker B: Um, I do. >> Speaker D: Do you sell a lot of it? >> Speaker B: I mean, it sells well, but, um, I tend to sell their higher end stuff more in my store. You'll find this in a lot of grocery stores as well. This is the lower end pinot for me. Um, in our store. Uh, and frankly, for me personally, it's a lower end pinot. It's a little over extracted.
I feel like the fact that it's 100% pinot noir is hard for me to believe with that color and this juiciness. I, uh, mean, I got red sherry clove and bergamo. This is bergamot. >> Speaker D: It's a $10 word. >> Speaker B: Mhm. It's a type of orange. >> Speaker D: He probably doesn't even really know what it is, but it sounds good. >> Speaker B: It's the orange peel they use in Earl gray tea. >> Speaker C: Uh, is it from cocomo?
>> Speaker B: No, not from cocomo. Anyway, um, it reminds me of that Earl gray tea note, right? >> Speaker D: Can you use it in a sentence? >> Speaker B: Bergamot? Yeah, bergamot is the orange peel they use in earl grey tea. There you go. I just used it, but it reminds me of a little bit of Earl grey tea right here. Little cherry, little Earl Grey tea. >> Speaker C: I could see that. Yeah. >> Speaker B: It's just a little too sweet for me. But it's a very popular
style, and you'll find this everywhere. So I prefer a little more. Me personally, I like the cooler, uh, climate, French pinot noirs or, um, Oregon or Washington state stuff where you get more forest floor earthy notes. But this is the more popular style right now. Everybody wants this. Yeah. >> Speaker D: This California style pinot is very hot right now, and I would agree with you. >> Speaker B: Nothing wrong with it. Just not what I like.
>> Speaker D: As much as I hate to agree with you, I agree with you. >> Speaker A: It's what his wife says all the time. >> Speaker D: No, she never agrees with him. Bob, what'd you think of this wine? >> Speaker A: I thought it was well done. I mean, it's not their top wine, obviously. This is their less expensive wine. It's meant to be drunk every day. >> Speaker B: Let me say something about the name. I think it's a good wine. This is called Csun pinot noir,
drinking by the sea. His sister makes one called Mercellet. Also, Chuck. Uh, the Wagner family. Mercelle is sea sun in French. That's the one. That's $10 more. It's that more elevated style. >> Speaker A: Yes, we did it on the last episode that we did wines and cameos, so. >> Speaker B: Yeah. >> Speaker A: Well, it should be $10 more. It's french. >> Speaker B: Yeah. It's California, but it's got the french name. >> Speaker A: Yeah, I know.
>> Speaker B: That's. >> Speaker A: It's french. There you go. Done. I, uh, think it's an excellent wine. I mean, especially for the money. I think it's a good pour. >> Speaker B: Stylistically, Mercelle is a little more elevated. This is the more common every day. >> Speaker D: Is more known for their unoked chardonnay. >> Speaker B: And that make a good pinot. >> Speaker C: When I do my legal work in French, I charge more too, of course.
>> Speaker A: There you go. >> Speaker C: It's classier. >> Speaker A: Well, we're going to be rating the sea sun pinot noir 2021. Well deserved. Three sips. >> Speaker B: Interesting. >> Speaker A: That brings us to our next one. And we're going to have harm tell us about that one, I think, Bob. >> Speaker B: So, red schooner voyage eleven is our next wine. It's 100% Malbec from Argentina. Wait, Argentina? Malbec? But it's made in California. What are you
saying, harm? Well, 14.9% ABV said no one ever. >> Speaker D: No one. >> Speaker B: No one ever. Uh, the grapes from this Malbec are grown in the Andes mountains of Argentina, then chilled and transported by ocean voice to Camus, where the winemakers create a wine in the Camus style, falling outside the standard laboring rules. Red schooner does not include a vintage date and is, uh, known by the voyage that traveled on, I. E. In this case, voyage eleven is the 2021
vintage. So this is the 11th time they've made this wine. It is a beautiful deep purple. And on the nose, I got raspberries, red plums, flowers, and black pepper. And it keeps evolving. And there's something new. There's, like, a cola note coming out. This is gorgeous. >> Speaker D: That was the cherry cola you had with your wendy's hamburger for lunch. >> Speaker B: I had iced tea with my hamburger. >> Speaker C: I get, like, a cola nut.
>> Speaker B: Usually you get cola note, uh, notes with zinfandel and primitiveo wines. But I'm seeing here in this malbec as well. Uh, the palate is concentrated plum with, uh, vanilla and raspberries and sage. And, uh, another herb. I'm not quite sure what it is. And the finish is long, and the tannins here are fine and beautiful. And there's a reason why this is a $50 malbec. It tastes like a more expensive malbec. Actually. This is a value. I
freaking love this wine. And I'm not in love with all camus wines. >> Speaker D: No, but I've been drinking this wine since voyage one. And honestly, they've done a really good job with this wine. It was a little less expensive when it first released, but honestly, uh, yeah, but they've done a really good job with it, and I think it's coming, uh, to its own. It's a lovely wine. I think it's fairly
complex. For those of us who don't drink a lot of malbec, this is a really nice way to get introduced to Malbec. >> Speaker B: This is not french malbec. >> Speaker D: It is not cahor. >> Speaker B: It's not, uh, argentine Malbec. It's distinctly camus. It's a different style, and it's quite good. >> Speaker C: Justin, the one thing I noticed about this wine is it's really intense, and I enjoyed the intensity of this.
Um, I honestly don't know what you would pair it with, but it's probably really good on its own. >> Speaker B: Now, this, I would have this with steak. >> Speaker A: Dude, this is great roasted meat. >> Speaker B: Any roasted lamb? >> Speaker C: Yeah, I would love this with lamb. >> Speaker B: Yeah, lamb chops. Um, any roasted meat. Like he's saying, malbec is versatile. >> Speaker A: Lamb chop. You want that little puppet? You sick?
>> Speaker B: Well, eat cherry and lamb chop. >> Speaker A: You're a terrible person. >> Speaker B: My God, I'm a terrible person. She dead. >> Speaker A: Next, you know, you're going to be eating kermit frog legs. What's wrong with you? Terrible, terrible person. >> Speaker B: Uh, Maury, you were saying? You said you've been drinking this since voyage one. How do you think it's evolved since last ten years?
>> Speaker D: I think it's been consistently good. I think that they've done a nice job of taking, um, the malbec grape and making it available for the american palate. Uh, they've americanized it a little bit. And they've put the camus touch on it and, um, massaged it a little bit for the american palate. But I think they've done a beautiful job. I mean, it's clearly different from all the other camus wines. It stands on its own nicely. Uh, I thoroughly enjoy it.
>> Speaker A: I like it better than a regular malbec, to be honest with you. I mean, I'm not a big malbec guy. >> Speaker B: No. The malbecs I like are one to $200 a exactly. The regular ones just don't hit your $1220 malback. >> Speaker A: They're a little too vegetable, and they just don't do it for me. This is beautiful. >> Speaker B: Yeah. For $50. This is a stunner. >> Speaker D: Yeah. >> Speaker A: I really enjoyed this one. I think they did a great
job. Um, keep doing it. So we're going to be rating the red, uh, schooner voyage. Eleven, uh, well deserved. Four sips. That takes us to our next wine. We're going to have Justin tell us about that one. >> Speaker C: So the wine I'm going to talk about now is conundrum California red blend 2021. It's a, ah, blend of zinfandel, petite serra, and cabernet sauvignon. It's 14.6% alcohol by
volume. Charlie Wagner senior would regularly mix different wines at the dinner table to find the perfect glass to pair with his meal. Blending was not very common in California at the time, so his experimentation was ahead of its time. Fast forward to 1989, when conundrum white was born, followed in 2011 by conundrum red. Today, it's Charlie's grandson, Wagner II, who is charged with making conundrum. So the color on this is a dark red. >> Speaker B: That's purple, dude. That is purple.
>> Speaker C: Okay, we'll go with purple. So there was some chocolate notes on this, and I got, like, barbecue chip powder, um, smoke leather on the palate. >> Speaker B: Barbecue chip powder. >> Speaker C: Barbecue chip powder. After you eat the bag of lay's barbecue chips, and you got the powder. >> Speaker B: At the bottom, you're licking your fingers. >> Speaker C: And you're licking your fingers. >> Speaker B: This is that for you? Yeah.
>> Speaker C: On the palate, dark chocolate, ripe plums. And it's got this really interesting, chalky thing going on. Um, and the finish. >> Speaker D: Didn'T, uh, remember. >> Speaker C: The finish, but there was nothing negative about it. >> Speaker B: Medium short, nothing offensive. >> Speaker C: Yeah, um, I think it was really pretty good, and I liked it a lot. What did you think, Bob? >> Speaker A: I thought it was a well put together wine.
Um, fairly well balanced. Um, little short on the finish. Um, the body is a little bit lighter. Um, I didn't get any of the weird stuff you're looking for. Um, I definitely got, like, some cocoa, chocolate notes on the tip of the nose. Get a little bit of black cherry. I get just the tiniest, maybe hint of smoke. I'm not getting the barbecue thing at all. I know their tasting notes mention barbecue. I grew up in the south. This ain't
barbecue. Um, but on the palate, m it's got a dusty minerality to it, a chalkiness, dry stones, dusty, uh, chalky soil. I get a little bit of the cocoa. I get a little bit of dark red fruit. Um, the finish drops off on this one a little bit too quick. But other than that, solid wine conundrum. >> Speaker B: Used to be called camus conundrum back in the day when they started first making it, and then they spun it. >> Speaker D: Off into the conundrum wine company.
>> Speaker B: That's because he gave it to his ex wife in the divorce. But now their son has taken over, and frankly, the wine has gotten better. When this wine was first around, it was always a sweeter blend, and it was, uh, always, to me, a little, especially the white. >> Speaker D: The white was very sweet. >> Speaker B: Well, the white was always sweet, but even the red was sweet. The red is a newer one, and this is the least sweet conundrum I've had, correct. In years.
So they've been making it drier, a little more food friendly. I think. Before, this was just way too sweet for me. I think they've improved this wine quite a bit. And, uh, I'm surprised. I was not expecting to like this, because it's been a while since I've had it, and usually conundrums are sweet. And when you're in the mood for sweet wine, that's fine. But if you're not, it's hard to approach, because some
people just only drink sweet wine. But for me, I prefer the drier style, because after, uh, one glass of this, I would normally not be able to drink it. But this one's a way better. This year is way better than previous years. >> Speaker A: Agreed. >> Speaker B: Anything else say, bob? >> Speaker A: That's about it. So we are going to be rating the conundrum California red blend 2021. Uh, three sips. >> Speaker B: Interesting.
>> Speaker A: So that takes us to our next wine. Thanks for joining the conversation. >> Speaker B: Uh, this is good old boy hermit. And our next wine is the Camus conundrum. >> Speaker A: They could figure it out. Ready? >> Speaker B: Yeah. The Camus California Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 114 uH .7% ABV Camus California Cabernet sauvignon Don't you mean Napa Valley Harmeet? No, I mean
Camus, California. This is a brand new wine, the inaugural release of the Camus vineyards, uh, expression of California. So, bottled under California appellation, Camus sources the grapes for this release from sites throughout the state, including paso robles Lake, uh, and San Benito and Monterey counties. Now, uh, after speaking to the rep from the company, actually, I literally ordered this wine to sell in my store last week, and it just arrived on, uh, a couple
days ago. Uh, this is a new experiment for them because he wanted to showcase other parts of California besides Napa Valley. And the Camus family is in charge of these grapes. They're not just leasing land or buying grapes. They are actually doing the growing and harvesting and farming. Everything is under the camus, uh, control. So, um, this is something great. The color of this, what's the price. >> Speaker D: Point compared to, say, the Camus cab? Napa cab.
>> Speaker B: Okay, so the napa cab should run you close to, depending whether it's a 750 milliliter or a liter bottle. Well, this will be about half that price. So half the price and Camus. And we're going to be going to a commercial soon, so, um. Stretch. Bob. Stretch. Say something, man. >> Speaker A: He is special. Isn't just. He's just special. >> Speaker B: I don't have time to do a review. >> Speaker A: He sits there and talk, and then you just stop.
>> Speaker B: Yeah, I know. >> Speaker A: Hey, and we're back, and we're going to sit here and pause. >> Speaker B: 8 seconds. >> Speaker A: That 8 seconds still harm figure. Is that what he's going to say next? >> Speaker B: Well, look, we had, like, 30 seconds left. I thought you guys helped fill the space. I couldn't toast our review. >> Speaker A: You could have just kept talking. I'm just saying. >> Speaker B: Nothing left to say, man.
>> Speaker A: How about I start talking now? >> Speaker B: Great. >> Speaker A: People are getting bored. >> Speaker B: Uh, hey, do you have deep purples? Smoke, uh, on the water. >> Speaker A: No. Yes. Minute before we started the show. And I told you no. But you apparently have already forgotten that. >> Speaker B: Every wine here today is a deep purple. >> Speaker C: Smoke on the water. >> Speaker A: There you go.
>> Speaker B: This wine is a beautiful deep purple. Thank you. >> Speaker A: You're welcome. >> Speaker B: Justin. On the nose. Uh, it's cherry cola, sage cassis, a little bit of menthol. Uh, uh, what else? What's going on here? Licorice. Uh, black licorice. >> Speaker A: There's lots of licorice. >> Speaker D: But not overpowering. >> Speaker A: New. I'm not overpowering. >> Speaker B: It's like melted candy. Licorice candy. Um,
cherries on the palate. It's plush, it's velvety, it's not a silky smooth. It's a velvet. You got that texture because the tannins are making it more, um, velvety on your mouth. It's a velvety texture. It's got a beautiful flavor, and it's got a long finish. >> Speaker A: It's velvet by Kenny Murphy. And coming in. What is this material? It's velvet. It's beautiful. >> Speaker B: It's cherry, plum, and cassis, and it's got all that licorice and that velvety tannins. Super integrated.
I'm so happy with this wine because for the first release, this is a great deal. And, uh, you said we were talking about the pricing. Um, I haven't even seen the invoice yet, but I was looking online right now, it'd be about $65.65. That's not half pay. >> Speaker D: About 65. >> Speaker B: That's the suggested retail, according to wine spectator. >> Speaker D: That means you'll be charging more than that.
>> Speaker B: We're usually under that. We're usually under what their suggested retail is. But, um, the kmis, uh, 750, it varies a lot, depending where you buy it. >> Speaker D: 70. >> Speaker B: $75.75 is the cheapest I've seen it lately. Yeah. And for 100, you'll get the one liter bottle. And then sometimes these days, restaurants are running it for retail, which is awesome. You go to the right restaurant, you won't have to pay a penny over retail.
But some restaurants, you're paying double or so. >> Speaker D: Sometimes triple. >> Speaker B: Triple? Yeah. In Miami, especially triple. But, uh, this is a decent wine. >> Speaker D: I think it's more than decent. I think this wine is think, um, you know, you're still paying for the Camus name, but I think it's a delicious wine. It's definitely more, uh, of a value for the price, for what you're getting for the money. It's a little bit less expensive than the regular flagship
Camus napa cab. Uh, it's got all the features of a camus. It tastes like Camus, it smells like camus, it looks like Camus, it's that deep purple. Uh, it's got the camus mouthfeel. Uh, it's camus for a little bit less, and I think it's delicious. I loved it. I thought it was fabulous. I'm happy that they're coming out with something that's a little less expensive for more people to be able to
enjoy camus. I'm happy that they've continued to support some of the charities that we've been near and dear to our hearts. And, uh, thank you to the Wagner family for, uh, continuing to support honor flight and continuing to put out fantastic wines. >> Speaker C: Justin, I think this is a really good wine. Um, just to add on to what you guys have been saying, when I was a kid, I used to eat these atomic
fireballs and they had a really hot phase. And after the hot phase, there was like a cool kind of neutral phase. >> Speaker B: It's called candy. Just the sugar after eating old cinnamon. >> Speaker C: M yeah. So it tastes like that. It's candy, but it's delicious. And it has a dryness quality to it that makes it inviting. >> Speaker B: It's the balance from the tannins. It has some residual sugar, but the tannins balance it out. Yeah.
>> Speaker C: So you could kill the whole bottle. Really enjoy. >> Speaker B: Is this is one that's like, I could keep coming back to. It's not too know. >> Speaker A: Well, it just shows the Wagner family m make great wine. And it doesn't have to come from the same vineyards they've been doing all these years. They can go somewhere else and they can make just as good a wine. >> Speaker B: Which I think the schooner is a great example. >> Speaker A: Exactly.
>> Speaker B: And by the way, there's a new schooner. They're doing, uh, where they're bringing wines from Australia. >> Speaker A: Yeah. >> Speaker B: I haven't tasted. >> Speaker A: I mean, it's not even like, okay, we're running vineyards, we're growing the grapes, we're maintaining the grapes. It's just a different county. It's the other part of the state. And damn it, we can make good wine from there too. They're literally putting
that wine. They're putting those grapes in refrigerated cars and bringing it from 8000 miles away and making great wine so they really know what they're doing. >> Speaker C: Really skilled winemakers. >> Speaker B: Yeah. >> Speaker C: That proves it. >> Speaker A: I think this California Cabernet is fantastic. I think this is a great addition to their wine. And I'm excited to see something this good that's even. I'm happy to pay for the regular Camus. Now
I can get Camus for less money. Yay. I can just drink more. >> Speaker B: Style is just so popular. They've really, uh, made that whole California cab thing go explode. Yeah. So the label, if you're looking for this is, uh, a tan or bronze label. >> Speaker D: Looks very much like the same shape as the regular Camus cab, but it's. >> Speaker B: More gold, metallic, metallic bronze. >> Speaker A: Well, we're going to move on because we're getting
closer to the end of the show. So we're going to be rating the Camus California, uh, Cabernet sauvignon. Four sips. >> Speaker B: That's classified. >> Speaker A: So that's going to take us to our next one, and we're going to have Maury tell us about that one. >> Speaker D: Why, thank you, Bob. Uh, the next expression will be the Camus flagship Napa valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021. It is 14.6 abv. And as per usual, it is a deep, dark purple, inky color
on the nose. It's got that classic Camus nose. There's just lots and lots of deep, dark, luscious fruit. The palate is rich. It's mouth coating. It's full of fresh black fruit. It just coats the palate. It just goes down, and then the finish just goes on and on and on forever. There's notes of cassis, there's leather, there's graphite, there's tobacco, there's oak, there's Tannin, there's backbone. This is everything you want in a Napa cabernet. And then some. It's a perennial
favorite of many of us. Um, yes, there are some detractors that think that the camus is over extracted and overly fruity. That would be me. You'll hear from Harmeet. >> Speaker B: That would be me. >> Speaker D: And there are those of us that find the camus to be a perennial favorite. And, uh, just a magnificent wine. Uh, I have nothing bad to say. I think this wine is fantastic. Uh, it's a beauty. It really is, um, just a slight step up from the
previous expression. Um, and the other expression, I thought for a little bit less money is very close cousin. And, uh, this is really, uh, like I said, no disappointment this year. Justin. >> Speaker C: I think you said it all. >> Speaker D: Maury. >> Speaker C: This is really good wine. Um, I look forward to their release every year. This year was, um, no disappointment. I think the difference between this one and the last few vintages is it's drier
wine. And I don't know what weather influences caused that, but it's fun. What'd you think, Bob? >> Speaker A: I think it's like every game of napa cab I've ever had. It's fantastic. It's extremely well made. The balance is there. It's got a really, just a pretty nose to it. The licorice, there's a little bit of leather in there, a little bit of tobacco. Mhm. And on the palate, it's rich. It's mouth coating, gets your whole tongue. The front, the back, the top decides.
Um, it's got nice structure to it, got a nice backbone, got some good tannin, but it's not overwhelming. Uh, it's a great wine. >> Speaker B: It's too sweet. >> Speaker A: It's a great wine. >> Speaker B: It's too sweet. This is the least sweet camus in the last five years, but it's still too sweet. I'm sorry. I prefer drier red. This is very plush and fruit forward and a punch in the face with that California fruit. If that's your style, that's your style. And it's obviously
a, ah, big part of the market. People. >> Speaker D: There are millions of people. >> Speaker B: People love this wine. I just think it's a little too sweet for me. Again, uh, we were talking in a previous show about not being able to. >> Speaker D: Have more than the glass that comes to mind. Sour grape. >> Speaker B: That's okay. >> Speaker C: I finish your glass. >> Speaker D: There you go.
>> Speaker B: I couldn't have more than one glass of this. You remember that? >> Speaker D: Over. >> Speaker A: Remember that kid in high school who didn't listen to Van Halen and black Sabbath and all the other cool bands and everything? Oh, I've got the english pressing of some band you've never heard of. You don't listen to them, and you suck. >> Speaker D: Yeah, Barry, man.
>> Speaker B: All right, dude. You keep listening to Black Sabbath, I'm listening to Smith. >> Speaker A: Um, that's him. >> Speaker B: That's right. And by the way, rush rules. >> Speaker A: You wish you were cool. >> Speaker B: Rush is better than black Sabbath any day. >> Speaker A: You wish you were cool enough to listen to the smith, please. Probably listen to Manilow. Well, in spite of Mr. >> Speaker B: Happy here. Take my wine. Take it away.
>> Speaker A: We're going to be rating the Camus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021. Five sips. >> Speaker B: Uh oh, my goodness. Under protest. Yes. >> Speaker A: Knucklehead. Anyway. >> Speaker B: Last wine. Bob, you do it. >> Speaker A: Our last wine from Camus is the Camus special select Napa valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 100% Cabernet sauvignon 15.9% abv. >> Speaker D: I'll just take the bottle and be leaving now.
>> Speaker A: It's just so pretty. >> Speaker B: The color is a deep purple. >> Speaker A: So pretty. >> Speaker D: Wish we had that song. >> Speaker A: Uh, we do. So well put together every year. It is always a great wine. This year is no exception. >> Speaker B: This is the way Camus used to be. This special select is the way the original camus should be. This is the wine I was looking for. This is gorgeous.
>> Speaker A: If you're not looking for this wine, get out of my house. >> Speaker B: Okay. This is not too sweet. This is done the way I like it. >> Speaker A: Perfect. >> Speaker B: This is perfect. >> Speaker A: This is about as good a California wine as you're going to find. It is absolutely perfect. >> Speaker B: And there's a reason why it's twice the price of the other one.
>> Speaker A: Yeah, but, ah, again, every year, this is always an excellent wine. Every year. I've never had a bad year of mean. I'm sure they've had some challenging years, but it's never. >> Speaker B: What they release is just mean. >> Speaker A: It's always great. And the Wagner family, again, fantastic people. Um, they have given us so much support, uh, not just with the show, but, uh, with our charity,
honor flight, that we work with. Um, Chuck Wagner has probably donated easily $100,000 worth of wine over the years to some of the honor flight dinners we've done around the country to raise money to send our World War II Korean Vietnam veterans to DC to see the memorials. I mean, just a really great family, and I can't thank them enough for all they've done. Doesn't affect my review. The wine's just great, but really solid people, and
I can't thank them enough for all the help they've given. What do you think, Justin? >> Speaker C: I think this wine is an exercise in. >> Speaker D: Mean, like a gymnast balance. Like a balance? >> Speaker C: Like a balance beam. Know, on the tippy toes. But the ballerina makes it look effortless, and so did chuck with this wine. Wow. >> Speaker B: This is not a ballerina. No, this is a male gymnast. On, um. The pommel horse. Yeah, on the pommel horse. This is power.
>> Speaker C: What about a they? >> Speaker B: It could be a they. >> Speaker C: Could be a they. >> Speaker A: This is eastern european steroid. >> Speaker D: This is a guy in the rings. >> Speaker A: Definitely roided out. So that was a wonderful beam routine you did there, Brune Hilda. >> Speaker D: Thank you very much. No, I would agree with harm. This is not a ballerina. This is the masculine. >> Speaker B: This is the masculine powerhouse.
>> Speaker C: If you don't do it perfectly, you're going to the gulag for seven years, but you're going to perform flawlessly because you don't want to go to the gulag. >> Speaker B: Did you see how the, uh, american physics team beat the chinese physics team for the first time? >> Speaker D: No, it's great. >> Speaker B: They're all Chinese Americans. >> Speaker D: Really?
>> Speaker A: Well, trust me, there's no rednecks on there, so I can tell you that with absolute certainty. >> Speaker D: Are there any Florida crackers on the team? >> Speaker B: There are no Florida. >> Speaker A: Same thing. >> Speaker B: But this is, uh, an athlete of a wine right here. This is a big powerhouse. >> Speaker D: Were there any goens on the team? >> Speaker B: Goens only do the spelling. Oh. >> Speaker A: Uh, what happened to you?
>> Speaker B: I'm from Punjab. Yeah, I sell them the whiskey. >> Speaker D: Were there any Punjabians on the team? >> Speaker B: Punjabis? On what team? >> Speaker C: On a chinese American. >> Speaker B: On the physics team. Physics team? No, we do engineering. >> Speaker D: Engineering and physics are closely related. >> Speaker B: Engineering is the practical part. The physics is the theoretical part. Supposedly, the physics is the more pure.
You can't do anything without engineers, though. Okay, there's a tangent, kids. >> Speaker C: Yeah. >> Speaker A: There's some math homework we couldn't have possibly lived without, so. Good lord. But, yeah, this one's just the pommel horse. So good. So incredibly good every year. >> Speaker B: All right, so go back and taste the regular chemist. Now. You've had the special select. You have wine left in your glass. Go back and taste it. >> Speaker A: Of course.
>> Speaker C: Yeah, not me. I drank it all. >> Speaker B: It's freaking sugar water, dude. >> Speaker D: Sweeter than the special, I'll give you that. But it was not sugar water. >> Speaker B: No, it's way better than last year. >> Speaker A: Uh, you know, it's. The one who seems to be so concerned about it is also the diabetic. >> Speaker D: Diabetic? >> Speaker B: Yeah. >> Speaker A: You ever think maybe that's your problem, you miserable.
>> Speaker B: Uh. That's why I don't like the sugary wines. No, actually, diabetics crave sugar. Well, guess our bodies don't metabolize it properly. >> Speaker A: Well, guess what? We've been adding sugar to your wine for the last six months because we're sick of you and we're trying to get rid of you. I told you guys we had to put more in. That's not enough. Two teaspoons of glass isn't nearly enough. Oh, God. Maybe we should switch. What's the other one? Not sugar. What do
they call it? The other one, the substitute we were going to use. Um, starts with an s. Uh, sucralose. >> Speaker B: Sucralose. >> Speaker A: No, strict nine. >> Speaker B: Stevie strick nine. Strick nine. >> Speaker C: Oh, that sweetener. >> Speaker A: That's the one. Yeah, that's the one. >> Speaker B: And done. >> Speaker C: Sweetener. >> Speaker A: We were going to try that one on him.
>> Speaker B: You know, lead also sweetens wine. That's what the Romans used to put in their wine. >> Speaker A: See how it worked out for them. A lot. >> Speaker C: Yeah. >> Speaker B: Comes with the brain damage. It's good. >> Speaker C: Yeah. >> Speaker A: So, Alabama. >> Speaker B: Alabama. >> Speaker A: Okay, awesome. >> Speaker B: Or Michigan. Michigan. Yeah. >> Speaker A: Flint. >> Speaker C: Little lead with the water.
>> Speaker D: Yeah. >> Speaker A: Little water with a lead. >> Speaker B: There's a new initiative to remove all the lead pipes in America. >> Speaker D: Let's rate it. >> Speaker A: All right, well, we're going to be rating the camish special selection, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, um, 2019. A well deserved. >> Speaker B: Oh, my goodness. Surprise, surprise. >> Speaker A: All right, well, go around the room and
thank everybody for coming. Thank you, Justin. >> Speaker C: Thank you so much. >> Speaker B: Wow. >> Speaker C: Great day drinking the basement. >> Speaker A: It's always a good day drinking. Thank you, Maury. >> Speaker D: Thank you, Bob. Another fantastic day in the damp, dark basement. Even if I had to put up with harm, was worth it today to drink these fine wines. >> Speaker A: I don't think it's worth it.
>> Speaker B: All I need is my insulin pen and we're good. Thanks for having me, Bob. >> Speaker A: It's a good thing I hit it. I have bad news. Justin's is over here coloring with it, so you're in trouble. In the lines, Justin. In the lines. >> Speaker C: I never color in the lines. >> Speaker A: This is made, man. Bob, thank you for joining us. And remember, life is too short to drink bad wine. Unfortunately, that's not something we had to do today.
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