20 Responses

1. April 1, 2006

   kw

   i took a bottle of the chat haut beyzac with me to the beach a week ago…thought it would be nice time to try a good bordeaux…haven’t had much experience with bordeaux. well, i ended up popping the bottle with a few friends and after this episode i wonder if perhaps i was missing the mark in terms of how i judged it at the time. I remember the wine being very green…seemed tannic and dry…which to me took away from the flavorfulness i was expecting. of course i think some of the problem was that i did not allow it to breath for very long before i poured some glasses. also, i am thinking this wine is perhaps more on the ‘old world’ side of things (someone please correct me if i am wrong) and i am just not experienced enough yet to appreciate its more subtle nuances. i am glad you did this episode though and i will have to pick up another bottle and pay more attention…for me it was not a good beach wine…and what i mean by that is that it seems to be a wine that deserves more attention than i was able to give it at the time…i did pick on the liquorice and smoothness…but liek i said, at the time is seemed a very sharp taste, hard for me to decipher.
   -kw

2. April 3, 2006

   Tim

   Gary,

   I love the back ground information in this segment.
   It’s nice to understand the history and how the
   present has come out of the past.

   I also really appreciate your broadening of my view of
   the wine world.

   I have to admit that when I first heard of wine TV I
   couldn’t imagine that I would watch it. Now I’m
   tuning in each time you put out a segment and loving
   it.

   Good Job!

   Tim

3. April 3, 2006

   Bonnie

   Hi Gary,

   Great job and these videos are extremely enjoyable to watch. I really appreciate the opportunity to learn more about wine. I have e-mailed the link to all of my wine friends. Thank you for doing it.

   Bonnie

4. April 4, 2006

   GeneV

   Bordeaux super vintages (like 05?) need a long, long time in the cellar. The great ones need at least 20 years. Gary, you may be able to enjoy a 2005 first or second growth at its peak while you are still at your peak, but those of us who have crossed the half century mark need to carefully consider 2005 futures.

5. April 4, 2006

   Mitch

   Gary does a very good job by aptly describing the characteristics, great demeanor and very articulate. However, I don’t agree with the logic of this episode which seems to be “buy these ’03s ’cause their counterparts of ‘05 will be astronomically priced”. With Bordeaux, vintage makes all the difference in the world, more so than anywhere else except Burgundy. Chateau Lafite can produce an etherial wine in one vintage, and a mediocre wine the next. These wines should be judged in absolute terms, not on the basis of what a subsequent vintage of the same wine will cost. ‘03 was a bizarre vintage for much of the World. I have no doubt that there are many fine ‘03 Bordeaux, but I would buy them based on their own potential to return pleasure relative to cost. Many would appeal largely to those with Calif/Aussie palates who ordinarily find Bordeaux a bit thin, acidic, and too structured. Many are bound to be too ripe, alcoholic, and yet surprisingly tannic as many of the ‘03 Southern Rhone have proved to be.

6. April 4, 2006

   garyv

   Mitch thank you for the kind words and I hope I didn’t come off by saying all 2003’s, what I meant was those specific 03’s really showed well and were great buys. I agree the 2005 will be legendary and Bordeaux is a very vintage sensitive area. Thank you for the comments, I hope I didn’t make a blanket statement on 2003, heck anything for that matter!

7. April 10, 2006

   Arnaud

   Gary,
   i believe you only forgot mentionning that Clos de Sarpe was a garage wine as well from St Emilion. With only 4Ha, this property which is still owned by the same people for the past 50 years just return in the eyes of the critics these past 7 years with RMP reviewing since 98.

   I have had bottles of the 1955 vintage of Clos de Sarpe (and still have half a case) and this has been a beautiful wine mature and yet powerful and elegant. While 1955 was an incredible powerful and “vin de garde” wine, this proves -if needed- that these very small properties can generate wines that are able to last over 5 decades!
   Arnaud.

8. April 15, 2006

   Jennifer Carlson

   Hello,this is the best site enjoy surfing into it. Thanks, I could not find anywhere that I have found at your site. Ooroo, it was something fresh, thanks

9. September 21, 2006

   Brandon M

   OK…gotta get some Bordeaux….Wine #6 on the random will be the Beyzac.

10. October 1, 2006

    Mike F.

    I wish I had some spare capitol. I could use the futures market to build up my own cellar from the profits. I’m sure may enophiles do just that. I won’t be purchasing any first growths any other way.

11. November 26, 2006

    Arnold

    Wow, great episode. really informative. unfortunately I can’t afford the futures market.

12. February 26, 2007

    Valentin

    Hi Gary

    Strange, but when I compared your “old” videos with the new ones I have noticed that you gained some extra kilos. I also struggle with my waist line although I am within reasonable limits (like you). Wouldn’t it be interesting to make a show with that focus? Which are the best wine pairings with a low calorie diet? Which wine with steamed broccoli, carrots, celleries, fish, lobster, oysters, bull’s balls…… you get the idea. Best wishes from old the old continent.

13. June 1, 2007

    David Canada

    Amen….I bough huge in this vintage. Not able to afford first groths but did get cases of Pontet Canet, Barton, Bages and some smaller producers in that 15-20 range. You are so right!

14. June 12, 2007

    vibemore

    If I only I had the extra $ to buy up the 05s. Oh well.

15. August 30, 2007

    WA Ambassador

    Ah, Bordeaux. This is something that I need to get back into again. It’s one that I have been missing for a long time. I have been distracted by so many other wines.

16. February 3, 2008

    The Fanjestic

    Very Interesting to see an 03 tasting – and to see Gary’s predictions coming true now is also very interesting.

17. March 14, 2008

    jbrian

    If only we listened.

18. July 8, 2008

    Dan Leavy

    good job on the predictions

    word 23 “Gary”

19. November 8, 2008

    Ray Barnes

    It seems that Gary had his fingers on the proverbial pulse when this episode was made. I will try to seek out some more of the 2003s, especially the second wine of the tasting. If I may add a suggestion, the second wine of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Les Carruades de Lafite, is reputed to be a brilliant effort for 2003.

20. September 13, 2009

    John J.

    You hit the nail on the head w this episode Gary. Now that some time has gone by since you’ve done this episode, you’ve definitely proved yourself here. Bordeaux prices are definitely forever changed. Can’t wait to see what those 05’s are gonna taste like in 20 years. Those folks who did buy the ‘05 futures are really some very lucky people. If I may request an episode, it would be great to see an episode on some really high quality wines there aren’t alot of. But still aren’t terribly well known in America. Vin jaune comes to mind without question.

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