qotd: I work at a family owned restaurant, and that family pretty much did. They had a list of about 250 different wines when I started there. I knew nothing about wine, and fell in love with wine after working there and wine being so much a part of that place.

QOTD: On my first trip to France, I really started to like wine and got to enjoy my first reds (before that I found them too tannic and the like). My interest kept growing since 2003 and then in 2007, my mom showed me the article in Time about WLTV. Needless to say, ever since then I've been been a Vayniac. Your advice and knowledge has really gotten me into the wine world now. I'm focusing on wine for my French Master's degree! :)

Good episode - but I thought the Falesco was better than the DJ - both were good pizza wines in my opinion. The cola aspect of Falesco demands food - but it's still an 88+ wine.

Hey Gary - our first fight, does this mean we're in a serious relationship? ;)

96 points

Interesting ep. GV. I love it when you do these 90 pt. taste-offs.

QOTD: My girlfriend and her dad.

So many things to comment on:
1) Keep challenging the punks that question you. IN fact, get them on the show and blind taste them to show them how stupid they are!
2) Show rating - Hmmmmmmmlet's say 91, could have been 99 if you wore a Jersey from a proper team like the Raptors!
QOTD - A Friends wedding got me into wine. Her dad is a huge wine guy, like 1900 Chateaux Margaux wine guy, and he opened a 1998 Wolf Blass Special Selection for all of us newbies and I thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread.

I'm a serious *accident* so my brothers are way, way older than me. Lucky for me one of them was seriously into beer and then moved on to seriously being into wine (with an occational beer). He turned me onto the wine thing from a young age... not as young of an age as you though, Gary.

Had some of Falesco's past vintages and thought they were pretty good for the price. Have to see the difference in the "04". Opposite with Norante: wasn't to fond of the past ones will see the newer ones are like.
I use to drink what I thought was wine a while back; Sangria and steady at that(LOL). Until, I met (at that time)my future Father-in-law who made his own wine. Being from Europe(Portugal exactly) and being raised and allowed to drink wine in those days from a very young age. Even with breakfast(nasty). Anyway, the first day I had met him he put his bog'ol gallon of homemade wine on the table and said; "Do you drink wine"? and I said: "Sure"!. Boy, was I in for a surprise. From drinking white sangria to this, my socks and shoes nearly flew off and my hair stood up from the first sip. I reached for the 7-up to calm it down(and I guess sweeten it) and in-turn insulted him. He said "you're ruining my wine"! So for two months I drank his wine like that and he shake his head. Finally, came the day, where I got the strength to drink it without the 7up. Wow! Was he happy. "Now that's wine", he said. Indeed, it was! I enjoyed it so much that I even took part almost every year stomping the grapes in his basement to make the next years batch!
After a not so good batch one year. I started to buy store wines and make a little wine cellar! When I went to show my father-in-law the wine cellar he could barely look. It was like Kryptonite to him! It was hysterical! After a while, he broke down and started enjoying store bought wine too! So, I thank him( up above) for introducing me to the wonderful world of wine! In honor of him, this year, I will most likely make my own homemade wine! Hopefully, I can make a good wine and be as proud as he was! - Ron

Classic Tony....I beat you...I'm 83rd!
This could go on forever!

B

Gary,

You had to have gotten a bad bottle of Falesco. It acts like a big boy when you decant it; the nose is dark and perfumey, it's got great structure and balance. I'd give it a second shot if I were you. Your description is nothing like my experience and we've put back a few cases of this already.

I score this EP an 87 (simply because Gary's collar was sticking out of the shirt which is a serious no-no in Erik's "Holy crap I'm a metro-sexual" book of rules).

I'm buying some of that other wine too, when I ever get a chance to get to the Wine Library!!! Gary!!!! Your fault!!!

Good show Gary. Just one point on the Penfolds. IMO Penfolds is the ONLY big company in Oz still making wine that REALLY should not be drunk for a min. of 5 years. This is very old-style Aussie wine, unlike most if not all the modern ones. Even Koonunga Hill, for example, is just spectacularly better after 5 years min. I have not tried the 2002 707, but I suspect it might fall into the same category. The 1998 is really superb now, but was a bit ho-hum when I first bought it in 2003. Just a thought!
One the QotD: My parents. They served me a small glass of red wine every night with dinner from the age of about 7. What great folks!!

Or not.

I'm 77th!!

My folks gave me and my brother a little wine with dinner whenever they had it when we were growing up, so I guess that's where I get my taste for the stuff. And my friend reminds me of the dinner post-college when I held up an empty bottle and said, "Did I just drink this whole thing?" Hate when that happens!

Launched Feb 21, 2006

I know, I'm late.

Gary,
I rate today's episode a 93. Interesting and memorable topic, fun delivery, some genuinely funny moments, some apparently great wines (both inexpensive and more expensive), one that tanked, and you did the viewer questions along with throwing out a good QOD. I have not tried the '04 Falesco Vitiano, but I have enjoyed past vintages (e.g., '01 and "02)so I was somewhat surprised the bottle showed so poorly. QOD: Most influential for our wine hobby was the wine steward (J.C.) and the "founder's group" at the Woodstock Wine & Deli (Portland OR). Shout out to you guys!

My wife and I love watching WLTV as we never see you in the store anymore. So, this is our only chance to see you.

There wasn't one specific person who started us or influenced us about wine. We moved to the northeast in 1990. At the time, we were drinking basic (cheap) wines that were on sale at the time. One day I saw a liquor store ad in the paper for a 90-some-odd point wine for $29.99. Not having any idea about 70 point, 80 point or 90 point scores for wines...and never having imagined spending $29.99 on any one bottle, I headed on down to the store to find out about this wine.

That evening I threw a couple filets on the grill and opened up this bottle of '85 Chateau Montelena. WOW! What a difference. We started 'investigating' other wines and after a while were exceeding that $29.99 benchmark. The following 16 years have been a joy...visiting wine regions in California. Oregon, Washington and Australia.

Definitely a hobby gone awry. But lots of fun!

Gary Beesley

My cousin started me into homebrewing beer and while we were waiting for the mash to cook, we would open up some red's. Also, my family has always loved good wine for the holiday's.

A question for you- what was/is your best and worst wltv episode you have done?

Gary,

I just got back from vacation (Sideways country, Napa & Sonoma) and have been catching up on all the WLTV vlogs. Your shows bounce between 85(boo hoo) - 95 (mostly in the 90's) with an occasional 99+. (I particularly liked the "wedding" show.) Keep up the good work.

I don't believe that you have done a Rosé show.

I was introduced to Rosés a few years ago in Aix when I asked the waiter for a reccomendation. He suggested a Rosé !!! And it was good . . . and then I noticed that many of the locals were also drinking Rosés. In the interest of trying all kinds of wines, how about it?

As to who influenced me the most -- I have a group of friends (for about 27 years now) who began to taste wines in the blind. Not knowing the price or the label really forces you to judge the wine on its merits (color, nose, taste, etc.) To me, this is the only way to really learn about wine - at least at the beginning. We still do it occassionally. What fun.

Stan

16-0 the Jets...? Are you now drinking bad wine that makes you see vapor trails? LOL

The Dolphins and the Patriots will have better records than the Jets.

How about episode where you and a wltv viewer blind taste wine together and rate the wines?

GeneV,
I had the same thought when the competition started: "should'nt the first to watch the episode win?" Ah, oh well, its all in the name of good fun. Maybe i'll start a new competition:

"LAST for this episode!!!"

Yes, I win. hopefully.

Hey Gary et al.,
Definately a 92. I liked the varied price points; it made an interesting show to see how the wines compared. No real negatives per se; just not your best.

QotD: A family friend introduced me to German riesling after my family had been, and are still, strictly white zin drinkers. The nuances of other varietals intrigued me, whetting my appetite for other styles. I really got into it at 21 when I purchased Wine for Dummies at my campus bookstore. Now 22, i am trying to develop my palate and buy as much wine as my gf of 3yrs will allow. Someday, I'll have a vast cellar which I will whittle away, leaving one bottle when I die. That last bottle will be the one that describes my life best; it will be for my loved ones to celebrate my life with. I guess it should be a 3L bottle, huh? We'll see.

Re: Falesco
This producer is gaining a reputation for severe bottle variation.
That's why I don't buy it anymore, regardless of rating.

Later.

Lawrence: good points (including football points). Lawrence, what od you make of Spectator's bashing of BV and Montelena TCA-ladden and moldy cellars. Real and deserved or political?

Gary - Never mind that the Jets are not the best team in football - - they may not even be the best team in NJ (Prediction: Giants and Rutgers finish higher in their divisions than the Jets)

I wouldn't even cook with the Falesco it was so bad. Threw out both of the other bottles I had and I don't like to throw out wine. That's why it's Wine Expectator. Gary definitely 91 points today despite the outfit. No team will be 16-0 this year.
I got into wine from a wine tasting group made up of neigbors and a friend from work. Still do a wine group 27 years later but new people now.

Question for you. How did Wine Spectator which is just an advertising rag get to be so influential. They are almost routinely of the mark and seem to rate wines based on who advertises with them or who is slipping a few K in their coffers.

Gary- I forgot to rate your episode 76. You get a 91. I liked the different price points. I have tried the first 3 wines and agree with you on each. Maybe our tastes are similar??

Gary, Great review of the Renard. I was very excited to see it on the queue for today. I am a big fan of the Renard Unti Syrah, which gets a 90 RP. I always wondered if the 1 point better Tres Ninos was worth an extra 20 clams, but based on your rating of 94 I think I'll have to give it a go. I have had great success buying based on your ratings and recommendations.

A note on the Falesco... I totally agree. I bought some of this based on the 90pt rating and was very disappointed. Luckily it was only 7 bucks.

Like I said, I have had great success buying based on your ratings and recommendations, so I would have to give you a 94. Keep up the good work

Gary - awesome episode - a "96" point classic (to be watched again and again over time). Really nice work. It was real, relaxed, you spent lots of time with the subject, Really taught something valuable - - and I love the "real" descriptors that we all can get (skitles, Dairy). Sometimes I can't differentiate Parker's and Spectators reviews apart because of they don't get to the heart of the wine, like you do.

I agree 100% with the Falesco review. I bought a case of the stuff (at WL) with its first 90 point review in the 1990s. I was so dissapointed in it - I used half the case to cook with.

Which brings me to a question I have debated with friends for life. Does Parker and Spectator adjust scores for price?? Is a 91 point (i.e. Vitanno, Marquis Phillips) $10 wine equal in quality to 91 point $50 wine (i.e., a Calon Segur, or Renard). I personally would love for 90 points = "Excellent" regardless of price. That would let me determine which wines to seek depending on my budget. Do you have a feel for ratings adjustments....or an opinion on the proper way to rate a wine (based on price or independent of price)

After my Vitanno and later Marquis-Phillips experience, I stopped buying wines rated 90 points under $20. Didn't want to bother with them anymore.

So Thank you for finding me a real QUALITY wine at a bargin - the Hecula. I don't trust Parker on ratings of $10 wines - but based on your review I will seek out the Hecula. Thank you for that service.

I got into wine by visiting Napa during the 1978 harvest. Napa was different then. Not yet Touristy. Vinterns spoke to us - taught us, and we tasted those magical 1978 ripe Grapes while harvesting. That vintage and experience got me hooked.

Gary- After a concert in 2004, one of our friends ordered the 2001 Artazuri with dinner and my wife loved it. A month later, the same friend dropped by and gave us 6 bottles. About a week later, a different friend gave us a bottle of 1993 Opus One as a thank you. Anyway, I bought a home cellar and have been hooked ever since.

Great episode. The 2002 Hecula was the second case of wine I ever bought in the summer of 2004. It was a great buy.

Dan

Are you thinking Vanilla Milkshake when you say it smells milky? You said you know it's something to do with the oak.

Better episode, less rushed, remembered the questions, I even have an answer for the QOD. 91

Mel Gibson in the movie "What Women Want" has a case of merlot fetched by one of the gals in the movie, so I went and got a bottle of under $10 Chilean merlot which turned out pretty good. Been stuck ever since. The science showing that red wine was good for you helped me along to trying wine as well, but isn't as entertaining a story.

Hey other Tony,

Finally, someone else who agrees that California wine (or new world in general) is not an old world wine and can appreciate BOTH styles!

See you later,
Tony

and go Bears!

Gary,
There's one thing I've been wanting to tell you. I feel that this race to post first concept is silly. It seems to me that the first 4-5 posters probably skip the episode just to post first & who knows if they even go back to watch it. If you were to look at this thread alone only 1 out of the first 5 went back to post something relevant to the episode. I just think it really waters down WLTV & loses focus on its real purpose.

Ok enough of my rants. The reason I got into wine was because of my father-in-law. Before my wife & got married he was a hard nut to crack if you will. I needed an "in" with him & at the time we only had one thing in common & that was sports; baseball in particular. Since he was a former MLB player there were only so many arguments or strategies I could win & I was never going to be able to bs him. So that left me with wine. I knew he really liked it so I began to read every publication known to man & taste many different cabs (his fav). I found out what his favorite bottle was & learned it inside & out. I'm happy to report that it worked!!! The only problem now is that its become an obsession with me. A very expensive one. So much so that I just had to have my own cellar. One which we built together & I told him that he could only gain access to it by providing a minimum of 3 cases. And he did!!! We have really bonded.
Thanks Gary for allowing me to share this story. Not too many people know it.
Cheers!

Firstly, I'd rate this episode a strong 96. And I totally agree with you about the Vitiano!!!

Secondly, my father is right off the boat from Yugoslavia and his father had his own cellar, even made Slivovitsa. Wine was always talked about, even though it was not served to us kids growing up. I think what got me into wine seriously was being introduced, in the middle of the Carribbean, to a 1976 Chateau Margaux. Holy cow!!!! The rest is history.

My wife got me into wine about 5yrs ago (I was weak after a bad micro-brew) and never looked back. Living in WA I am surrounded by great wineries and CA is just a 2hr flight away - "when in Rome".

Gary if I rated you on passion we would have to move to the richter scale - show gets 94.

Episode is rated 91. The biggest wine influence I had was a college class I took. They had a full semester wine appreciation class at Purdue -- where I got my undergrad degree. It was a fully legit class with 300 students. We had an hour lecture, then about an hour tasting (serving 300 students was tough!), then we usually watched a video the last hour. Get this, my prof's name was Professor Vine. I'm not making it up. You can find the textbook we used (he wrote it) online if you look hard enough. I guess he was the wine buyer for United Airlines for quite some time and really knew his wine...

http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/connections/s...

I lived near the Napa/Sonoma area so it was a natural thing to get into wine, sort of an evolutionary process, besides my grandfather made wine, when he wasn't drilling on peoples teeth.

Rating 92-93 and for those who are so uptight and don't appreciate Gary's approach and levity with wine, go shop at Berry Brothers and Rudd in London, they are right your alley!

Awesome episode. 92-94pts. And thanks for covering South African wines yesterday. I'm almost as obsessed with them as much I am with WLTV, which has become the highlight of my night after a long day at work.

I definitely learned to appreciate wines from my father. Growing up in an Italian family, there was always wine on the table. It always found it interesting that my father loves wines, but still can't really drink any other alcoholic beverages. Now, I continue my love for wine being involved in the restaurant business with my friends.
I am a Jet fan too, but I would be happy with 9-7 this year.

Thanks Gary! E mail is on the way. The pink shirt should do wonders to dispel my image as an uber geek. ;-)