Ronald: wow...I am floored and so humbled by your comments. I talk from my personal experience and my takes on wines are not based on anyone else's view but after reading everyone's else views and trying to answer questions about the wines where I cannot find anyone who has actually looked into the topic. I just think people get too focused on what a wine tastes like and what it smells like instead of stepping back and get a more global view of what this all means in the whole scheme of things. That is important for professionals in the industry as that is their job. But for consumers, we drink for pleasure. For me a big part of a purchasing a wine is the bottle, the history and neat facts about the winery. I think wine ratings and listening to the experts is important when you first get into wines but once you have a bit of expertise and a good base, you have to develop your own opinions about regions and wines (which other may or may not agree with). But I find it fascinating when others have opinions that differ from mine because they may have facts or experiences that I may not have considered. If you like this video, I think you will really like my next series of videos where I go through my thoughts on the 1855 classification system and each of the wines. I have been fortunate to drink almost all of them (I think I am missing 5) and many of them on multiple occasions. I have never heard, drank or seen a bottle of Liber Pater. I hang out with the auction crowd and have never seen it mentioned at auction. So you are pretty lucky to get it and I would be interested in what you think when you drink it. The only comparison I can make is that some Bordeaux houses have "insider" blends that are fairly experimental. Some of them mirror what was done in the 17th century when Bordeaux and Rhone wineries would blend some of the finest plots. I was fortunate to drink the wine Leoville Las Cases made before they commercially marketed it. They asked me what I thought and I said that even though I thought it was a good wine, it would be a tough sell since you have to win over so many people to such a novel idea. I think Liber Pater will have the same issue and given its price point and limited supply, it will be difficult to win over people. But would be interested in hearing what you think when you drink it, what wine it tastes like and whether it is worth the price...isn't it insanely priced?

Santiago: I probably said it in a weird way but I know that subscriber was just being honest and not being mean or making unnecessary comments. That is what I love about my subscribers...they are very knowledgeable about wine and if they disagree with me or I have made an error, they are always polite and gentle. Cheers and watch out for my upcoming videos on the Argentino. I think I am developing a bit of an Argentina following! Cheers!

Thanks Brendan for your support and comments. I am totally on the consumer side. When you are in the wine industry, you are selling a product or service. On the consumer side, we are buying the product or service so it is totally different perspective. I am looking for factors that will tilt the value quality ratio in favor of the consumer. Previously I was just sharing this with my high net worth clients and friends but I am trying to give everyone, even beginner wine drinkers, some insight as to how large consumer buyers think and what factors they look at. Some things I mention may not even make sense but I see it play out practically in the marketplace. Also useful for people in the industry to know how consumers not in the industry think and how they evaluate wines. Cheers!

K Jackson: thank you for viewing my video and your kind comment. Please like and keep watching! Cheers!

Thanks Sunushka for visitng my channel and your kind comments. I will keep doing these videos as long as there is interest (which there seems to be). I have some great videos planned so stay tuned. Please continue to like, subcribe and tell your friends about my channel. Love comments and questions on wine. Cheers!

Hey Kevin: thanks so much for your continued support and your kind comments. I am hoping I am developing a following of people who get that I am not trying to be polished or slick. I just love wine and want to share with everyone what I have learned, drinking hundreds of thousands of dollars of wine (a lot through the generosity of friends and clients). Cheers and keep the comments/questions coming!

Chris G: thanks for your support and glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers!

Teri: thanks for your support and kind comments. Wow, others have said I can't get to the point so I am happy you found it concise as I do admint I sometimes wander off in my thoughts! Anyways, hope you will find my analogies fun in my upcoming videos in this series. Please like, subscribe and tell your friends about this channel. I really enjoy comments and questions from my viewers. Cheers!

D R: thank you for viewing my video and your kind comment. Please see my other videos in my Bordeaux Wine Basics series. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

grigorhaig: thank you for your continued support. I am glad you enjoyed the video. Keep watching! Cheers!

breathewithme: thanks for the continued support. Bordeaux continues to evolve due to global warming. Parker retired so now there is a bit of a void as to who is the top critic, which makes it fun. I find in general that Bordeaux wines today are much more vibrant and fresher. They don't take as long to get into their drinking window and even the "off" vintages are not really that dilute anymore with innovation. Having said that, stylistically Bordeaux wines don't want to be high alcohol and fruit forward even if they can make them that way. They have their fans and I think Napa and Bordeaux have learned that if they both stay in their lanes, they will each be better off and won't have an overlap for competing markets.

Docbyday: thank you for viewing my video and your comment. Please also see my videos of the 2005 Opus One. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

D R: thank you for viewing my video and your kind comment. Please also see my other videos in the Bordeaux Wine Basics series. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

yourfilm1000: thanks so much for continuing to support my channel and your kind comment. Please continue to like and watch my videos. Cheers!

SC 34: thanks for your continued support. Next milestone is 500 subscribers and I have chosen the wines that I will let viewers choose from...it will be a hard choice! I will debut that video when I hit around 450 subscibers. Also, watch for my video out later this week or this weekend...if you are a Bordeaux fan, you will enjoy that video. Cheers!

Jeff: thanks so much for viewing my video and your kind comment. Please keep watching! Cheers!

Lisa: thank you so much for viewing my video and your comment. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

William: thank you for viewing my channel and your kind comment. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

joeysu 75: Thank you for viewing my video and your question. Napa is very different than Bordeaux but if you are talking about what Napa I think is on the same quality/prestige level as first growths, I would say Screaming Eagle and Ghost Horse pops to mind, then perhaps Harlan and SQN (but it isn't Cab based and not really Napa). There are other Napa wines but I don't have enough drinking experience with them to comment. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

Wotjek: I am not a farmer but I think it has to do with the type of soils (some soils absorb moisture better and also age of vines...older the vines, deeper their roots which can access water at deeper levels. Cheers!

Minka: thank you for watching my video and your kind comment. Cheers!

@@TrophyWineHunter where does a super Tuscan fit within this compare and contrast framework?

Ps I thought this was your best apart from your Bordeaux basics 1855. The burgundy basics is interesting as well but Burgundy is complicated and expensive or at least seems that way to me

@@minka8047 ah, have to do another video on that but basically, I believe (unproven scientifically) that the terroir of the Tuscany makes their wine a bit more acidic that Bordeaux wines, even if the same grape varietals are used. Also, Super Tuscans are typically a bit more herbaceous that Bordeaux wines, in my opinion. Cheers!

@@minka8047 Thanks so much! I feel a bit more comfortable speaking about Bordeaux. Burgundy is a bit out of my comfort zone but I hope viewers will learn with me. Cheers!

Cory: someday! It is actually an intriguing idea. I wasn't showing these wines on purpose...I just pulled out 2 bottles from my cellar to make the video. If I had to guess, I think the 2016 would fair a bit better...it is a great wine but on the young side. I had 6 bottles last year when it first came. Couldn't get enough of it as it was delicious so I decided to save a few bottles for aging. 2004 is considered an off vintage and much of the upward trend on Mouton has come in the last 5-8 years. They are making some out of the world wines these days but I would say their early/mid 2000 wines were exceptional but not as good as modern Mouton (in my opinion). I would like viewership to grow before I start drinking a lot of Trophy Wines. I want viewers to grow with me by starting to drink fairly affordable wines and slowly progress our way up. So you will see a gradual upswing in the price/quality of wines I review. I don't want to completely abandon value wines but you will see them less frequently then when I first started my channel. Trying to do mostly mid level wines at this point with a few stars and some value wines once in awhile. Cheers!

Robert: pretty good question and perhaps others with more knowledge than me can chime in. Bordeaux blend to me is a combo of Cab Sauv, Merlot, Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc. I think to be AOC Bordeaux you can only use the above 4 + Malbec and Carmenere but you don't have to use all grape varietals. I don't think they are excluded from using Malbec or Carmenere but not many have done it so far. For other countries with regions like Chianti or Napa Cab, there are specific rules as to what grape varietals and the minimum percentage you can use in order to qualify for the AOC. Cheers!

@@TrophyWineHunter Will have to do some research and be in touch!!

@@robertmeyer1552 cheers!

Renato: thank you for viewing my video and your comment. You are correct...learned something new as I always thought Bordeaux was Mediterranean climate. Please view my other videos in this series. Cheers!

Hi Myles: thanks for your continued support and comments. I understand what you are saying. When I started this channel, I was reviewing affordable wines. But my most viewed videos are the higher end wines (which is what I do drink). So I keep doing these videos as it seems there is an audience who is interested in Bordeaux. I hold this bottle for effect..I could held a 5th growth wine under $50 but it doesn't have the same appeal. As I build my audience, I will share that this is a product of years of drinking, starting with under $10. But through the series, I hope to show Bordeaux is really not that intimidating. I flash a bottle or two or some big words and people get put off or intimidated. That is what high end drinkers want...they want it all for themselves. So stick with me and I will going to try to break down Bordeaux so it is not intimidating. There are some relative values but you just have to get the right mindset first and understand how the region works. After I finish my series, I think most people will start the realize that is really like any other region and you really can drink quite well without spending a tonne of money. So if I do my job right, this will not be videos for the top 1% but for everyone. Will take a few more videos to explain it. As an example, I check my cost base for the bottle I was showing...CDN$699. Good deal? How would I know this if I didn't understand something about the 1855 Classification. More importantly, why is it a good deal? I am going to try to explain (or semi justify) the pricing. Keep watching and keep the comments coming. I love that my subscribers are knowledgeable....it keeps me in check and makes me put more time into the videos to ensure I am giving out solid, justifiable opinions. Cheers!

Daniel: Yes you are correct. One of the reasons why some Growth wines are so expensive is their longevity. So with value Bordeaux they taste great now but fade after 5-8 years and really on the decline after 10 years. Even in spectacular vintages. With some Growth wines, they don't even start their ascent towards plateau until 10+ years. Cheers!

Sanjay: nice to hear from you. Wow....2017 Dominus drinking well already? How long did you decant? Cheers!

@@TrophyWineHunter 3 hrs. I have some 2010 and 1984 vintages… if you ever come to Austin area I will invite you at house and we can do side by side testing at my lake house

@@sanjaypatelmd4669 wow....sounds great! Eventually, if my channel gets bigger, I do plan to meet with long time subscribers although I am not sure what would bring me to Austin, although I hear it is a great place for real estate investments. Cheers!

@@TrophyWineHunter yes it is!

@@TrophyWineHunter I am 53 and semi retired! If you ever have any event please let me know I will come and meet you… it will be an honor!

Sanjay: funny that Caymus is such a controversial wine and evokes so much emotion! So what I am going to do is look back at all the Cabs I have had lately (including Caymus) and put them in perspective. I think this is really useful thing to do with any type of wine you drink a lot of within a short period of time. Cheers!

@@TrophyWineHunter i really loved your video. I am not against Caymus but they made good wine before 2007. I am unimpressed with there current vintages. Your presentation on Bordeaux is very educational! loved it!

@@sanjaypatelmd4669 You are correct that Caymus made a style change somewhere between 2010-2012 I think so old Caymus is different stylistically. But this was by choice. I think people don't appreciate the talent of winemakers. They can make their wines taste all types of ways but ultimately, they decide on the best representation of the wine. I like the Wagner story and not sure why so many people dislike them. I also like the fact that, like it or not, their wine is pretty distinctive. For a person who doesn't drink a lot of Napa, I liked that it was approachable early and not difficult to understand. Have more to say in my video. Cheers!

anthony: huh...that is an interesting point. So by that standard, perhaps Oregon should consider growing some Merlot? Cheers!

@@TrophyWineHunter Of course latitude isn't the only factor, but it is interesting that Pinot Noir succeeds so well and Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, not so much. Cabernet Sauvignon does better, just a little further north, strangely enough, in the Columbia Valley? Why? Because the Columbia Valley is hotter and drier than the Willamette Valley in the Summer-it's in the rain shadow of the Cascade Range (in the way that Mendoza is in the rain shadow of the Andes), whereas the Willamette Valley has more of a Mediterranean and Maritime climate. Mendoza is roughly the latitude of San Diego, but of course the elevation is greater. I lived in the Cuyo region of Argentina, though in San Juan, the province just north of Argentina. Huge wine production in San Juan as well. More focus on white and sweet grapes in San Juan historically, but I've tased some fine Cabernet Sauvignon from there as well.

@@anthonyodonnell6105 what I have found, after drinking with the winemakers of Les Carmes & Faiveley, is that we as consumer no very little about the winemaking process. So I think the winemakers just put up with us and wine experts as if there were a formula, everyone would be able to make a Petrus or Screaming Eagle. There are hundreds of steps in the production of grapes, how they are picked, how they are fermented that we could not possible understand unless you had a degree in Agriculture + 100 years experience with the vineyard. So all the knowledge that we think we have.. it is really to make us feel more knowledgeable. It goes down to taste...you can get a bit of insight but as to what makes one wine better than another, I just trust my tastebuds. Cheers!

@@TrophyWineHunter was this intended as a response to a different comment? I was just pointing out the very basic factors of geography (latitude, climate) as they pertain to a given grape. In the local market here in the Portland area, one can see that the winemakers have made their choices as to the grape. The Willamette Valley is famous for Pinot Noir and produces a lot of Pinot Gris and even some nice Chardonnay. The local big reds (are produced mainly in the Columbia Gorge, Columbia Valley/Walla Walla). Had a lovely Syrah last week called Sequel, by Long Shadows. They also make some nice Bordeaux blends (Feather, Pirouette) and a particular favorite of mine is Saggi, which is a blend, but with Sangiovese as the main grape. Lots of big red producers in Washington.

@@anthonyodonnell6105 no, sorry went off on a bit of a tangent. The only point I was making is that I don't have an explanation for the differences and sometimes we, as consumers, tend to overthink things. Cheers!

M.P. : thanks for your support. I know that subscriber was just being honest which I did appreciate. I am pretty unplanned with my videos..I do one take and whatever comes out of my mouth is what is seen. I probably say things the wrong way sometimes but I hope my viewers start to get what I mean as I do make lot of errors tripping over words. I can be pretty pretentious sometimes and I can out winesnob with the best of them but I never mean to put anyone down because of what they like to drink or their wine knowledge so if I did to that, it was wrong. I actually don't mind be called out by viewers or being corrected when it is warranted....that is the only way you learn in life. Cheers!

Synosik: thank you for viewing my video and your comment. I am not enough of an expert on oak to comment on this but I don't think US wineries exclusively use US oak. Perhaps that was the case many years ago but I believe that many US wineries use a blend of oak or French oak. I think it is less common for the French to use US oak but again, I think you can find wineries using a blend of oak. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

Jimiyo: thanks for supporting the channel. Please like, subscribe and keep watching. Cheers!

Number one: no, I just used the Mouton as an example of a Bordeaux wine. The "basics" refers to basic wine knowledge: Bordeaux vs Napa, not the wine. I am not that crazy! Please like and keep watching! Cheers!

@@TrophyWineHunter sure, thx for the video. wondering when my bottle of margaux 2017 will mature,haha

@@numberonenagahama1625 might be awhile although if you see my reviews of other 2017 on this channel, the vintage might drink young (see my review of 2017 Langoa Barton & Brane Cantenac). You could probably start drinking in 2025 on the early side although it should be good for decades. Cheers!

@@TrophyWineHunter thx bro

Eadric: thanks for viewing my channel and your comments. Please see my review of Caymus and Caymus Special Selection. I think they are making pretty good wines these days. Although I am not a Napa expert, there are a number of great Napa wines that give me as much pleasure as First Growth Bordeauxs. Very different but great. I agree Harlan is up there. So is Ghost Horse, Screaming Eagle but some of the older wineries are making revivals and getting back to Bordeaux styled wines. Wineries like Brand also make incredible wines for the price. Keep watching and as I get more subscribers, I will try to taste some of these top level Napas. Cheers!

Daniel: thanks for your comments and support. I know this but I don't think his comment was uncalled for. After reviewing my video, because of the way I talk, it could be construed that I was saying all non Growth wines in Bordeaux is not worth drinking. But what I wanted to say is that if you are interested in learning about high end Bordeaux wines, don't start by drinking the lesser regions in Bordeaux....there is no value in doing this if you actually want to learn about Bordeaux. If you are just interested in good value wines (and not interested in learning that much about Bordeaux), you can do this but you can't understand Bordeaux without understanding the basics I am sharing in these videos. Please like and subscribe to my videos and let your friends know about my channel. Cheers!

@@TrophyWineHunter I’ve told many people who are serious about educating themselves about wine, they absolutely need to not only start with classified Bordeaux, they need to have examples from every area with at least 30 years of bottle age. Not until a significant amount of fruit and tannin has been integrated will you start to really taste and smell the clear difference between Pauillac, St. Julien, St Estephe, Graves, Margaux, etc. the most dramatic difference are found in the wines of Pessac, within Graves, Haut Brion, La Mission, Pape Clement all reveal an unmistakable note of burnt forest floor. It’s truly remarkable. To get a true education, people should plan on spending somewhere around $10,000 US. Yes, that’s a lot of money, but an absolute bargain compared to one year at university, and it’s an education you can happily bring with you all throughout your life.

@@danielhicks1682 Daniel: I think you have summarized what I am trying to get it very succinctly. I do believe you are correct but not a popular view as that would mean wine is not within reach of everyone and I think everyone wants to hear you can actually understand wine without spending a lot of time and effort. It is unfortunate that with wine prices escalating it is harder for people (even wine professionals) to get enough drinking experience to get a good basis for understanding Bordeaux. So I am trying to at least give people a basic outline so you don't have to spend the $$$$ that I have spent drinking these wines. Bordeaux and Burgundy are especially bad in terms of accessiblity and I am trying to say this in a way that doesn't come off as pretentious. I think once you have a good outline of Bordeaux, it is fine to drink non growth wines and minor regions in Bordeaux. But without understand the growth wines, Pomerol and St. Emilion, I find many people get lost about why so many people drink and collect Bordeaux. It is like trying to understand basketball without watching a NBA game. You have to see it at the top level and then you appreciate how hard it is for the first growth wines to be able to consistently for 150 years, through world wars and all types of climate change, to be able to produce exceptional wines year in and year out. In addition I think people lose sight that it is not just the wine. when you drink this type of wine, you meet some very, very interesting people with a lot of knowledge, you learn a lot about culture and history and you learn to appreciate that some things take time. Whenever I drink an older wine, I try to imagine what was happening at that time and how the people who produced with wine would feel or what to tell me if they thought I would be drinking this well after they have passed away. Cheers!