Stop Wasting Your Wine

This week, we explore two sides of white Burgundy through two very different expressions of Chardonnay from Louis Jadot.

First, we taste the bright and unoaked 2024 Mâcon-Villages. Then we move to the warmer and fuller 2024 Pouilly-Fuissé, aged for six months in French oak. Tasting them side by side gives us a clear look at how oak, place, and appellation shape what ends up in the glass.

We also explore why the Mâconnais offers some of Burgundy’s best value, debate which style we prefer, and close with a Chardonnay edition of Grape Guesses.

Two wines. One grape. Two completely different sides of white Burgundy.
Wines Reviewed
2024 Louis Jadot Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay
Region: Mâconnais, Burgundy, France
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Style: Unoaked
ABV: 12.5%
Price: Approximately $16
2024 Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuissé
Region: Pouilly-Fuissé, Mâconnais, Burgundy, France
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Style: Aged six months in French oak
ABV: 13.5%
Price: Approximately $30

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Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:39 Meet the Two Louis Jadot Chardonnays
05:59 First Sips
07:13 Tasting the Unoaked Mâcon-Villages
12:02 Tasting the Oaked Pouilly-Fuissé
18:29 What Does Oak Actually Change?
21:52 Is the Mâconnais Burgundy’s Value Region?
25:05 Mâcon-Villages vs. Pouilly-Fuissé
27:03 Rating the Two Wines
34:04 Our Final Verdict on Louis Jadot
36:10 Grape Guesses: Chardonnay Edition
42:52 The Judgment of Paris Tiebreaker
46:10 Outro

The Mondavi name remains one of the most recognizable names in American wine. But the Mondavi family hasn’t been involved with Robert Mondavi Winery since 2004.

This week, we sit down with Robert Mondavi’s grandson, Brian Mondavi Borger, to hear what happened and how his family rebuilt after losing the winery that helped put Napa Valley on the world stage.

Brian shares what it was like growing up inside an iconic wine family, the lessons his grandfather passed down, and why wine should bring people together instead of making them feel intimidated.

We also explore the creation of Continuum Estate, the rugged mountainside vineyard on Pritchard Hill, and Tim Mondavi’s 50 years of winemaking.
Then we taste Novicium, a limited-production, estate-grown Cabernet blend priced around $200. Can an expensive Napa wine deliver enough quality to justify the price?

Wine Details
Wine: Novicium
Producer: Continuum Estate
Region: Napa Valley
Varietals: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot
Alcohol: 14.9% ABV
Price: Approximately $200

Learn More About Continuum
Website: https://www.continuumestate.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/continuumestate

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Chapters
00:00 The Mondavi Name Isn’t What You Think
02:36 Meet Brian Mondavi Borger
14:23 Making Wine Less Intimidating
18:44 What Happened to Robert Mondavi Winery?
24:02 Building Continuum Estate
38:30 Introducing Novicium
42:25 Tasting a $200 Napa Cabernet
55:26 The Final Ratings
1:02:53 Aging and Collecting Novicium
1:04:39 Pick Your Poison
1:08:02 Outro

Last week, Louis Jadot's Beaujolais Village surprised all of us with incredible value. This week, we're raising the stakes with one of the world's most recognizable wines: Burgundy Pinot Noir.

Can a $20 bottle from one of Burgundy's most respected producers actually deliver the classic Pinot Noir experience, or is great Burgundy only reserved for collectors spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars?

Along the way, we explore why Burgundy is one of the world's most celebrated wine regions, what makes Pinot Noir such a difficult grape to grow, and why producer matters just as much as region when you're shopping for wine.

Plus, we wrap things up with another round of Grape Guesses featuring surprising Burgundy trivia that puts the region's history and reputation into perspective.

If you've been looking for an affordable Pinot Noir or have always wondered what all the hype around Burgundy is about, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Wine Details
Wine: Louis Jadot Pinot Noir
Producer: Louis Jadot
Region: Burgundy, France
Vintage: 2022
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
ABV: 12.9%
Price: Around $20
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00:00 Can Louis Jadot Go Two for Two?
02:22 Wine Details and First Impressions
05:15 First Sip Reactions
06:55 Aroma Breakdown
10:35 Tasting Notes and Structure
15:15 Learning Segment: Why Is Burgundy So Expensive?
22:00 Final Ratings
31:55 Grape Guesses: Burgundy Edition
40:05 Outro

For years, we've heard that French wine offers some of the best value in the world. This week, we finally put that idea to the test with one of Burgundy's most recognizable names: Louis Jadot.

We're kicking off our three-week Louis Jadot series with their Beaujolais Villages, a $14 Gamay that's available almost everywhere.

Along the way, we break down why Old World wine labels don't have to be intimidating, how learning a few famous wine regions can make buying wine much easier, and why great French wine doesn't have to come with a high price tag.

Wine: Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages
Producer: Louis Jadot
Vintage: 2024
Region: Beaujolais Villages, Burgundy, France
Grape: 100% Gamay
ABV: 12.5%
Price: About $14 USD
Most importantly, we ask a simple question:
Can a $14 grocery store wine actually be good enough to become your everyday bottle?

If you've ever walked past French wine because the labels felt intimidating, or you're looking for an affordable bottle that overdelivers, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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Chapters
00:00 Welcome to France! Our Louis Jadot Series Begins
02:43 Meet the $14 Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages
04:10 First Sips: Light, Airy & Surprisingly Fun
08:00 Why This Wine Works So Well
13:20 Does This Taste Better After It Opens Up?
20:30 Old World Labels Made Simple
25:30 Is This the King of Grocery Store Wines?
27:50 Final Ratings: Solid Pour or Casual Sipper?
31:40 Grape Guesses: How Well Do You Know Beaujolais?
35:15 Outro

This week we're joined by Ryan Julio and Shane Mason from Del Rey Wine Center to answer one of the biggest questions in wine: does proper storage really matter?

We talk about what actually happens to a bottle as it ages, the biggest storage mistakes people make, and how heat, light, and temperature swings can quietly ruin a great wine. Along the way, Ryan explains why some inexpensive wines are worth buying by the case, why Riesling is one of the world's greatest aging wines, and how patience can completely transform what's in your glass.

To put those ideas to the test, we finish the episode with a Keller Riesling from Germany, a wine that reminds us why some bottles really are worth the wait.

If you've ever wondered whether you need a wine fridge, how long you should hold onto a bottle, or whether aging wine is only for collectors, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Check out the Del Rey Wine Center
Website:
https://www.usstoragecenters.com/storage-options/wine-storage/del-rey-wine-center
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delreywinecenter

Support the show and help keep the wine flowing!
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Chapters

00:00 Why Wine Storage Matters
02:08 Meet the Team from Del Rey Wine Center
04:50 How Del Rey Wine Center Was Built
07:45 The Biggest Wine Storage Mistakes
13:00 Heat, Light & Why Your Kitchen Is a Terrible Place for Wine
18:00 Does Storing Wine on Its Side Still Matter?
20:30 When Is It Time to Buy a Wine Fridge or Storage Locker?
25:15 How Temperature Really Affects Aging
29:15 How Much Does Professional Wine Storage Cost?
34:00 Why Ryan Chose Keller Riesling
39:40 The Best Affordable Wines to Age
45:00 Keller Riesling Review
50:35 Final Ratings