Got Somme : Master Sommelier's Wine Podcast

Carlos is back from Portugal with a tan, a cellar full of memories and a very rare bottle to share.
In this episode of Got Somme, Angus and Carlos unpack Carlos’ recent trip home, from rediscovering beautifully evolved Portuguese wines from 2008 and 2014 to seeing how dramatically Portugal’s restaurant scene and wine culture have developed.
They also settle a surprisingly heated Instagram debate about cork length, ageing wine in large-format bottles and why a shorter cork is not always a bad sign.
Then comes the main event: a 600-bottle (total) Pinot Noir from Portugal’s Douro Valley. Carlos sees elegance, freshness and a fascinating expression of an international variety in one of Portugal’s most iconic wine regions. Angus? He is less convinced.
Is it a brilliant, unexpected Pinot Noir, or simply a wine speaking a language your palate does not yet understand?

Sponsor: RIEDEL
Use code GOTSOMME or GOTSOMMENZ at checkout for 25% off RIEDEL Performance Pinot Noir glasses.

Chapters:
00:00 – Carlos returns from Portugal01:06 – A look inside Carlos’ Portuguese cellar02:20 – Portugal’s evolving restaurant and wine scene04:25 – The Instagram controversy: why was the cork so short?05:20 – Cork length, oxygen and ageing large-format bottles07:46 – Opening a six-litre bottle for a family celebration08:17 – Introducing a rare Douro Valley Pinot Noir09:00 – Why Portuguese wine is built around native varieties10:42 – Douro’s extreme vineyard conditions11:32 – Angus gives the wine an honest review12:36 – When a wine “speaks Portuguese” to your palate13:56 – Only 600 bottles: is this Pinot Noir worth seeking out?

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In this episode of the Got Somme Blind Wine Series, Angus throws Carlos Santos, Master Sommelier, one of the hardest blind tastings yet.

The twist? The wine is served in a fully blacked-out RIEDEL blind tasting glass, meaning Carlos can’t see the colour, viscosity or clarity. It could be Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Grüner Veltliner or even something completely unexpected.
As Carlos works through the aromas, structure, acid, body and flavour profile, the wine starts to point in every direction at once. Fresh citrus, green apple, pear, almond shell, savoury texture and a salty finish all suggest a white wine, but the reveal leaves both Angus and Carlos genuinely stunned.

The wine? Bianco di Merlot from Switzerland.
Thanks https://invidiawines.com/
Yes, a white wine made from Merlot.

This is one of the most surprising blind tastings we’ve done on Got Somme, and a perfect example of how much colour influences the way we assess wine.

Episode Highlights
- Angus introduces the RIEDEL black blind tasting glass
- Carlos explains why colour is so important in blind wine tasting
- The wine presents as fresh, citric and savoury
- Carlos considers Chablis, Grüner Veltliner, Müller-Thurgau, Aligoté, Chasselas and Sylvaner
- The reveal shocks both Angus and Carlos
- Carlos explains why Bianco di Merlot would be almost impossible to identify blind

Chapters
00:00 – “I didn’t even know this could happen”
00:07 – Blind wine tasting with a twist
00:17 – The RIEDEL blacked-out glass reveal
00:33 – Why colour matters in blind tasting
01:22 – Carlos begins assessing the wine
01:51 – First guesses: Chablis, Grüner Veltliner or Pinot Grigio?
02:32 – Angus admits he was way off
02:49 – Carlos narrows down the options
03:33 – The shocking wine reveal
03:38 – White Merlot from Switzerland
04:05 – How can Merlot become a white wine?
04:27 – Why this is an impossible blind tasting

Everyone knows Margaret River.
But just north of one of Australia's most famous wine regions sits Geographe — home to passionate growers, boutique producers and some of the country's best-value wines.
After discovering a Geographe Chardonnay by chance, Angus found himself heading down a rabbit hole of wines from a region he'd barely explored before. A few weeks later, a chance meeting at the Good Food & Wine Show led to this conversation with Ryan from Aylesbury Estate.
Joined by Master Sommelier Carlos Santos, the team explores what makes Geographe one of Australia's most exciting emerging wine regions. Stretching between Perth and Margaret River, Geographe combines coastal influence, elevated vineyard sites and a growing reputation for exceptional Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and alternative grape varieties.
Ryan shares his family's 150-year farming story, explains why Geographe consistently overdelivers on value and discusses the collaborative spirit driving the region's future.
Along the way, the team tastes wines from Aylesbury Estate, Willow Bridge Estate and Vineyard 28 while discussing why Australian wine lovers should be paying much closer attention to what's happening north of Margaret River.
If you've never explored Geographe wines before, this episode might just convince you to start.

Check out all the wineries (and visit them) here: https://www.geographewine.com.au/visit-our-region/

In this episode:
🍷 Why Geographe is different from Margaret River🍷 The rise of alternative grape varieties in Australia🍷 Why boutique producers are thriving🍷 Cabernet Sauvignon that truly tastes like Cabernet🍷 The incredible value hidden in lesser-known wine regions🍷 Why buying direct from producers matters more than ever🍷 The future of Australian wine

Featured Producers & Wines
• Aylesbury Estate• Willow Bridge Estate• Vineyard 28• Green Door Wines• Talisman Wines

Chapters
00:00 Why Geographe Is Australia's Hidden Wine Gem02:02 Meeting Ryan From Aylesbury Estate03:37 Understanding The Geographe Wine Region06:00 A 150-Year Family Farming Story08:15 Why Boutique Producers Matter10:01 Geographe Chardonnay vs Margaret River Chardonnay12:09 The Wine That Stopped Us In Its Tracks13:49 Australian Nebbiolo Done Right16:05 Alternative Varieties Thriving In Geographe18:16 Terroir, Elevation & Vineyard Sites19:15 The Cabernet That Won Carlos Over22:09 Farming Cattle & Growing Grapes22:53 Why Geographe Offers Incredible Value24:05 Ryan's Favourite Wine From Aylesbury Estate24:39 Planning A Geographe Wine Trip25:58 The First Geographe Wine You Should Buy

#GotSomme #AustralianWine #Geographe #MargaretRiver #WinePodcast #WineTasting #CabernetSauvignon #Chardonnay #Nebbiolo #WesternAustraliaWine #WineEducation #CarlosSantos #AylesburyEstate #WineTravel #WineLovers

“The Wine That Fooled a Master Sommelier” | Pieropan Soave Blind Tasting

In this episode of Got Somme Blind Wine Series, Master Sommelier Carlos Santos is put to the test with a blind white wine tasting that sends him across Spain before revealing an iconic Italian classic.

From citrus and sea spray notes to debates around Albariño, Viognier and Riesling, this episode captures the chaos, confidence and humility of blind tasting at the highest level. What starts as a confident call for Rías Baixas Albariño ends with a surprise reveal: Pieropan Soave made from Garganega.

Carlos breaks down the wine’s structure, aromatics, acidity and texture in real time, giving listeners an inside look at how Master Sommeliers think through a blind tasting grid. Along the way, he explores why certain wines can completely disguise themselves stylistically, and why Garganega continues to be one of Italy’s most underrated white grape varieties.

This episode is a must-watch for wine lovers, sommeliers, hospitality professionals and anyone fascinated by blind tasting psychology.

Glassware used: RIEDEL Use code: GOTSOMME at check out for 25% off!https://www.riedel.com/en-au/
Blind tasting an iconic Italian white wine
Why Carlos initially thought the wine was Albariño from Spain
The aromatics that pointed toward Viognier and tropical styles
How texture and alcohol can alter acidity perception
The challenge of identifying Garganega blind
Why Pieropan remains one of Italy’s benchmark producers
The role structure plays in blind wine assessment
Master Sommelier thought process in real time

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What makes a wine truly iconic?
In this episode of Got Somme, Master Sommelier Carlos Santos and Angus O'Loughlin open a bottle from one of the most historic producers in Spain: López de Heredia.
Founded more than 150 years ago, López de Heredia has become one of the defining names of traditional Rioja, holding onto old-school winemaking methods while much of the wine world chased trends. Carlos explains why this producer is considered one of the great benchmark wineries of the world, compares it to legendary Bordeaux estates, and reveals why he’s never had a bad bottle in 26 years of tasting wine professionally.

Glassware used: RIEDEL
Use code: GOTSOMME at check out for 25% off!
https://www.riedel.com/en-au/

The conversation dives deep into:
What makes traditional Rioja different
Why American oak is central to classic Rioja character
The history of Rioja during the phylloxera crisis
Why López de Heredia releases wines years later than most producers
How modern winemaking trends changed Rioja
The difference between Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva
Why Carlos became genuinely offended when Angus questioned Rioja quality
There’s also a fascinating breakdown of how French winemakers helped shape Rioja during the 1800s, why counterfeiting became a huge issue for historic Spanish producers, and what wine lovers should actually look for when identifying quality Rioja.
If you’ve ever wondered why some wines become timeless while others chase trends, this episode is for you.

00:00 – “You can’t just call a wine iconic”
00:32 – Why López de Heredia matters
02:29 – The blind Rioja tasting that inspired this episode
03:39 – What traditional Rioja should taste like
06:40 – How phylloxera changed Spanish wine forever
08:24 – Why this producer never chased trends
10:27 – Angus questions Rioja pricing and quality
12:41 – Carlos explains what separates great Rioja
14:00 – Why López de Heredia releases wines so late
16:11 – Final thoughts on one of Rioja’s great producers