Champion Ports. – Episode #102

October 6, 2006

Wines tasted in this episode:

Today Gary tastes four ports and matches them with one of his favorite cheeses with port. Sit back and enjoy this episode on one of the great dessert wines. More viewer questions answered. Have a great weekend everyone!

113 Responses

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October 7, 2006

Denyce M
Tony…That’s why I’m thinking about buying a 300+ bottle VintoTech. Our 54 bottle fridge is full of the “aging” stuff, and the cabinet of about 50 more bottles is almost out of room.

Wine Drinking = Healthy Life
Wine Drinking + Wife = Healthy Marriage

BTW…what’s the one restaurant in town that does it right? I’m always looking for new places to enjoy!

B
October 7, 2006

Panman
Gary,

Nice episode on Port! How long can you save Port for after opening? Is it any different than a normal bottle of wine?
October 7, 2006

Jaye
Just downloaded #102 to I-Tunes. I will watch on the plane to Seattle (boarding in 15 minutes). I am looking forward to this one — I have lots of interest in seeing Gary’s description on these ports!
October 7, 2006

Tony
Brandon,

Yeah, Jhan is pretty cool, but the fact is that we kind of turned each other back on to wine. Me to her because she couldn’t afford it on her own, and me because I had stopped drinking completely for about ten years and just hadn’t gotten back into wine.

So she loves the wine as much as I do, though I buy a heck of a lot more than she does. We have a 100 bottle wine fridge in the kitchen that has a tempurature alarm that goes off every afternoon (she HATES that), plus about 80 bottles in the living room and another 50 our so in a back room. She doesn’t know about the wine in the garage. It’s hard to hide the stuff from her, but I know she appreciates it because we open a bottle almost every night!
October 7, 2006

Tony
Oh, BTW, Brandon and Paul. I’ve got a case of the San Felipe cab. It’s become my default “I can’t decide what I want tonight but it should be solid and not too expensive” wine. For the price, Gary’s right – it’s a real deal.
October 7, 2006

Tony
Nice way to chomp into the cheese, Gary! Great way to teach manners and etiquette to kids!

Tahnks for the port episode! I know I begged for that about 80 episodes ago. Stunning to see you rate them all so high. Good to see!

Years ago (we’re talking 1985 vintage), I really got interested in wine. Being from California, I was primarily interested in California cabs and merlots. Unfortunately, I was a college student with a college student’s budget. But there was a wine shop near where I worked and I used to go in and salivate over the great Napa cabs they had. Anyway, a few years ago, I rekindled my love for wine after not drinking any for nearly two decades. My goal was to learn as much as I could and taste as much as I could.

You’ve done a lot to help both of those, Gary. To the point, where now I’m writing a local wine column!

I’ve always tried to “keep it real” and not be a wine snob. But last night my wife (Jhan) and I went out to dinner. I ALWAYS take a bottle with me when we go out, but not last night. I was appalled to see the prices the restaurant was charging for a “me too” wine list including Larksmead, Tapestry, George de Latour, Opus One, Insignia, Silver Oak, etc., etc. Everything was at least 100% markup. I was pretty pissed, and let the wine buyer know it. I felt really bad, like an insufferable wine snob. But come on, $120 for 2002 Georges de Latour? $225 for 2003 Opus One? That’s unexcusable. For one thing, the wine list was uninspired – a whos’ who list of every cult Napa cab, and the prices were twice what you’d pay retail. When I asked the buyer how many bottles of Opus One they sell a year, she said “about one”!

Restaurants have to do better. We have ONE restaurant in town that does it right. They have a great wine list and sell bottles for retail plus $8 corkage. That’s the way all restaurants should do it. None of this making a $50-100 profit on a single bottle of wine.

What’s your take on this? I felt really bad taking them to task on this. But the food deserved a really great – and affordable – wine list. What do you say – if anything – when you encounter such an overpriced wine list like this?

I like the wine and food pairings, and would love to see more episodes where you taste food with the wine and talk about the interaction!
October 7, 2006

SeanM
Terroirists? Sounds like a Wino Extremist.

Goals, I had a goal when I started drinking wine, (sip), goals were fun to think about (sip) goals, spelled with a G right? (sip) what were we talking about?
October 7, 2006

Arnold
QOD – I’ll be honest here, my goal was to get a buzz at parties. My stomach couldn’t handle too much beer. I had no appreciation for wine until a friend of mine sent me on a wild goose chase to find 1994 California Chardonnays. He had a list from the Wine Spectator and we found 7 89+ pointers that were under $20. Drinking those wines changed my view of wine from just a buzz to an experience of different flavors and textures… with a buzz. And now you’re teaching me what those favors and textures mean.
Thanks again Gary.
October 7, 2006

PattyO
Gary – I loved how you grabbed that cheese and took a big old bit out of it! That’s what you SHOULD do!
I can’t afford OLD port, I wasn’t putting up bottles in my cellar when I was 11 so I don’t HAVE any old port, and I don’t want to wait till I’m 75 to DRINK old port….
Thus, I will drink young port with the criminals. That’s just the way it has to be. And it’s pretty good anyway (ignorance is bliss…).
As for the QOD – I started buying wine LONG before I started drinking it. My husband was a wine lover and I loved seeking out great labels (I liked shopping for the unique and eye-catching labels)! I bought them and he drank them – for many years. Finally, about 8 years ago, I started drinking with him. It’s DEFINITELY increased the fun! And (Mrs. Brandon M.) – I think Gary’s right, for sure. You’ll be passing Mr. M up in no time (girls rule).
October 7, 2006

Chris from NY
Gary whats up with that Mork from Ork ending? nanu nanu to you brother. 11 years ago my friends/co workers and I had a wine tasting, which ment taste the first wine then drink as much as you can. 11 years later we have a extremely respectable wine tasting as we all have evolved. This year we had 200 people(mayors,assembly men,state senators etc.)We taste and compare our thoughts. Now we all have cellars and pretty good collections. My wife asks what happened to the beer drinking flannel shirt guy i first met? Answer-he is at the super tasting on Tues. evening. Dont hate the playa hate the game. Just kidding….I just felt like saying that after all the gang signs Gary threw up.
October 6, 2006

Rick
Gary

Having made some apple cider with bread yeast and apple juice, I turn my attention to making homemade wine from concord frozen grape juice. Talk about PUCKERY!
Synonym for Astringent. Describes a highly tannic and very dry wine.

Here is another sparkling wine for you to taste:

Bevmo says,”Beringer Sparkling White Zinfandel, California
87 POINTS WILFRED WONG. (Tasted: August 12, 2004, Concord, CA USA) Bright pink color, large beads (could be the size of basketballs, well, maybe not), very fruity; fresh, pleasant, fun, soda pop-like, a hint of raspberries, light to medium bodied; sweet, pretty good acidity, good balance; pleasing candied raspberry flavors, medium depth; medium finish, a tad cloying in the aftertaste, nonetheless this is pretty good stuff. (Best Served: Very Soon)”
October 6, 2006

Denise
I don’t know if I ever had a goal. My interest in wine got very intense very fast. I guess my goal was to know more about it than my big brother!

Ports were one of the first wines I started to enjoy (they reminded me of communion wine, so they were familiar and easier to drink…in spite of the high alcohol content). I loved this episode!! I have a friend that bought a case of vintage port in the birth year of each of his children. He plans to drink a bottle to mark the most special occasions of each child’s life (college graduation, weddings, births of grandkids, etc.). You’re very sentimental about family, Gary. Do you have any family/wine traditions you’re willing to share?
October 6, 2006

ChrisR
Gary,

Great episode. You were really “on” today which made the episode a lot of fun. It is great when you can cut loose. I sensed your appetite was kicking into overdrive as you indulged in these wines, which is another great benefit. On the first day, God created wine. On the second day he gave us cheese.

QOD: My goal remains the same which is to continue to refine my palate and to experience as many great wines as I can before my time on earth ends. So many wines, so little time.
October 6, 2006

Scott S.
Hi Gary, Nice informative episode although I am not a great fan of port, yet. Totally respect the fortification process and the making of Port.

QOD: My goal was interest in the historic elements of wine and locations in the world it evolved, however this was all thrown to the side as my palate started to learn faster than my brain. I grew up a country outdoors kid with exposure to lots of smell experiences that seem to have stuck with me. So when I smell the cool wet stones of a Riesling or the cedar and cigarbox of a nice cabernet I can really connect. At this point in my journey of wine learning the nose of a wine is so amazing to me that sometimes I make a fool of myself trying to get my friends to see it. Many time they think I am crazy. This is why I am adicted to WLTV as you have that same childhood smell conection and use it to communicate to us the nose in your tasting. Keep up the great work!.

BTW I am really starting to enjoy the structure and tannins in wines. My palate is understanding more and more every bottle. Looks like I am hooked
October 6, 2006

TimF
QOD: I had no goal when I got into wine. Absolutely none. It was just something I always wanted to know more about.
October 6, 2006

Bill Nelson
Now I have a new favorite episode! When I first discovered I liked wine I also discovered right away that I knew nothing about it! My goal has been to learn enough to make intelligent purchases and expand my tastes to more different types of wine. You can’t drink pine nut no ear all the time! By the way Gary, from the number of responses each episode has been getting lately you don’t need more muscle; you are HUGE already!!!!!!!!!
October 6, 2006

TimF
Okay — I’m going to say a few controversial things here:

1. Port is the greatest drink in the entire world. By far. Nothing else is even close. Nothing.

2. If it’s a crime to drink young port, then step up Gary, get some older ports in stock. The oldest thing I see on your site is 1985. C’mon, let’s see some 60s or 70s.

3. Every Vayniack out there needs to go out and buy (or make) a flourless chocolate cake, some fresh raspberries and enjoy it with a vintage port. Seriously. Go out right now. Now! If you haven’t, you’re missing out on life.

4. Whenever I have a port, all I can think about is the next port I’m going to have. It’s kind of like when I did the Chicago Marathon back in 2003. After mile 15 all I cared about was making it from water station to water station. In life all I care about is making it from one vintage port to the next vintage port. It is the most pleasurable thing in the world.

5. That was your best episode. Your first 100 pointer…
October 6, 2006

Matty Van, Rochester,NY
I still have yet to try a port, its on the list..along with many other things.

“Love Your Family”….I agree are the most important people in ones life and the foundation that all other relationships are built off of.

QOD – just started drinking it and enjoying it among friends and family and decided to learn a little bit about it so I would not be cluless when looking at a wine list, it has developed into a hobbie of mine. I know I will collect when I am older wiser and have more space.

brandon m and paul…I too liked the San Felipe Cab, there chard. was not bad eiather. I dont remember how it tasted but I remember liking it enough to add it to the list for my next WL order.

I also found a spanish red by the brand of “Miyone” just labled as a table wine, was only like $6, fruit bomb little spice on the finish, not great wine, but good wine for $6
October 6, 2006

damon
Gary, I’m really curious about how you treat your bottles of port. Do you decant? Do these wines throw off alot of sediment after 30 years? I’d really like to hear your process for bringing any old wine out of the cellar.
October 6, 2006

TimF
GaryV — Do you know the Bishop of Norwhich?
October 6, 2006

Dede Stan
Hi Gary,

This is Dede Stan…that’s right, the better half of Chris Stanisci..Chris Stan..SS Chris..or whatever you VaynIACS call him. I have sat quietly as my husband has been on the computer at all hours at the night, talked to our sons about the merits of “VaynIACS” vs “VaynerNation” and filled our extra fridge with fine white wines. However, I cant’t complain too much because I am also reaping the benefits of my husband’s new obsession. Every Friday is “tasting night”. We’ve tried some great wines, but I’m with Denyce M (another “wine widow”), I am not yet able to taste and smell the licorice and kiwi. I’m hoping that will come with practice.
October 6, 2006

the professor and....
Gary, hilarious! Thanks for answering my question with such enthusiam. My wife and I were cracking up! Yeah we hit the garage sales too, but I am an addict with ebay crap. I have to admit that I purchased a “blueberry muffin ” doll for my sister on ebay. But I know exactly what you talking about.
I had no real plan when I first started drinking wine, It was just something different, more refined to drink when I wasn’t pounding beers with my buddies. But now, I in the process of renovating our old home, and I plan on putting in a wine cellar so that I can “impress my guests”. Really I’m a collector of things too. So for now I’m trying to drink a variety of wines to find out what I like and what I should collect. I’m sure I’ll buy some wines eventually for their name and reputation, but for now it’s strictly for taste and personal preference.
October 6, 2006

Mike F.
I looooooove port. Now that the cooler weather is coming, it’s definitely moving up on my shopping list. (I have about 500 items in this list, 400 of which I either wonâ€™t find, can’t afford, or will get bumped down indefinitely). And yes it is a great finale to an awesome meal at a restaurant. Not to mention the perfect partner for a nice cigar. At an outdoor wine tasting I went to once they had a cigar roller. I also noticed that there was a port back at one of the tasting tables. Needless to say I put two and two together. They also had a cheese tasting there as well. I fell in love with the Bleu d’Auvergne.

From PeteB:
“Why do you sometimes see those white paint like dots on Port bottles? Iâ€™ve noticed it and always wondered”

From WS online:
“This white mark is also called a splash mark, and it tells you which way the bottles were cellared (splash mark up). This way, all the sediment collects on the same side. Smart, huh?”
October 6, 2006

Rob M.
OK, Gary. So the “W-L-T-V” needs a bit of help at the end, but very educational and informative episode, nonetheless.

I have always been a bit intimidated by port. I understand most vintage port you can buy now is way too young, but I do not find a lot of older (at least not much 20+ year old) port. Of all you have in stock at WL right now, what would you recommend? Sorry, can’t go for the ‘94 Quinta Do Noval Nacionale at 775 bones, but under $100 that you would recommend to us (’94 Dow’s? ‘91 Dow’s?). How about under $50?

Perhaps best way to do this is with a smaller bottle, which leads to my next question. Assuming I do not enjoy a bottle at a dinner with several friends, I will not be drinking the entire bottle in one night. Not even in several nights. How long can you store Vintage Port after opening? Days? Weeks? More? How do you store it (VacuVin? Refrigerator?)?

Finally, what is the correct serving temp for Port?

QOD- I initially thought it was “high class” to appreciate and enjoy wine. I am at a point where I can afford nice wine, but since I do not care anymore about impressing people, it is just about learing and enjoying wine. My goal is to find the most enjoyable wine for the least amount of dough. Many people can spend $50 or $75 on a wine and have a decent chance of the wine being tasty. Finding it for $15 is more fun, informative, and enjoyable to me.

Thanks for your continued education. Would love opinions from any of the other WLTV viewers as well- if you want to discuss off-line, jhu_gas@hotmail.com.

Rob M.
October 6, 2006

Justin
Hi Gary,
Super late episode today. I was waiting for the last 2 hours for it… So in the meantime I revisited some of my favorites from the past, and a few that I had missed. Anyway, I have been into wine for a couple of years now, thanks to my girlfriends mom. She worked for Mondavi for many many years. She taught me a lot of what I know. When I got my job at a winery in the tasting room, I knew it was just going to be the begining. It is my foot in the door to the industry. While I didn’t go to school to study wine, I am taking all that I have learned from the tasting room and spending time with the winemaker at the vineyard, and eventually hope to be making wines myself. In a few months time I will be headed for the land down under to work harvest there and get even more experience. So hopefully i will reach that goal of becoming a winemaker, and maybe someday you will sell my wines at WL, or have me on the show as a guest.

Justin