Got Somme : Master Sommelier's Wine Podcast

After 50 episodes trying wines $30 or under in Australia Master Sommelier Carlos Santos makes his choice! Will it be: Carricante - 2020 Nostru Terre Siciliane IGP, Sicily, Italy Tempranillo: 2019 SC Pannell Dead End, McLaren Vale, South Australia Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon: 2017 Château Haut Madrac, Bordeaux, France Please grab all bottles of wine and join us for this feature length episode tasting...

Our FINAL $30 or under bottle of wine has been hand selected by Master Sommelier Carlos Santos. Why this bottle? Carlos wanted to find a similar bottle that could knock the Chateau Haut Madrac, our current #1, off the top of the podium. They're both traditional Bordeaux blends and both influenced by coastal climates. Carlos knowing the Vasse Felix winemaker thought it could topple our old world cl...

The PERFECT wine to match with Pizza has been revealed and reviewed by a Master Sommelier When we launched this podcast in January 2022 I didn't even know what 'Vernaccia di San Gimignano' was? In fact until last week I still didn't and now with the help of Master Sommelier Carlos Santos I know about the region, growing conditions, grape style and importantly food to match! 🍕 We are weeks away fr...

We put two Bordeaux Chateau wines up against each other battling out for the BEST BOTTLE UNDER $30 We firstly assess our current #1 wine under $30 the 2017 Chateau Haut Madrac against the just released 2018 vintage and the results surprised us! Then we take the challenge to a bottle that on paper reads a similar story: Bordeaux Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2018 vintages 13.5% alcohol BUT It bec...

"They are quite expensive their top wines" - Master Sommelier surprised this producer made this wine When not one but TWO Master Sommeliers are discussing this bottle of wine you know you're on to something! Picpoul De Pinet from Moulin De Gassac has all the markers for the grape variety but can it live up to it's fellow producers top shelf options? Follow our Instagram for more hints, tips and te...

"If you want a BIG, bold Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon. Then this is bang on!" - Carlos Santos Our first and overdue Penfolds on the podcast and did you know that when a label reads "Cabernet Sauvignon" it only needs to be minimum 85% of what's labelled? Master Sommelier tastes a blend in this bottle and calls out the other famous grape variety he feels is in the mix.  A great bottle to taste to re...

Usually we match wine with food but in this episode of Got Somme we match the location of where this is best enjoyed, if you don't have a bedtime or young children that is! A classic dry white from near the mouth of the Loire river on the Atlantic coast of France. The grapes are gently pressed and the young wine is allowed to sit on lees for 6 months to bring out that wonderful briney note fans of...

We pitted Master Sommelier Carlos Santos against wine enthusiast Angus O'Loughlin to see who could choose the $30 bottle of 2019 Parker Estate Coonawarra Merlot from a lineup that included featured a $7.50 and $10 bottle. One of them correctly identified the order; the other was overconfident. Be sure to listen to Carlos as he discusses Merlot as a wine varietal, its history, and his personal opin...

We woke up, fasted then drank this wine at 10:30AM and THIS HAPPENED! "Searing and sharp" - Angus O'Loughlin We had to record this episode in the morning and Riesling could be the new alarm clock! Different to other Clare Valley styles we had tried this 2022 bottle hit the benchmarks we expected but needs some time in bottle. Eat with oysters or sushi and definitely past 12pm 😉 Get this bottle wh...

Patreon member Phil Conway ( @PhilConway_Foodie ) kicked down our podcast studio and demanded we try his favourite wine under $30! Phil loves his wine and recently spent a month in Europe stomping grapes and drinking them so we trust his palate BUT does it get a Master Sommeliers tick of approval? Will it make our Top 3? Get this bottle where we got ours: Dan Murphys Daily wine tips on our Instagr...

This bottle hails from the historic Tuscan region of Chianti; the spiritual home of Sangiovese. Master Sommelier Carlos Santos takes us on a deep dive into the approaches he takes to distinguish the sometimes difficult to assess differences between Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir and Gamay.   Find out why we open this bottle of wine at the very START of this episode! Get this bottle where we got...

"I am a FIEND for this wine" Ex-Radio Announcer Angus O'Loughlin insisted that this sweet wine be included in this season of Got Somme after tasting it during his WSET level 2 course. This wine, which Carlos had heard of before EVER visiting Australia, is the literal gold standard for dessert wines and the ideal half bottle to present to our palates. It is best suited and suggested to assess toget...

"Grenache (by itself) is not something I really, really enjoy but then again if done right can be very, VERY good" - Master Sommelier Carlos Santos  A thin skinned grape variety that usually thrives in colder climates we are excited to see if this Spinifex Barossa Grenache can surprise us by going against the climate 'norms' and producing a balanced, fragrant, high alcohol wine that makes our Top...

"It's actually the first time I'm having a Carricante on its own - so very interesting!" - What does Master Sommelier Carlos Santos think of a grape variety that's usually blended but here we find as a single varietal? What we can tell you before pressing play is Carlos plans on purchasing this wine again... BUT Can this white wine enter a Master Sommeliers current all red Top 3? Check out where A...

After mentioning this bottle since our first EVER episodes we've finally popped the top off potentially Australia's most chosen table wine. Now that Angus has learnt from Master Sommelier Carlos Santos that "Pepper" in wine can also be confused with "Mint" or "Eucalyptus" we were keen to assess whether the title of this bottle has been lying to us for all these years. Does this make our top 3 best...

Having tried a Viognier from Australia it was only fair to give the 'Old World' of wine a chance to show their expression of the grape. This bottle blends Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc but mostly Viognier to create a "fruit basket" on the nose. How does our previous Viognier bottle from Eden Valley, South Australia compare and what is this bottle missing in the opinion of a Master Sommelie...

Do you know what 'Oak Staves' are? Do you know the influence they have on wine at this price point? This episode of Got Somme, on a mission to find the best $30 bottle of wine in Australia, explains the difference in oak barrel, chip and stave ageing and the influence it has on this full bodied American wine. Could this make our top 3? Will it make yours?  Check out our Patron Daniel's Custom Cell...

"Interesting to get a Sancerre labelled 'Sauvignon Blanc' - they are so driven to sell their wine to the export market because back home everyone knows Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc." - Master Sommelier Carlos Santos Comparing this bottle to Ep7 the NZ Sav Blanc there is a remarkable difference on the nose and palate showing the influence of climate and winemaking styles as they are using the same g...

"Inserts Lion King Theme Song* Have you ever tried South African wine? Why would you want to when a Master Sommelier describes the nose and palate as "fresh road" WELL HOLD THAT THOUGHT! This wine is unique and interesting showing a different wine style that Angus had never tried before all while staying under our $30 budget. It's also most interesting to see the style of wine most palatable on th...

We apologise!  This podcast is on a mission to find the best quality bottle of wine UNDER $30 and this week we splurged and spent $35.99 at the time of recording. Why? Master Sommelier Carlos Santos was interested in trying this bottle because it was made by John Duval, one of only four Penfolds chief winemakers, who was also in charge of developing Australia's most well-known export, "Grange." We...

After host Angus O'Loughlin had surprised Master Sommelier Carlos Santos TWICE with blind tastings he decided to enact his revenge! Choosing a wine they both had tried previously on the podcast to make things a little easier Angus then had to go through the structures we have learnt since episode one of 'Got Somme' and narrow it down to his final selection. Did he get it right? Did we unnecessaril...

“I really enjoy Rioja’s, when I was working in a restaurant in London it was very popular. The British wars with France meant they were getting their wine supplies from Spain so it became very popular“ - Master Sommelier Carlos Santos  Smelling and tasting like a good expression of Rioja for the price point our Master Sommelier tries his best to persuade Angus to take a deeper dive into the glass...

"I want to compare with what we tried a couple of weeks ago" - Master Sommelier Carlos Santos After Angus questioned how climate affects Chardonnay on a recent episode while trying a cold climate Australian Chardonnay, Carlos thought it would be a good reference point to show how a warmer climate changes the flavour profile. If you're tasting this alongside us be prepared for an intense nose and f...

This wine we thought we knew what to expect with the the Coonawarra region and were surprised when we one flavour characteristic dominated the palate. A classic Aussie shiraz that "will appeal to a lot of people and 2016 under $30 becomes very interesting" the Zema estate is a solid foundation for our countries red wine backbone. Be prepared to head to the butchers after this episode for the appro...

Are colder climates better for Chardonnay? What's warmer climate varietals taste like? What's the difference between it and Chablis? Angus had lots of questions about this Mornington Peninsula take on a classic grape and both our host and Master Sommelier Carlos Santos were surprised at this wine on the palate. Buttery, ripe and balanced Carlos could even see you matching this with a chicken curry...