36 Responses

1. March 7, 2006

   vyllain

   5 days? Gary… where had you been? I’ve been like a crack addict refreshing the page every 5 minutes or so!!

   Thanks for the cali cab info, but you didn’t provide much history behind the grape/region as you have during other vlogs; I enjoy that background info. See you this weekend!

   vyllain

2. March 7, 2006

   Cameron

   I enjoyed the reference to Cinnamon Toast Crunch, that may have one-upped the Big League Chew comparison from a previous episode. As a young wine drinker (22) who’s only been into it seriously for about a year, I always find new and interesting tidbits here to take with me. More importantly, I appreciate the fact that it’s not at all pretentious; one can sense a genuine joy and enthusiasm coming from you rather than any sense of snobbery. Keep ‘em coming!

3. March 8, 2006

   Joe D.

   I have had construction paper in the past, and I have to tell you I quite enjoyed it!!!! So, I might me interested in the Hess cab!

4. March 8, 2006

   Tony

   Enjoyed the review. I just recently tasted the twenty rows and was also very impressed with the wine from a company I was not familiar. Keep the videos coming, the time is about right and the information has hit the mark.

5. March 9, 2006

   Gary Borntrager

   Hi Gary,
   So far I have watched two of your tastings (Cal cab & CDP) and enjoyed both. No need to worry about demonstrating the wines color, no image can do it justice. Your descriptions are enough. I collect the usual suspects from France, Italy, Cali and a little from Spain. Although I do appreciate a good every day wine value, I hope to see you tasting more of these types of wines in the future (03 Bordeaux perhaps). I am also pleased to see the new wine cellar open! Bought a few great wines.
   Look forward to seeing you around the cheese board!

   GB

6. March 10, 2006

   Ryan

   I have to agree with Cameron. I’m also a 22 y.o. ‘first year’ wine drinker and appreciate the youthful voice in the reviews. My epiphany bottle was 2002 Bennett Lane Napa Cab, so this episode on Cali Cabs was great because it brought me back to my wine ‘roots’.

   Keep up the great work.

   And just to reiterate something someone said in a previous posting for another episode – maybe have the prices of the wines available in the video or on the links underneath. OR, make the links underneath open up in a new window automatically. I have to right click and go to open-in-new-window if I want to view the comments or wines while the video is playing.

7. March 11, 2006

   Kirk

   Gary, I love your store and the cheese is a great idea. Your marketing is top notch as are most of your prices and I am there every week. BUT you really need to get a new reviewer for Cabs. As a voracious drinker and collector of Cabernet, my tastes completely agree with Parker and Wine Spectator. But I have never agreed with your ratings.. even these under 20 Cabs.. I would put in the exact opposite order. Which makes me wonder if it really is taste or profit margin thats being rated.
   Hope I didn’t offend because I love the place.

8. March 15, 2006

   David M

   Hey Gary!

   Enjoy the concept, I have have been buying from you for two years, enjoy working with Ian. I live about 2.5 hours south of Paso, it really is a Rhone location not Cabernet! Stephan had been a good friend for over five years and has even stayed over my house, glad to see he is getting the recgonition he deserves. It would be intersting to do a vertical tasting of his blends, that is the really good stuff! Cote du Cote, Estate Cuvee, and Optimus are great!

   How about tasting some exotic things like French Gigondas, Italian dessert wines and Barolos, Oregonian Cabernets and Zinfandels,Washington Syrahs.

   Thanks

9. March 22, 2006

   Geoff Grant

   Gary,

   Since you want feedback, here is my point of view. As a marketing executive and avid wine buyer, plus a fan of the Wine Library, these videos are not only a great idea, but an informative approach to both beginners and experienced wine enthusiasts. The Cab video was the first I viewed, but it showcases the simplicity of exploring wines and your commentary – as noted by others – is quite direct and communicated in everyday language as to not intimidate. I look forward to viewing other videos as well as utilizing your marketing strategy to try the Stephan Ridge, Twenty Rows, Trentadue and Douglas Hill.

10. May 2, 2006

    Karen Lorentz

    The comparisons are really helpful. Great to see a retailer willing to rank the products it sells and to say some not so nice things about them. Your credibility is high because of it.

11. September 19, 2006

    Brandon M

    Look how low the camera is here!
    This was a great episode, you should do this for every wine, once a year…Classic!

    B

12. October 1, 2006

    Mike F.

    Cinnamon toast crunch. Orange marmalade from you sister’s strawberry shortcake collection? New skittle flavor? Here is where Gary goes from interesting descriptor to legend among WLTV viewer ship. Mud, worms, and road tar…here we come. No more stock on the recommendations though. You still have the Simi and the Hess select though :-p I have a friend that swears by Hess select and collection. Although I’ve tried some vintages that I thought were good, I can’t help think that a lot of it is overpriced. The same goes for Simi and especially there Chardonnay. OK, but not worth the inflated price.

13. October 5, 2006

    the professor and....

    Oh how I wish you still had some of the Stephan Ridge left, that was a nice wine. Looking back, this was a loaded episode. Ridge, Twenty rows, Trentadue, Douglas hill, all nice, but the Ridge and Rows really stand out in my mind.

14. January 16, 2007

    Eric Opheim

    Just saw this episode after having watched maybe 50+ of your newer episodes. WOW! What a difference. I am so thankful for the more in depth tasting notes you give us now. That being said though, can’t you bring back rating the wines for each episode. I have seen you do it again on a few of the recent episodes, but it is helpful. I enjoyed the plug (if you can call it that) for Paso Robles. Paso, and Monterey, are where I first learned to appreciate wine, when I was stationed at the language institute in Monterey. Can’t wait to visit again. Keep up the great work!

15. February 23, 2007

    cyrock1

    Just finished episodes 1-9. Love the way you are so approachable. Like Eric above I was stationed at DLI in Monterey but tragically did not know about wine at the time and can’t wait to go back and see (and taste) what I was missing. As far as putting the video out, can’t wait to tell my customers about it. Keep it up Gary!

16. March 29, 2007

    Justin S

    Tasted the 2005 Hess Cab today, thought it was pretty decent.

17. March 29, 2007

    Justin S

    2005 Hess Allomi that is..

18. April 20, 2007

    sfgiants55

    This is the first classic GV episode. References to Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Strawberry Shortcake doll (orange marmalade style) and the first ever introduction of skittles! The character of the show is finally starting to come out.

19. May 18, 2007

    Ross

    “Everyone needs one for around the house.” Very nice.

    $.18

20. May 25, 2007

    Alos Diallo

    It seems like it took me a while to get to this episode. Great advice on those, I am always looking for a knockout that I can search on a regular basis for not a lot of mula.

21. June 3, 2007

    vibemore

    This is a classic episode. Very nice. I wish I would have seen this closer to the taping, i.e. when the wine was still available at WL. Oh well, that’s what I get for being late to the show. Still, it is great to know this vino is out there somewhere.

22. August 30, 2007

    WA Ambassador

    I love your descriptions of these wines. Keep them coming. This is just what I’ve been wanting to hear when somebody reviews wine is a colorful description of what they taste like.

23. September 11, 2007

    GrapeStuff

    You should do a comprehensive cab episode, especially in light of the Vayniac cab!

24. November 18, 2007

    Dale Cruse

    Gary is getting more and more relaxed in front of the camera. And the weird references are starting to appear!

25. November 30, 2007

    Mr.Ambassador

    Found a sale bottle of the 2000 Trentadue Sonoma Cab and thought I’d look into some classic WLTV episodes to see if the Trentadue had been reviewed. Now I’m feelin’ pretty confident as the Trentadue managed to capture the first Strawberry Shortcake and Tropical Skittles reference!

    What a blast checking-in on these classic episodes now that GV has rubbed elbows with Conan and Ellen…

    Time to watch some old-school WLTV

26. February 1, 2008

    The Fanjestic

    1st Skittles reference?

27. February 24, 2008

    lawschooldrunk

    Woohoo, switching up the background to baseball. How ’bout them Yanks?

    Sorry, Gary, I have no idea who/what Simi is. Maybe it’s because I’m only familiar with the Kosher wines (although simi is a jewish nickname).

    Febreeze, cinnamon toast crunch, skittles and college girls make their appearance!

    Seems like gary is trying to rush through the tastings for some reason.

    Just curious- what happens to all the open bottles after the episode, Gary?

    LOL! stealing the orange marmalade strawberry shortcake character! I remember those dolls…

    Ummm, eating construction paper? I believe I’m having that tonight right before the chicken.

    I believe this is the first episode using the slightly worms-eye-view camera angle. I like this the best. sorry, Gary, for being almost two years late with these comments.

    I’m feeling it! Get fa’shnikin.

28. April 24, 2008

    David Cole

    Again, this is one of those shows that you could pull and wine or two out and do a follow up on how they are now with some time. That is something I think we are missing in the USA on wine. WE (not me) want to drink it now and have it be great, but history (or France) has shown that making wine that last is fun and great for collecting!

    I’d like to Stephan Ridge or now as it’s called L’Aventure taste now. I’m sure Stephane still has some, so get a vertical from like 2002, 2003 and 2004. If it goes well, sell the hell out if as a package! No charge for that idea either, just send me one of the verticals and we’ll call it good!:)

29. May 22, 2008

    Wanginator

    I think it might a coincidence that the top three wines have the same olive-colored bottles than the other bottles, which are greener.

30. July 8, 2008

    Dan Leavy

    gary is much more comfortable now i see

    ninth word “Totally”

31. July 21, 2008

    kjdion

    cabs have got to be by far my favorite wines.

32. March 27, 2009

    A dumb Rhine king

    Saw the swipe at Bogle there. What about their Petite Sirah?

    http://tv.winelibrary.com/2009/01/16/petite-sirah-episode-609/

    Granted the year you liked was probably still bleeding from the pruning during taping of this episode.

    

33. July 5, 2009

    Tom A.

    Great show, but I was wondering what happened to the white page that you used for color. That seemed to work pretty well.

34. September 24, 2009

    ulu ulu ulu ulu

    Good show, I think you’re right about the Hess

35. September 29, 2009

    Brian Johnson

    6 wines in 11 minutes!!! That would never happen today I’ve had some Simi and Hess wines before and was interested to see how you rated them. I didn’t care for the ones I had and it appears you didn’t care for these ones either.

36. October 20, 2009

    Ken Moorhead

    Well, Brian Johnson more or less stole my comment… Under 30 seconds per wine, each under 20 bones. Rapid fire, baby.

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