A Very Special Wine Episode.

A Very Special Wine Episode. – Episode #96

September 22, 2006

Wines tasted in this episode:

Today Gary tastes 4 wines from 4 very different places and finds a few he likes, he also takes us on a very special journey. Please watch todays episode with an nice bottle of wine and enjoy this massive effort. If there is ever an episode to write in on or email Gary about this is it!

158 Responses

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September 23, 2006

Ricardo Ganc
Gary,
This episode:
Awkward, very awkward.
It started well, with a great emocional speech as an attack, after that, really off balance, white with red, last millennium videos on, not a great finish… 87 for the wines and a…..75 minus for the video….IÂ´d say “Pazz with a double Z”

LOL, GOTTA LOVE THIS ONE!!
September 23, 2006

Lynne
Gary,
What a nice tribute to your father and family.
I would LOVE to know more about how he started his family
here, where he came from and how the business began.

I agree whole heartedly about the importance of family. That’s where life is.
What’s the expression…if everyone would take care of family,
then everyone would be taken care of?.

QOD: HATED: (because I was young & foolish & I got sick)
1) Almaden
2) Spanada
3) Zeller Schwarze Katz

Thanks for a GREAT episode, have a wonderful family weekend and….GO BENGALS!!
September 23, 2006

kEN
I mean Patriot.
September 23, 2006

kEN
iF YOU REALLY VALUE YOUR FAMILY AS i’M SURE tHEY DO YOU; get yourself a hands free headset or speaker phonefor that lex you….. dork.
September 23, 2006

Matthew L
Hey Gary…check this out! I was cruising the message board at a wine shop here in the DC area, and look what I found. A thread on WL.

http://www.wineaccess.com/store/beltwayfinewine/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.html?msg_id=000RGr
September 23, 2006

Matthew L
Awesome episode Gary! What is that … and an IS or a GS? You strike me more of an IS kinda guy because it’s sportier. What was up with that black SUV coming out of the lot? I think you two were going to crash. I saw ep. #4, but seeing the store again … WOW! Nice work.

Very classy tribute to your dad and family. A lot of people these days don’t talk enough about the importance of family. It’s apparent that your dad is very special to you.

I’ll be honest and say that 40 bones for a bottle is a lot to spend, so I appreciate the review of the Corte Riva.

I’m kind of in the same boat as Tampa Steve, and some others, in that I don’t really hate a particular producer. Although, growing up in Kalamazoo, MI, we were almost forced to drink St. Julian wines. That about as close to hate as I will get for a producer. As for pissed off? I have to that those friggin’ Arbor Mist, and its corny commercials, REALLY piss me off! They are truly the new millennium Boons.

Hey…I asked this question last week, but given your QOD I think it’s on topic to raise it again. What producer, or producers, do you think does the best job making different varietals of wine? I think Hogue and Hess are up there.
September 23, 2006

Ferrigno
Shame on you Gary Vay-ner-chuk, talking over the cellphone while driving….
September 23, 2006

John Coyne
Gary,

This is easy, any wines imported by Gaetano d’Aquino. Many years ago, when I was forced to become a value shopper, I bought different Italian wines imported by d’Aquino. All were absolute dreak. What’s amazing to me is after all these years they’re still in business. You can fool some of the people all the time.
September 23, 2006

Darlene O.
Ah, Gary! This is why we love WLTV!!! Another awesome episode, great intro, love the Benitar vid, (really took me back!), and you got me looking for the Corte Riva!! Now, for your QOD…can’t say a wine ever pissed me off, but I can tell you what I used to drink (very early in my wine-learning) but will never drink again: Yago Sangria!!! I know, but hey, when I was drinking it, EVERYONE was drinking it. I’m not ashamed, it’s just an is. :}
September 23, 2006

P. Hig.
Good episode. Thanks for the comment on the La Mission. I agree though I have frequently been disappointed with it. I too was a little confused with the comments on the pinot. Flabby and acidic (like the latter not the former). Other that that, on “The Office,” I went to school with Steve Carell.. I think he’s the only vaguely (ok, really vaguely) famous person I can brag about having known. Not that HE would know me from Adam these days but… So, if I can’t have Burgundy, how about some good cheap(ish) Rhones. Vacqueras, Gigondas, Crozes-Hermitage. I trying here… Make ‘em 2004. You should be getting those right about now. Wine I would never drink again. White Zin. I thought I would never have Sautern again when I stole a bottle from my Dad (I was something like a 1960s Rieussec) and opened it only to gag because it was so sweet. I just wanted to get buzzed and couldn’t guzzle it so I finally threw it down the sink. When he figured it out he almost threw me down the sink. Ah, the teenage years. Now I love the sweets.
September 23, 2006

MarcT
Comment #46 is in response to “A”
September 23, 2006

MarcT
Gary nice show. I would like to see some video of the inside of your retail area. Some of us are just too far away to stop by.

Comment 37: By A on

Try going back a few episodes (Episode #64) and you will get a full tour! And a good laugh.
September 23, 2006

MarcT
Nice Billy! I hope your back on the train now.
September 23, 2006

MarcT
Alan Richman clearly has no sack!
I love whites too but what is this guy doing?
September 23, 2006

Big Billy from Big D
QOTD:
In 1967 I was a young PFC in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendleton. My platoon began a custom of a day or two before payday, when everyone was very broke, of taking up a collection of any odd spare change. The spare change slush fund would be handed over to one of us with a car to go into Oceanside and fetch as much Red Mountain Burgundy as our spare change collection would buy. Red Mountain was sold in those lab-style gallon jugs for about $1.99 a gallon. The jugs would be brought back to the barracks and would be consumed from canteen cups until it was all gone, as were we. These forays into inebriation kept me from drinking red wine until I was probably 35.
September 23, 2006

MarcT
Gary, you sold me on the Corte Riva Merlot. I bought it before I even posted. Ha
The wine that I will NEVER drink again…well I don’t know about never but I am really fed up with (and you will only understand if you are from Georgia or visit North Georgia) Habersham Winery. The products they offer to the public are absolute donkey piss. Of course some “friend” of mine will go to North GA and get a bottle from one of the tasting rooms and come to my house with it in tow…”Man I tried this awesome wine from up near Helen and I brought a bottle to you. You have got to try it!” I reply….”Now?”
Why is it when people know that you are knowledgeable and in to wine they continuously bomb you with crap? “Oh man I went to Outback and had the Shiraz and it was soooo great with my Flo’s Filet!” Or “Oh I found this great wine at the store the other day, Marc; you’ve got to try it.”
I say, “Really, what wine did you find?”
“It’s a Pinot Noir. I just love Pinot Noir!”
“Aaaahhhhh yes. That sounds great! Who made it?” (In my most happy voice)
“I don’t know…”
Now I do have patience with these nubies cause I was once at that point too (when I was 15) but sometimes it gets under my skin. Fortunately for my “friends” I know how to bite my tongue.
Gary keep up the good work. The episode today was outstanding…96 points!
Where’s my buddy BrandonM? Did he take a day off? I mean come on man! This is WLTV we are talking about! Tony…Where are you too?
September 23, 2006

Big Billy from Big D
This may have been better placed with the really good Alsace episode, but I have been too busy to comment for the last several days.

This from Alan Richman, the food critic for GQ and author of â€œFork It Over”:

10 Reasons Why White Wine Is Better Than Red Wine

(1.) White wine does not stain clothing, which is important to those of us who dine with enthusiasm.

(2.) White wine does not cause debilitating headaches, whereas red wine contains chemicals identical to those hidden from United Nations inspectors.

(3.) White wine includes Champagne.

(4.) No decanting required. Watching sommeliers light candles and stare at red wine sediment is like attending a bad sÃ©ance.

(5.) White wine goes with cheese the way red wine only wishes it did.

(6.) Making white wine keeps the Germans distracted.

(7.) Ever notice that the winos hanging around vacant lots strewn with broken bottles and dead cats are always drinking red wine?

(8.) Sure, red wine lowers cholesterol, but is that any way to decide on a beverage?

(9.) Bad red wine is always worse than bad white wine.

(10.) Red wine drinkers talk constantly about terroir and barnyard aromas. They’re best brought to their senses by throwing a glass of cold white wine in their faces.

Chin chin
September 23, 2006

A
My Blue Nun and Lancers Rose days were over many many years ago. I would’t drink them today if you paid me!
September 23, 2006

A
I wouldn’t buy Two Buck Chuck and White Zin is also out.
September 23, 2006

Chad O
Gary, you’re insane, it’s hilarious. Looks like you guys have a fun time with your jobs.

Wines I will never get roped into trying again are anything from Barefoot and Fat Bastard.
September 23, 2006

A
Gary nice show. I would like to see some video of the inside of your retail area. Some of us are just too far away to stop by.
September 23, 2006

Chris from NY
Gary, I feel that your relationship with us viewers has evolved where I can honestly tell you that the Pat Benatar clip was the gayest thing I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure that gayest is even a word but I was dumbfounded by the clip and dont know what else to say. The wine I will never drink again is my boss’homemade crap. The taste is horrible but my car runs great off of it.
September 22, 2006

TimF
Nice nod to Chris Stanisci with the Dwight bobblehead… Great Office episode last night.

Is the picture behind you a take-off on RenÃ© Magritte?

Speaking of set props, I don’t think I’ve seen any NY Jets Starting Lineup figurines. I’d be shocked if you didn’t have some of those.

QOD: I’ve had some stinkers. I read all the great things be written lately about Terra Valentine so I had a bottle. I couldn’t stand it. The sweetness seemed way out of balance to me. Usually when the sweetness is out of balance for me, I hate the wine and won’t drink it ever again…
September 22, 2006

Dom
Great show. I will definitely need to find the Corte Riva Merlot. Hopefully tomorrow.

What will I never drink again? Hmmmm, good question. If I had to choose one wine or varietal it would be Beringer White Zinfandel.
September 22, 2006

MaryS
Gary,

Two thumbs up. Today’s episode was over the top! I have a Lexus too but you need the LS430 with Bluetooth! Don’t you know it’s illegal to talk on the cellphone while driving???!!! But for the effects it was cool. I know that drive. Need to make one soon to stock up. I remember Pat Benatar when I was a “kid”. She was good. Don’t listen to the skeptics. To each his own is what I say.

ChrisR – snobs CAN drink Beringer White Zin. We can drink whatever we want!