This is the big one! – Episode #69

August 11, 2006

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Watch today as Gary discusses the effects of aging on wine. Gary tastes and then reevaluates over fifteen wines to see how they held up to the effects of time. This is the mother of all episodes!

92 Responses

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  1. August 13, 2006

    GeneV

    Gary–you know my feelings about hype. Shame on you!

    Mary S–If you are looking to keep it simple, cheap and fairly sweet, you might also look at the Chateau St. Michelle Riesling or the Fetzer Valley Oaks gewurztraminer or riesling. Both can be had for single digit prices. Neither will top out the professional wine ratings, but both will add some different fruit flavors to you nightly quaff.

    New world chardonnay is a good next step to explore from sweet wines. It is not sweet, but it is often smooth and buttery.

  2. August 13, 2006

    Bill Nelson

    Mary S,
    You may want to try some of the inexpensive moscatos; Sutter Home has one that is in the $4-6 range or there are some Italian ones such as Marco Negri, that have some carbonation, that are $10-15. Those are some that my wife enjoys and she was a former white zin drinker. We also get a blush from New Mexico that is decent and costs less than $10 per bottle even with shipping.

  3. August 13, 2006

    Mike F.

    Late harvest means picked later in the growing season, usually late fall. Since the fruit is riper the sugar content will be higher as well. This of course could be partially converted into alcohol like in a zinfandel say. That is why we see zin’s at 14,15, even 16% alcohol. Rieslings however are typically much lower in alcohol, say 8-11%. There can be exceptions, but these are averages mind you. Late harvest wines are at 24 Brix (sugar content) and up which is at the high end for table wine (20-25%). The low alcohol in Riesling is due to the fact the sugar is not converted, and hence the sweeter style of wine. Rieslings can be bone dry and typically these are Kabinett Rieslings. Spatlese are sweeter. Auslese, BA’s and TBA’s are in the desert category. These bad boys are pricey though.
    Hey maybe someone who’s tried the Italian sparklers can make a recommendation? A spumante or a Prosecco maybe? This might also be a good transitional wine frome white zin.

  4. August 13, 2006

    Greg G

    What a complete waste of a customer’s time! How incredibly disrespectful and immature!

    I mean really Gary, do you think that your viewers have nothing else to do but seek out information and get this juvenile crap in return!!

    This is the last time I watch.

  5. August 13, 2006

    asr2021

    Mike F.,
    I thought the “late harvest” would mean more fruit, not sugar. As I understood, don’t they allow the extra sugar to ferment into alcohol, hence the higher alcohol percentage. The rieslings are usually bone dry, I think; the different levels just mean how much fruitier one is from the other, no? I forget the order. Maybe Gary can clear this up. I’ve gotta go and watch that episode. My family drinks the Beringer white zin like its goin’ outta style.

    MaryS,
    You should love the rieslings if you like the Beringer. They’re really fruity and some can be sweet. The “vinegar” taste is a particular kind of acid in some red wines; I think I had a coturri wine that was big on that flavor, wierd. (At the risk of sounding like a condescending wine snob, which I certainly am not, and insulting your wine intelligence, for which I would certainly apologize) Are you sure you don’t like dry wines or could it be that you like fruity wines, easily confused with sweet ones? I ask because I think we have similar palates; I recently found, however, that I like dry but very fruity wines after spending a bit of money on sweet and dessert wines. Anywho, I agree with Mike F. and Gary: start with the riesling then maybe you can try others. Good luck. HAVE FUN! :)

    BTW Gary does respond to a few of the comments, but regardless you’ll learn a lot from the show and from other viewers. I have. As far as ulterior motives go, I think he’s a guy trying to live on both sides of a fine line, trying to be honest whilst making money.

  6. August 12, 2006

    MaryS

    Mike,
    Thanks for your suggestions. I have been wanting to try other wines but not sure where to start. I am not a fan of dry or “vinegar” tasting (red?) wines. And since I have a couple glasses on most nights, I don’t want to spend a fortune on it. How does Chardonnay compare? Does Gary ever respond to these comments? Or is he just pushing sales at wine library? But then why does he dog wines that he sells at his store? Just wondering.

  7. August 12, 2006

    Mike F.

    Mary,
    If you’ve been buying it buy the case for years, you’ve obviously been enjoying it so why stop? But on your next order you might add in a bottle or two of some Rieslings, which Gary hinted at trying. The Spatlese Rieslings are a step sweeter than the Kabinett (dry) Rieslings so I would try one of those. Anything labeled ‘late harvest’ will have riper fruit, so the sugar should be higher as well. The Auslese Rieslings are sweeter still but the price goes up considerably. I saw a couple of Spatlese Rieslings on the WL website that are around 10 bucks, so why not start with one of those. :-)

  8. August 12, 2006

    Craig K

    Gary,
    I was comment 72 in the last episode who complained a bit when you did the tasting for the single Swiss bottle. But this time, you REALLY got me. The sight of all those bottles open had me totally pumped. On top of it, I’m one of those total wine nerds who occasionally saves the last fifth of a bottle just to see how it changes after a day of controlled air in the bottle. And then not even a SINGLE swish and spit!! Are you seriously telling your WLTV fans you didn’t have an extra 120 to 180 seconds to do at least a couple and throw out a quick QOD (question of the day) to get our juices flowing?!? The whole thing looked staged for WLTV publicity to me. Ah well. Get ready for my comments following the next episode. Or NOT! Now there’s a 69′er of a different sort. Sincere best wishes to Brandon and spouse for a great wedding and future. :-)

  9. August 12, 2006

    zerokreap (kw)

    okay, you have to be crapping me…i am down at the beach right now and i just spent an inordinate amount of time trying to get one of the two laptops at my disposal to work….i just spent about 2 hours trying to get these pieces of crap running so i could watch this episode that looked, from the picture, to be massive…and i was looking for my shoutout after my 30 second 1st comment on the last episode….always the bridesmaid or something…gary, you bastard! :)

  10. August 12, 2006

    S.E.T.

    My 69 episodes are undeniably better than yours…Now, that’s funny!!!!… cheers :)

  11. August 12, 2006

    Bob B

    I would say that episode had a rather ” short finish”. Certainly no middle palate at all! :)

  12. August 12, 2006

    MaryS

    Mike F – Thanks for the info. I just watched Gary’s review of the Beringer White Zin. Not what I expected. I have been buying this stuff from him by the case for years. Will I continue or will I find something else??!! That is the question………..

  13. August 12, 2006

    Mike F.

    MaryS – Check out Gary’s review of the ‘05 Beringer White Zin at the end of episode 63.
    -Sorry Gary, I couldn’t resist.

  14. August 12, 2006

    Anthony Feria

    O no Gary!You had me all pumped up!!!!Lol enjoy.

  15. August 11, 2006

    asr2021

    I knew something was up when it downloaded so quickly. Have fun. I wonder what wine there’ll be at the wedding.

  16. August 11, 2006

    MaryS

    What do you think of Beringer White Zin? I like it. Tastes decent and good price. I’m a wine beginner though and was wondering what else might be good to try that is better quality but similar taste?

  17. August 11, 2006

    Mike F.

    Not a great effort Gary. I’m gonna have to pass on this episode. ;-)

  18. August 11, 2006

    Baja

    In your own words….THAT SUCKS!

  19. August 11, 2006

    Susan

    Great Episode!
    No one can complain that this episode was too long…
    Seriously, I hope the wedding was super! Also, I hope they had great tasting champagne at the wedding.
    Please do continue this episode soon.
    Keep the episodes coming!

  20. August 11, 2006

    9@9 #3 » 9rules Network Official Blog

    [...] This is the big one! – Episode #69 [...]

  21. August 11, 2006

    Bill Nelson

    I guess it could have been worse; you could have tasted an assortment of $3.99 white zins.

  22. August 11, 2006

    elron

    A reversal of Tom’s comment(#8). How about a show tasting wine while you still have a hangover after this spoof of a show!

  23. August 11, 2006

    Paul

    GREAT SHOW!! (You told us to tell you that. I’m just doing my job)

    Really, it was great. Have a fantastic time at the wedding. I’m sure the next episode will be just as much fun as this one, but perhaps a bit longer.

  24. August 11, 2006

    JimB

    Big One?

  25. August 11, 2006

    karl satirev

    Brandon is a great asset to WL. Be good to him.

    Say I had $1,000 to spend and wanted to build an 80 bottle library. What would you recommend?

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