Got Somme : Master Sommelier's Wine Podcast

This starts as a structured blind tasting and slowly turns into a geography exam with wine in the middle.
The wine shows clean fruit, floral lift, and chalky minerality. No oak. Medium-plus acidity. Everyone immediately starts narrowing the field like they’re 90% confident.
Then the guesses begin:
Pinot Grigio feels right.
Grüner Veltliner is in the conversation.
Verdejo gets a mention.
Chablis gets a respectful exclusion.

Every option feels correct… until it doesn’t.

Eventually, after a few detours through Italy, Spain and Austria, the wine lands exactly where it probably should have all along: Gavi from Italy.

Sponsor: RIEDEL
https://www.riedel.com/en-au/
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Key Themes- Blind tasting confidence vs reality
- How structured tasting still turns into educated guessing
- Old World white wine confusion (in a fun way)
- The moment logic meets ego in a glass of wine

Even experienced tasters don’t “know” straight away.
They eliminate, argue, reassess, and slowly corner the wine until it gives up its identity.
Or in this case: until it quietly reveals itself as Gavi.

Why do some wines cost double or triple the price of others, even when they come from the same winery?
In this episode of Got Somme, we explore the difference between estate wines and single vineyard wines using two Pinot Noirs from Paringa Estate in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
Together with Master Sommelier Carlos Santos, we break down the real factors behind wine pricing including terroir, vine age, production size, scarcity and winemaking techniques.
We reveal why some bottles command a much higher price and whether the difference is actually worth it in the glass.

Sponsor: RIEDELhttps://www.riedel.com/en-au/shop#sor... (Australians use code: GOTSOMME New Zealand: GOTSOMMENZ at check out for 20% off)

Along the way we explore:
• What the term estate wine actually means• How single vineyard wines highlight terroir• Why older vines produce more concentrated grapes• The role of oak, ageing and production scale• Why wineries release estate wines earlier• Whether expensive wine truly tastes better

We also compare two bottles side-by-side to see if the $150 single vineyard Pinot Noir really delivers a dramatically different experience from the $60 estate wine.

If you've ever wondered whether price equals quality in wine, this episode will change how you shop for wine forever.
• Estate wine vs single vineyard wine• Pinot Noir from Mornington Peninsula• How terroir influences wine flavour• Why older vines produce better wine• Wine pricing and scarcity explained• Oak ageing and winemaking techniques• How to judge whether an expensive wine is worth it

00:00 – $60 vs $150 Pinot Noir comparison00:28 – What “estate wine” actually means01:18 – Where estate wine grapes can come from03:06 – Why wineries produce estate wines04:47 – Scarcity and wine pricing explained05:50 – Why wineries release estate wines earlier07:58 – Tasting the $60 Pinot Noir09:34 – The $150 single vineyard wine10:13 – Vine age and concentration13:40 – Why great fruit matters in winemaking16:07 – Oak influence in wine17:38 – Is the $150 wine actually worth it?18:27 – The final verdict

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What happens when you hand a sommelier a mystery glass and ask them to identify a world-class red wine — completely blind?
In this episode of Got Somme, we put the palate to the ultimate test with a stunning Rioja Gran Reserva 2016 that left us speechless (and one of us with actual goosebumps).
We got ours here: https://www.platinumfinewine.com.au/product/bodegas-lan-gran-reserva/

From deep ruby colour to lingering pencil-shaving tannins, this wine delivered layer after layer of complexity — black currant, black plum, truffle, leather, clove, nutmeg, star anise, and what our co-host could only describe as fresh pasta flour. The nose alone was worth the price of admission.

Was it Bordeaux? Was it Rioja? Tune in as we break down every clue, make the call, and reveal just how well a 10-year-old wine can hide its age.

Rioja Gran Reserva 2016
Region: Rioja, Spain
Variety: Tempranillo
Aging: Gran Reserva (60 months total — 24 months in oak, 24 months in bottle minimum)
Oak: French oak (modern style — not traditional American oak)

00:00 – The blind tasting begins — what's in the glass?
00:05 – Colour analysis: deep ruby, brick rim, high viscosity
00:30 – Aromas: black fruit, truffle, mushroom, leather, pencil shavings
01:04 – Oak influence: baking spices, cloves, nutmeg, star anise
01:57 – Palate: grippy tannins, medium-plus body, dry finish
03:00 – The debate: Bordeaux or Rioja?
04:46 – Making the call — Rioja Reserva 2020 (spoiler: wrong on both counts!)
05:06 – The reveal: Rioja Gran Reserva 2016
06:24 – Why this wine doesn't show its age
06:39 – Reserva vs Gran Reserva: what's the actual difference?
07:40 – Food pairing: rump steak, chips, and fresh bread

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Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe on YouTube — this extended tasting content is YouTube-exclusive! Instagram gets the highlights, but YouTube gets the full blind tasting experience.
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Burgundy is home to some of the most expensive wines in the world. Bottles of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti can sell for more than $30,000, yet in this episode of Got Somme we’re tasting a Burgundy white wine for under $100.How is that possible?The answer lies in one of Burgundy’s most underrated grape varieties: Aligoté.In this episode, Angus and Master Sommelier Carlos Santos take a deep dive into the forgotten sibling of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. While Burgundy is famous for its iconic Grand Cru wines, Aligoté has quietly existed in the region for centuries, often overlooked despite producing bright, mineral-driven wines with incredible value.Carlos explains why Aligoté is having a quiet renaissance among sommeliers and wine lovers around the world, and why this historic Burgundian grape could be your gateway into Burgundy without the Burgundy price tag.Along the way, we unpack the fascinating history of the grape, how it compares to Chardonnay and Chablis, and the surprising role Aligoté played in one of France’s most famous cocktails.If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s a hidden gem in Burgundy, this episode might change the way you buy wine.In this episode• Why Burgundy prices have exploded and what that means for wine lovers• The forgotten Burgundy grape most people overlook• The family tree of Burgundy grapes including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Aligoté• Why Aligoté can offer incredible value compared with Chardonnay• The surprising story behind the famous Kir cocktail• How Aligoté compares to Chablis and Chenin Blanc• The tasting profile you should expect from a great Aligoté• Why sommeliers are rediscovering this grape• The foods that pair perfectly with AligotéWhat does Aligoté taste like?According to Master Sommelier Carlos Santos, great Aligoté wines typically show:• Bright citrus and tangerine peel• Crisp acidity• Green apple and mineral notes• A subtle saline character• Fresh, food-friendly structureIt often sits stylistically between Chablis and Chenin Blanc, making it an incredibly versatile wine at the table.Where is Aligoté grown?Aligoté is native to Burgundy, France, where it shares the same genetic roots as:• Chardonnay• Pinot Noir• GamayThe grape is traditionally grown across Burgundy, with the appellation Bouzeron dedicated entirely to Aligoté production.Food pairings for AligotéThanks to its high acidity and freshness, Aligoté pairs beautifully with:• Oysters• Lobster• Shellfish• White fish• Light butter sauces• Fresh seafood dishesBIG thanks to The French Wine Centre for providing the bottle 🙏🏼https://frenchwinecentre.com/Check out their AMAZING mixed 6 of French Reds for $250https://frenchwinecentre.com/collections/packs/products/issue-02-mixed-3-the-redsSponsor: RIEDELhttps://www.riedel.com/en-au/shop#sort=bestSeller (Australians use code: GOTSOMME New Zealand: GOTSOMMENZ at check out for 20% off)Welcome to Got Somme, the ultimate wine podcast where Master Sommeliers and wine experts share their tips, blind tasting challenges, and insider knowledge from vineyards around the world. Whether you’re a wine beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, we explore everything from wine education and wine tasting techniques to sparkling wines, red vs white, and the best wines under $30.Subscribe for weekly episodes and join us as we taste, learn, and uncover the stories behind your favourite wines. Perfect for anyone looking to improve their wine knowledge, discover new wine regions, or just enjoy a fun, educational chat about wine.

Blind wine tasting is brutal. Even for a Master Sommelier.
In this episode of Got Somme, Carlos blind tastes a vibrant, medium-ruby red wine and reads the clues as Pinot Noir: juicy cherry, raspberry, Christmas cake spice, fine tannins, elegant structure, and that “Old World on the palate, New World on the nose” tension.
But then comes the reveal.
It’s actually Gamay from Beechworth, Victoria, a 2024 release, and it happens to be one of Angus’ favourite wines of all time.

This is the whole point of blind tasting: you follow the evidence, you make the call, and sometimes the wine still stitches you up.

If you’re learning wine, love Pinot Noir, or want to understand how sommeliers think in real time, this one is for you.
How to identify red wine blind using colour, aroma, tannin and acid

Pinot Noir vs Gamay: the overlap that tricks even pros

What “fine-grain tannins” and “perfume” really mean in practice

Why some Gamay can present like high-level Pinot

Hosted by Angus O’Loughlin and Master Sommelier Carlos, Got Somme makes wine more fun, practical and less precious. New episodes weekly.

Recorded at SESSION in PROGRESS studios.