This is the big one! – Episode #69

August 11, 2006

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

August 11, 2006

Brandon M
Success!!!!
August 11, 2006

Brandon M
Drink a lot of great wine at the wedding!
August 11, 2006

Rick McQ
Gary

What a Big Tease!!!!
August 11, 2006

Brandon M
Ya…by the way…that episode was HORRRRRIBLE
August 11, 2006

Rick McQ
Gary

How about throwing your regulars a bone for that one! Why not take a couple dollars off a bottle of something special. Just say a special code that we can enter when we place the order. I can’t say that I enjoyed the show. I blinked my eyes and it was over. Don’t drink too much at the wedding! Cheers
August 11, 2006

Baja
What the hell was that??? Worst episode yet…..Is this a joke??
August 11, 2006

Tony G.
WHAT THE @*%$# !?!
August 11, 2006

Tom
Too funny!
Please do an episode on the effects of aging on wine after your hangover is gone
August 11, 2006

noreb8ts
Come on!!! All the build-up and no release…dude…

Not even a question of the day?!

As for a future episode…how about something on small lot, handcrafted wines and some insight on how major producers are manipulating the product??? Or, maybe I have bought into a conspiracy that does not exist???? Let us now!!!
August 11, 2006

noreb8ts
oops, let us know!
August 11, 2006

NATURA
SCANDAL! Let’s riot this place.
August 11, 2006

joe
Gary, you’re keeping fresh and fun – - we never know where you gonna go with the show – - thats fun!
Joe
August 11, 2006

Mitch
I wish I had your job. Hell, I wish I had your life and I have not even met your wife! After your Benny Hill routine as you romped through your digs, it’s obvious you have a BIG operation. To my way of thinking, the bigger you are, the more dangerous it becomes to criticize the product you sell. All the more courageous of you to call the wines as you taste them.
The topic of weather the manner in which wine evolves with air/after opening and with various forms of closure (gas, vacuvin, cork, nothing) is any indicator as to how the wine will likely evolve with aging has been the subject on the various wine boards many times. In short, the jury is out.
What we know is that the more reductive a wine is (defined as prone to resisting the taking on of oxygen molecules rather than readily combining with them, chemically speaking and in laymans terms a function of the tendencies of the grape and the winemaking-i.e. reductive winemaking with little or no racking) the less it will change with air. So, syrahs for example tend to change little with air, particularly if made in a reductive style (Albans are the epitome of this). Grenache and pinot noir are varietally prone to the opposite, they quickly take on oxygen and thus don’t do to well with extended opening generally speaking. To equate how a wine changes with exposure to air over three to five days with how a wine evolves over years and years where all kinds of changes take place (precipitation, slow molecular chain formation, catalyzation, and yes, oxydation) is probably not very valid.
All of the above constitutes the limited understanding of a non-scientist wine geek.
August 11, 2006

Mitch
I wish I had your job. Hell, I wish I had your life and I have not even met your wife! After your Benny Hill routine as you romped through your digs, it’s obvious you have a BIG operation. To my way of thinking, the bigger you are, the more dangerous it becomes to criticize the product you sell. All the more courageous of you to call the wines as you taste them.
The topic of whether the manner in which wine evolves with air/after opening and with various forms of closure (gas, vacuvin, cork, nothing) is any indicator as to how the wine will likely evolve with aging has been the subject on the various wine boards many times. In short, the jury is out.
What we know is that the more reductive a wine is (defined as prone to resisting the taking on of oxygen molecules rather than readily combining with them, chemically speaking and in laymans terms a function of the tendencies of the grape and the winemaking-i.e. reductive winemaking with little or no racking) the less it will change with air. So, syrahs for example tend to change little with air, particularly if made in a reductive style (Albans are the epitome of this). Grenache and pinot noir are varietally prone to the opposite, they quickly take on oxygen and thus don’t do to well with extended opening generally speaking. To equate how a wine changes with exposure to air over three to five days with how a wine evolves over years and years where all kinds of changes take place (precipitation, slow molecular chain formation, catalyzation, and yes, oxydation) is probably not very valid.
All of the above constitutes the limited understanding of a non-scientist wine geek.
August 11, 2006

Jim J.
Gary — This one had me laughing out loud. As punishment for your slacking off, you are going to have to drink all that wine on the table this coming Monday — it should be “nicely aged” by then.

P.s. Judging by yesterday’s comments, others are dying to know as well — tell us! What message are you sending with the rotating “art”? Cheers!
August 11, 2006

Diego de la PeÃ±a
well that was confusing, i hope you make this up and the next episode will be 25 minutes long.
August 11, 2006

Kathy
Wow! Two seconds of foreplay and it was over! Guess I’d better go uncork a bottle and drown my sorrows. And we didn’t even get a question!
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?
August 11, 2006

JimB
Big One?
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.
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!
August 11, 2006

Bill Nelson
I guess it could have been worse; you could have tasted an assortment of $3.99 white zins.
August 11, 2006

9@9 #3 » 9rules Network Official Blog
[...] This is the big one! – Episode #69 [...]
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!
August 11, 2006

Baja
In your own words….THAT SUCKS!
August 11, 2006

Mike F.
Not a great effort Gary. I’m gonna have to pass on this episode.
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?
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.
August 12, 2006

Anthony Feria
O no Gary!You had me all pumped up!!!!Lol enjoy.
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.
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………..
August 12, 2006

Bob B
I would say that episode had a rather ” short finish”. Certainly no middle palate at all!
August 12, 2006

S.E.T.
My 69 episodes are undeniably better than yours…Now, that’s funny!!!!… cheers
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 whoâ€™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.
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.
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.
August 13, 2006

wb
when will someone speak about wines that are not manipulated by the marketeers? Look to the New York Times Business section today for details. 90 point wines are crap.
August 13, 2006

Mike F.
I think what the author was getting at in that article is how the scoring system has been helpful in some respects, but it’s continued usefulness is now called into question. He hinted at how dishonesty is possible in this system, for example:
A: Parker accepts free samples. (Hey who can afford to buy all those first growths?)
B: Wine Spectator takes paid advertising by wine producers. (Contrasting practices by Consumer Reports, who they reference numerous times).
C: Retailers like Beverages & More have a built in incentive to manipulate their internal reviews. (I thought the comment was telling about how an 89-point wine will slowly move, but a 90 pointer will fly off the shelves).
I think the scoring system is a very useful tool, but (we’ve heard this before) it isn’t the only thing to consider. I think people that only shop 90+ pointers are doing themselves a disservice. I believe itâ€™s up to the consumer to move beyond scores in order to take the enjoyment of wine to an honest self-realized level of appreciation.
August 13, 2006

Eric
Gary,

Bush league move. Total lack of respect for your customers. You lost major credibility points.
August 13, 2006

Julius
wb – The Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast et al are not marketeers. As it says in the article, they are scoring the wines and the retailers are using the 90+ scores to market the wines. The article points out that when a wine fails to achieve that score, “you (the retailer) can make up your own.” It further states that this rating system may lead to the homogenization of wines toward the varietals and styles favored by WA and WS. We as consumers need to show that we will not blindly follow that lead. I am fortunate to be able to shop in Manhattan at a few wine shops that offer wines from off-the-beaten-path and offer excellent quality at reasonable prices and have not been swept up in the 100 point system. (I also shop at the Wine Library, but usually it’s to buy what I have already determined I like.)
BTW, the link to the article is: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/13/business/yourmoney/13rate.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
August 13, 2006

Matty Van
Shame on you gary I got all excitded and it was a let down. I did laugh though and I understand the humor. Going by some of the above comments looks like the joke pissed some people off, you can never please everyone.

I look forward to mondays show, they always make for me most enjoyable of breaks at work.
August 14, 2006

asr2021
As a college student I can appreciate the need to be frugal. However, I bought the chat. ste. michelle riesling in the spring. i didn’t like it one bit. As I recall, the alcohol is very high for a riesling, more than 11%. The wine was very sweet and the alcohol made it taste almost like cold medicine, sickly sweet. Gary has some really inexpensive German riesling that’s not too bad. I stopped in one day or liunch and had a bottle with some taco bell; it was pretty good since the riesling ,irried well with the spiciness of the food and the slight acidity balanced the cheese. Try it.

Thanks a lot Mike F. i think I understand a bit better. I’ll keep drinking and reading.
August 14, 2006

Michael P
Although I’m disappointed I had a feeling that there’s no way you could have re-tasted all those bottles in one episode. Oh well. Just means you have to make it up on the next one.
August 14, 2006

Cesar
I found your blog a week ago and checked out all the episodes. Really educational and informative, but above all FUN. Not pretentious or snobby what so ever. I like it. Keep it non-commercial, keep it fun, keep it off balance, keep it spontaneous.

This episode was definitly not the best, but really what pissed me off was all the whining comments from unhappy viewers. If you can’t contribute something positive, even if it is constructive criticism, why bother.

And if you don’t want to watch the show ever again because of one so so episode good riddance. More bandwidth for the rest of us.
August 14, 2006

joe
Come on guys. I cant’ beleive some poeple are upset at this episode. This was fun. Gary set up this bog to bring us together as family. We can joke on each other right?

Gary, keep on having fun. If we can’t have fun with wine – lets all start drinking Scotch.

Joe
August 14, 2006

Jon Pruitt
Gary, what up? You losing your grip?

and by the way – don’t you have any friends at the NY times? they interviewed everybody but you- would like to have seen your perspective included in that article
“Wine Ratings Might Not Pass the Sobriety Test” . You are the irreverent debunker – that’s why you are so much fun!
Now get back in there and finish that episode before you are doing an all-vinegar tasting.
August 14, 2006

Henry
Gary,

That was the best Show yet!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the spectacular work.
August 14, 2006

Rebecca
For those that were upset, I’ll bet that you’ve still got your WLTV alert set up in your e-mail and are awaiting Episode #70 today! Good comments or bad, at least we’re seeing that more people are commenting and perhaps, Gary will reach that “100 comment goal”…besides there seemed to be some really good comments going back and forth and people stepping in to answer each others questions. Gary, looking forward to your next episode, as always and hope you had fun at the wedding.
August 14, 2006

Doug
Thumbs down! Love your show and reccommendations… hated this joke.
August 14, 2006

George
Some of these folks need to lighten up. Don’t you ever have a little fun? I enjoyed the quick show Gary. Keep up the good work and hope the wedding went well!
August 14, 2006

Pete J.
Gary-I enjoy your light but educational approach! Now-really-was episode 69 a cop out or a hop out? Keep ‘em coming.
August 15, 2006

Melissa Sutherland Amado
Look, I have no problem with what happened. But, why did you upload this footage? You only did one take, right? Why not put up some color bars and just say you had other obligations, write some cute copy and go on with your personal plans. While the stunt could be humorous to others and really didn’t ruin my day, I have to question your motives and your credibility for throwing up what’s essentially an outtake as a substitute for quality, content-driven production.
August 15, 2006

Danny
Wow,

I can’t believe how some people just can’t relax and take a joke. Melissa says that she has to question Gary’s “motive and credibility.” I think that is an absolutely ludicrous accusation. Gary has shown time and time again that his motivation is to inform the public about wine, and his credibility has been proven time and time again. How in the world does one sell wine so succefully without credibility. Melissa, get a funny bone!
August 15, 2006

Brandon M
Ditto to Danny
August 15, 2006

joe
Danny – yes, way to go. Melissa, are you for real? Look at how Gary will pan the wines that he carries. He is THE MOST credible guy in the industry.

He did the episode to have fun with his family, IT was for US to have fun with.
August 15, 2006

elron
It was a dead give away that something was up when all those bottles were on the table. As it was intended, it was a spoof show. Let’s drink more wine and lighten up. Gar, I still like to see you do a show with a hangover and see how you rate some previous tasted wines then!
August 18, 2006

Melissa Sutherland Amado
Danny, Joe, and Elron:

I absoluteley agree and said “the segment was funny and didn’t ruin my day.” But those comments were edited out of my original post. Why? I never post anywhere without saying something positive. However, I find that now I must not recommend this program or the store to any of my readers and clients. Best to you.
August 18, 2006

Melissa Sutherland Amado
Correction: The comments are in the original, but not as I originally wrote them.
August 18, 2006

Danny
Melissa,

You still have given no good reason why you would question Gary’s “motive and creditbility”. Methinks you were just a little irritated by the show and said some things that just weren’t true. And now you say you won’t recommend a man who has probably helped the common wine-guy the most and has the greatest prices around. Very trite, Melissa, very trite.
August 19, 2006

Russ J
Just checked back in to the episode #69 comments to see what, if anything, has happened. Melissa Sutherland Amado, huh? And your comment apparently wa
August 19, 2006

Russ J
was maliciously edited? Mysteriously, maliciously edited? Perhaps like when I just missed a keystroke and submitted that last comment before I had finished writing it? Perhaps not. Trite is being far too kind.
October 5, 2006

Mike E
Loved this episode… Keep the humor in WLTV, wine and winos…sorry…wine collectors can be way too stuffy sometimes – More Scrooge Mcduck than Donald Duck. Quacks me up (couldn’t resist, soz)! Keep the good work up Gary and team!
October 22, 2006

Shahar Golan
How comes episode 69 has 68 comments? How can you talk about WINES that are off balance, when there is something so off balance in WLTV?!

I am new to WLTV and I zap my way in it from buttom to top (Though I can walk into the last five minutess of a movie and enjoy watching it, if it is all layed here, I am going to enjoy it all!)

The faces Gary does on episode 70 tell me that he received some really scary emails on this trick. No dubdt Gary, you’ve created a monster; an audience of junkies that God knows what they will do if you don’t give them what tey are waiting for. Way to go!
January 9, 2007

JavaMonkey
Labels? Tagging? I don’t know… whatever turns you guys on. Just keep up the actual wine stuff.
January 12, 2007

OH! NO! PHILE!
The mother of all episodes? The mother****** of all episodes!!!! Very Fun. And reminds us Wine is Wine and fabulous it is, but a friends wedding is life. In vino veritas-
ONP
January 26, 2007

ThomasS
Grrrrrrr … teaser. Do it again within a few weeks. I really want to know what those great Brunello’s did …
February 7, 2007

Hinrgman
Great episode.

Keep doing more USA wines that aren’t from California!!
June 23, 2007

Bill Luby
I love it!

Gary, if you are having fun, I guarantee that we will be having fun too. If not, you’ll just run off all the wine snobs that are hanging around here anyway. Think of it as Darwinian comedy…
July 3, 2007

David Canada
That was cool….I can’t beleive that you forgot about a wedding for us….
August 30, 2007

DryDrew
Continude on Episode #305
August 31, 2007

WA Ambassador
Dude, you suck! I was looking forward to seeing this. Aging wine is great topic to talk about.
December 28, 2007

Chrisfs
People were upset by this??
Geesh, people need to relax and find other things to do if this is going to get them upset
February 10, 2008

The Fanjestic
No Sniffy Sniff? Bad Tricky Trick!!
July 23, 2008

Grange And Sassicaia 24 Hours Of Decanting Later - Episode #507
[...] Episode #69 WLTV [...]
July 23, 2008

Dominus
Funny
July 23, 2008

Roberto
what?? wedding??? don’t you tape during the day??? that sucked… i was looking forward to it…
July 27, 2008

Colin Komar
Just a bit hilarious given the situation.
August 1, 2008

PaulC
That was class, very funny. All the people without a sense of humour really need to lighten up. I feel sorry that GV after all the work he puts in, all the time and effort he gives, he gets grief from people because of a joke. Shame…
September 5, 2008

A Special Weekend Episode - Episode #534
[...] WLTV Episode #69 [...]
September 6, 2008

RANDI
hahaha! Too Funnny!!!
xox
September 6, 2008

Derek F.
HAHA…you dope!!!
September 16, 2008

Justin Viger
I can’t believe people were annoyed by this. It was funny. At least it was funny watching it two years later.
November 4, 2008

Ray Barnes
I hope he can do another “gotcha” show every April 1. When I saw over 10 bottles on the table, all oxidized, I guessed that the fix just had to be in. This was good.

All kidding aside, I once found by accident a half-empty bottle of sweet chenin blanc from the Loire that had been left for about a year – and wonder of wonders, it was still delicious. Vive la France.
July 2, 2009

Fuban
Heya Gary,

Funny ep, its a pity the stuffed shirts dont have a sense of humor.

Keep up the gr8 work !
August 28, 2009

CaseyLee
hahah what the hell was this???
September 15, 2009

John J.
Not alot of age on this episode. Don’t know if its funny that you actually posted this or not.
What it does show me however, is if you’re willing to post this as an episode #, then I got some real high hopes that I can expect a vin jaune or charbono tasting/episode in the future.
Wish the young married couple the best.

This is the big one! – Episode #69

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