Four South African Wines – Episode #75

August 21, 2006

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2001 Warwick Estate Reserve Red

2002 Warwick Three Cape Ladies Red

2001 Rudera Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon

Today Gary talks about four wines from an underrated region, South Africa. He reviews wines from the Stellenbosch region of South Africa. A new QOD and a new feature for you at the end. Watch for it!

85 Responses

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  1. August 22, 2006

    Tony S.

    Gary,

    I’ve missed your show the last week and a half because I was on vacation…doing nothing. So, I’m glad to catch back up.

    First off: WEEK 10 (Nov. 19th) THE BEARS WILL EAT UP YOUR JETS ONE WEEK AFTER TEARING UP THE GIANTS!!! And you know it too.

    Secondly: On a scale from 147-253 I give today’s show (well, actually yesterday’s show, I watched this on Tuesday morning) a 247. The reason for the dumb point scale…c’mon, points are dumb. They make sense at times, but I just like knowing someone’s reaction to wine that’s the key thing. Either way, I’m saying your show was tops, not the best today, but consistantly a good watch.

    Third: My prized wine, currently (I usually have a prized wine and then drink it) is a 98 Mouton. The only reason it’s the 98 is cause I got this to have on December 19th, 2008 for my 10 year wedding anniversary with my wife. I figure 10 years is good for a 98…not too strong of a vintage for Pauillac.

    OK, see you later. Go Bears!!
    Tony

  2. August 22, 2006

    Bruce

    Hi Gary,

    Always enjoy each episode but would rate this one as a 89. As others have mentioned, you seemed to rushed and could have provided more info on SA and other SA varietals. My Wife and I love SA Sauv Blancs.

    Most cherished in my 70-80 bottle collection is the two 02 Insignia’s my wife bought me for Christmas last year.
    Would be great to see you taste the 02 JP Insignia to see if you agree with WS Wine of the Year??…but please do not break my bubble..
    Also would like to see you taste some Rosenblum Zinfandels.

    Thanks!

  3. August 22, 2006

    Lynne

    Gary,
    Got a ‘99 Reserve Robert Mondavi Cab @ a local grocery for $22.00. I’ve seen it online for $150.00. I can’t say that I cherish it because I haven’t yet tried it, but I’m thrilled w/ my bargain!
    Rating:Good nose, a little short on the finish; left me wanting a little more. Didn’t really seem you were having any fun.But..its Monday.

  4. August 22, 2006

    Jason R.

    Cherished Wine:
    1974 Christian Brothers Napa Cab – My Birth Year – Given to me for my wedding.
    1988 Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow
    Toss up between vertical of Ch. Leoville Barton & Ch. Lascombes (Have several of each and just starting to come into the “drinking” stage of their long lived lives and I hope to be rewarded with my patience

  5. August 22, 2006

    Tony

    P.S. Gary, if you want to do an episode on Finger Lakes wines, I’d be forever in your debt!

  6. August 22, 2006

    Tony

    I have a question for the community. I’m going to be going to a conference in Rochester in October and would like to visit the Finger Lakes. I’d like recommendations on the best wines/wineries to visit. I’ll only have two days to trip around.

    I dislike most whites with the exception of dessert wines (muscats, icewines, etc.). I’m big on Bordeaux blends and rhone wines, not something common there, I guess. However, I’ll try anything as long as it is good quality. I’ve tasted enough wine to not want to waste my time on marginal quality stuff.

    Recommendations? Places to go? Wineries to visit? Specific wines to try? Restaurants in Rochester (we’ve already got a couple in mind)?

    Thanks all!

    Tony

  7. August 21, 2006

    Bill

    This episode: 90.
    Most cherished wine: Grange 99. Maybe not the greatest vintage, but it is the only one I currently have and this wine – on the 6 or 7 occasions I have had it in my life – has changed my life every time. No other wine I have ever experinced (and yes, that does include some first growth Bordeauxs and a couple of top-flight Napas) comes even close!

  8. August 21, 2006

    chito

    Gary, good info on these SA reds. Rated 85.
    My most cherished wine is a 1999 Silverado Cab. The only wine my Dad (not a wine drinker) said he liked. Shared a bottled on each of his last few birthdays including one on the night he passed away. Brings a smile and a tear at the same time.

  9. August 21, 2006

    Bryan G.

    Hey Gary,
    I am another wine newbie that really enjoys the vblog. It has been very educational and I like the fact that you are global, not just California/France. I’m assuming that when you are tasting wines that your comments are for people with a well developed palate to handle big, bold wines. What about us newbies? What wines would you suggest for us to try? Shouldn’t we learn to walk before we run?
    Thanks, Bryan

    Oh yeah, an 89 (I missed the Q&A)and so far, a 2004 Gudolphin… smoother and more drinkable than other reds I’ve tried.

  10. August 21, 2006

    JohnM

    Today’s episode gets an 89. Good balance (two good, two not), but lacking in the signature WL surprise and humor which have been the standard since the TV offer. Watchable, but not memorable.

    Most beloved bottle, something of a splurge from WL, Moret Nomine Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Garrenne 2004. My wife and I have been married 26 years, and our first big date was to a great restaurant in New Orleans, Le Ruth’s. We had a marvelous Puligny Motrachet then, but as the years slipped by, the prices rose. Last week I decided to jump back in and grab the old style that blew us both away years ago. We’ll probably have it next summer for #27.

  11. August 21, 2006

    Tony G.

    I too am relatively inexperienced with wine but most cherished at this point is the ONA (carmenere) that you vblog’ed a while back. It reminded me of backpacking in the South of France in ‘92. In addition I was sitting on the front porch drinking it holding my then new baby girl in my arms, she’s 3 1/2 months now, so she was only a week or two old, and I had one of those MOMENTS, when life just makes sense. Yeah, that’s my most cherished

  12. August 21, 2006

    stewart

    My favorite wine 1982 Grange Hermitage. Given to me by a friend,plan to drink it soon.Iwould rate your episode an 85. Iwould have liked sev varieties of S. African wines insread of just cab blends.

  13. August 21, 2006

    John

    Gary,

    Great idea, I am very happy to see you doing the webcast thing. Let me start by saying that I think you have an awesome store and the information you are conveying here is very welcome! I constantly find myself passing your name (and url) onto almost everyone that is interested.

    That said, less caffeine, more wine! (no offence) but slow it down a bit. Go for the 7-10 minute broadcast… maybe try a 30-45 second summary on each then drill down into the specifics for those who are interested, just a suggestion. Keep keeping it light though… I think your approach is strong, it is a good way to get attention by more people.

    -Johnie “i just lost 5lbs watching that” Grapes! :)

    ps: seriously, great concept, great info… I welcome your effort! Keep it up! I am looking forward to your next installment.
    pps: consider reaching out to some of the more popular podcasts out there, toss in a few sawbucks and get into the mix! (send a few samplers, noting big, some of your tasting notes perhaps) take advantage of the growing attention that this “off channel” marketing channel has to offer! Consider some reverse marketing such as recommendations for “podcast of the week”

    pps: I am going to try all 4… mission accomplished! :)

    ppps: I, for one, appreciate obscure details about the producer and the area it comes from…

  14. August 21, 2006

    Janis

    I alway likie your episode but feel 75 was not as great, perhaps it’s SA wines that are not as popular. Nonetheless, a 90.

    The best wine I tasted turnd up in a blind tasting. It was a 1998 merlot called Providence from Matakana, New Zealand. What was surprising is that this was a unanimous decision and it was pitted against a 1998 Cheval Blanc and a 1996 Troplong Mondot! Unfortunately, the wine wasn’t cheap, costing $100 but still a lot cheaper than the Cheval Blanc. I had the wine in Germany and I don’t think you can buy it in New Zealand or at home.

  15. August 21, 2006

    TH

    I have many wines, including the 1986 Montrachet DRC, 1985 Jayer Echezeaux, 53 Mouton and 1928 Cos d’Estorunel. Had all of these but nothing compares to the Henri Bonneau Celestins 1985. It is the elixir of life. Don’t know what Bonneau put into it. I speculate it is some of the spores from his moldy cellar but whatever, never had a wine that makes you feel this GOOD. I got this (as well as my drinking companions) from all the 7 or so bottles I have drunk so it was not a one off!

    As for your show, I think you should stick to wine, not sports as there are too many other blogs about sports. I rate your current episode 6 out of 10.

  16. August 21, 2006

    Darlene O.

    Hey, Gary…Alrighty. My most cherished bottle of wine thus far has already been consumed. I always wanted to drink a Dom Perignon in a foreign country, right out of the bottle. Well, I got my chance a couple of years ago when my husband surprised me with a 1995 Dom in our hotel room in Barcelona. We shared it with friends who went with us, but that last little bit was for me…out of the bottle.

    Now…I’d rate this episode an 7.5 out of 10. I love all of your episodes and the only reason I give this one a 7.5 is because I felt it was a little short (I would rate most, if not all of the episodes, 8 and higher) and I really like the length of the episodes. I’m a newbie at wine and I’ve learned more in the couple of weeks watching your episodes than reading most wine forums. Thanks, Gary!

  17. August 21, 2006

    Cameron

    My most cherished wine is a 2002 Summerwood Diosa, which is a Rhone blend from Paso Robles. I bought it at the winery with my best friend on one of my first big wine tasting excursions. The particular day we went there my parents also came, so it was a really fun experience. Their wines are excellent across the board, but that particular one stands out.

    I’d rate this episode a 7.5 out of 10. While it dealt with an interesting subject that you were obviously passionate about, I didn’t get the feeling that the particular wines you sampled this time around were particularly enjoyable or unique.

  18. August 21, 2006

    JW

    1. Steelers (Big Ben could beat the Jets with or without a helmet)

    2. ‘95 Montrose – bought for my daughter’s birth year, makes me smile

    3. 87…big nose, start showed some promise, a little hollow in the mid-program, but finished well. Seriously though, I have watched every episode since the beginning. Good stuff. Keep it coming.

  19. August 21, 2006

    PeteB

    Rating: 88 – maybe a little higher once I try that Warwick Three Cape ladies :)

    Most cherished bottle:
    2000 Grahams Vintage Port – it was a gift from a friend in Portugal.

  20. August 21, 2006

    Rick McQ

    Gary:

    I’m going to rate this episode 86. I would rate the previous two in the 92-93 range. If a WLTV episode makes me buy either black current, place an order, run to the wine store, or bolt outside to lick the pavement so I can refresh my memory on what tar tastes like. Then its 92-93 points!!

  21. August 21, 2006

    Russ J

    89 points seems about right to me for today. I agree that GV was a tad rushed and none of the wines held much interest for me. Still the best thing going anywhere on wine.

    My favorite bottle is a 2002 Saxum Broken Stones that my brother gave to me to hold on to (he is incapable of keeping wine more than a week or two!) so that we could share it on a special occasion years from now.

  22. August 21, 2006

    LMA

    Gary…

    As far as the episode goes, solid effort. Giving it a rating, I’ll go 17.2/20 (Decanter style). Keep up the good work!

    As far as the QOD: it’s a tie for my most cherished bottle(s). the 1988 Chateau Musar for being the first “real” bottle I ever bought and the 2002 Alex Gambal Clos Vougeot for the thrill of the hunt (had a hell of a time finding it). Thankfully both are in storage so as to not tempt.

  23. August 21, 2006

    ray n

    My most cherished wine is a 97 Tignanello that I found in Sienna Italy (I have only one left after buying 4). It was on this trip I proposed to my wife. By the way, had first sonogram today and the baby is going to have a palate to match yours Gary.

    I would rate this episode 89-90, not so much for the wines themselves, but I do think its great to explore “other” wines like those from S Africa. Good job!

  24. August 21, 2006

    Rob M

    Good episode, have only viewed about 10 WLTV, so I will leave the “rushed” comments to others. I enjoyed the episode, like the idea of doing a “different” region. Initially, I wanted a wider range of prices, but four similar (or close) priced wines allows easier comparison. My score- 90.

    Most cherished bottle in my small collection- 1997 Martin Ray Diamond Mountain Select Cab. Distinctly remember it as being the bottle of wine I was drinking when I decided I wanted to learn more about wine. Was given a bottle by a good friend as a going away gift when moving, who knew nothing about my tasting many years earlier. Now, I can’t wait to try it again.

  25. August 21, 2006

    joe

    Gary:

    The wine that gives me the biggest smile is 1991 Heitz Martha’s – it brings me back to the love affair with Heitz Martha’s since 1978. Although I would trade the Martha’s for Bill Ipp’s ‘58 Inglenook Cask Researve.

    Gary, with Episode 1 (Verite) getting 98 points, this past episode gets 90 points. Solid wine reviews, educational about a different region, offering good value in picks, but a little rushed and obviously you were not enjoying yourself as much as in other episodes.

    Joe

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