93 Point Wines Are They Worth It?

93 Point Wines Are They Worth It? – Episode #103

October 9, 2006

Wines tasted in this episode:

Today Gary attacks three wines with huge scores, 93 points to be exact and tries to see if they are worth the score. Sit back and watch a very interesting episode of Wine Library TV and oh yeah send a link to all your friends!

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Metheny’s Wine Site
Link to BBC Podcast

105 Responses

October 9, 2006

LMA
wow.. could it be? first? we’ll see…
October 9, 2006

Lynne
wow1 never been in top 5 before…
October 9, 2006

David K
WOW – 3rd.

Jags 41 – JETS ZERO
October 9, 2006

PGH Pete
Poor poor Jets….
October 9, 2006

BobW
Top 5…. First time!!!!
October 9, 2006

Brandon M
Yesterday…
Dad gave me a bottle of 2002 BV Georges De Latour.
I was extremely suprised, what a great gift…ty dad!

B
October 9, 2006

Joe P.
Everyone must be having lots of family time! Me too. Gary, thanks for doing an episode on a holiday. QOD: I have to admit, when I don’t like a wine I’ve bought (usually in the $7-$12 range) I’ll vacu vin it for my wife to use for cooking. Life is just to short to drink bad or boring wine.
October 9, 2006

Shahar Golan
Good work Gary. I just came across WLTV last week and I am still catching up on the older episodes. You asked for some posts, so here goes; I am glad to tell you that you are being viewed in Israel as well and that I like your work very much. You also asked of the most wine-snobish act I recall, and this would have to take me only as far as last week, when I was poored a glass of Israeli wine in a blind tasting, and a guy that tasted it with me, after being wrong about the grape and the place where it was grown, was trying to figure out the vintage, which is silly, because in Israel the summer is always sunny and there is no much difference between the vintages. BTW, Israeli wines are getting better and better and made a huge leap forward in the last two decades; they are now sold for their quality and not only for being Kosher. I’d send you some of them for tasting, but then, WL doesn’t send wines to Israel as well, do you?

Keep up the good work.
I’m loving it.
October 9, 2006

RTH
I started Chad Pennington in my fantasy league this weekend. Not one of my better moves…
October 9, 2006

Matty Van, Rochester,NY
QOD – have not first hand experienced serious a serious wine snob, one time I was out to dinner on a first date and the waiter felt he should correct my pronouciation of a french bottle..made me look like a little bit of a fool, which I am but that does not mean i want to show it.

The J-E-T-S….awww did gary have a rough sunday? I had enough alcohol in me by the end of my bills game that it did not matter.
October 9, 2006

Ken
Nice to see you on Saturday, but instead of congratulating the Tigers, you should be worrying about the Jets.
October 9, 2006

Brandon M
OK…this one pissed me off…don’t know if I’ve told it before.

I’ve spent a lot of money in a local wine shop and I always talk with the owner about different wines. He usually spends about 10-15 minutes with me going over tastes and wineries and the like. One day I say to him, “M (first initial, not real name) you have got to check out this new guy on the Internet. He’s doing this absolutely awesome thing with video blogs and he’s tasting all kinds of wine.” M says to me “I taste about 100 wines a day, why would I want to watch someone else do it?” Then I explain, “Ya, but this guy talks about decanting, the palette, everything, and, he’s a crack up cause he sits with these guests and talks about how he’s discounting their wine. He’s out of Jersey, you should check it out!”

“Jersey?” he says, “Is that the guy that everyone is pissed off at because he’s undercutting everyone? He’s ruining the wine industry.”

Not only was I deflated because he basically spit on my high for the day, but he was actually threatened by me watching WLTV. Now I don’t know if he was actually talking about Wine Library or not….but it left a bad taste in my mouth, so I started ordering from Gary, and frequenting M’s shop less and less.

To me…puting someone down over the wine they drink, or their excitement over a wine / wine person they like is the ultimate snobbery.

B
October 9, 2006

Jeff L
Gary – Longtime viewer (every episode), first time poster! Loved today’s episode and the question about wine snobbery. The perpetrators of wine snobbery are usually those with just enough knowledge to make them dangerous and give them the illusion they know what they are talking about. Love listening to the insights of a real pro – you. See you tomorrow night at the Super Tasting.

Jeff L
October 9, 2006

PattyO
Joe P. – way to go! I AGREE – life is too short to drink bad (or even mediocre) wine. You can pour it into just about everything you’re cooking, from pasta sauces and stews to marinades and desserts (lately I’ve been soaking fruit in it then pouring the whole winey mess onto a cobbler batter and baking it – fantastic!) I’ve even been known to just pour ALL the partial bottles of mediocre “leftovers” into one bottle in the fridge – wine casserole! We’ve been known to open 4 straight bottles before getting to one we wanted to drink – have a taste, give it a “PAZZ” and pull out another! Like you, we do primarily the $7 – $12 range because there are a LOAD of treasures out there in that price point – and honestly the treasure hunt is half the fun! I figure that if I open 2 or 3 bottles of $10 wine before I get one I LOVE, it’s the same as buying $30 bottles and only opening one – and watching Gary, I think you get just as many “PAZZ” wines at the $30 level (or the $60 level, as today’s episode showed) as you do at the $12.
October 9, 2006

MarcT
Way to be BrandonM. I hate when businesses get pissed cause you use their competitors…it makes things better for everyone and why should you stick to one guy anyways? He screwed himself plain and simple. My local wine shops suck big donkey hoofs (you thought I was gonna say balls didn’t you) so I don’t frequent them much at all but I still go to a shop in Atlanta when ever I am in the area because they are cool and glad to see me when I get there. They even say “what a good deal” when I tell them about an internet purchase I made! They know that I will buy from them when I come by but they don’t think that I should only patronize their shop. Aside from that…not all distributors are used in every shop so you might not get what you want from them…
Sorry for the rant but I believe in business with quality ethics and that means you don’t screw your competitor because he may be your partner/employee one day.
October 9, 2006

Christopher
Wine Snobbery, get it quite a lot…
I have asked at four nearby wine stores to be added to their newsletters for wine tastings have, despite buying from them regularly, not received any newsletters /event info from them. I guess I don’t look like the average “big bucks” wine buyer.

At least one store was honest, “We only invite our best customers where we know they will buy lots of wine, if you buy lots of wine we will invite you”… and the event also had a hefty cover charge (about USD 120). So I am prepared to pay the entrance costs but can’t garantee that I will buy lots of wine… so don’t get invited.
October 9, 2006

Darrell T.
QOD- foruntaely i haven’t run into any wine snobbery yet, because i usually diffuse them bby talking about single malt scotch first(my passion) then moving into wine , which i must say i am enjoying immensly as i learn all the nuances of enjoying wine. but the scotch talk first really puts the snobs off, then we have a civil conversation about wine thats helpful to all involved. Really enjoy the WLTV found it in the spring and have been singing its praises ever since, even to my friends that have been drinking longer that i have ( alot longer) and they like it too. Seems they got a little stagnant in their wine education advancement, kind of stalled on Parker and WS. Keep the video blogs going, I’m with ya!
October 9, 2006

Dan
Hey Gary!

That was no hawk. That was a peregrine falcon. Sorry. and jumping the shark refers to a point when a TV show goes downhill (from a Happy Days episode when Fonzy jumped a shark while waterskiing) http://www.jumptheshark.com/

I do not think you have jumped the shark.

We have the biggest wine snob running one of the wine stores here in Houston. I was teasing him once because he took WAAAAAY too long to deliver some pre-ordered Burgundys. He took me off his e-mail list! He would walk into the back of the store whenever I entered! I will never buy there again (and I had spent $$$$ there!) He is not a nice fellow.

Nice episode.

Cheers!

Dan (in Houston)
October 9, 2006

Russ J
Gary, you trooper! We all could see the pain in your eyes! Boy did yesterday not go as I expected for the NY/NJ teams.

Did you pour the Daniel into the Velona Brunello decanter during your port demo? That will be a tasty brew for your people to sample. Well, you were upset….

Jeez, I don’t really have a wine snobbery story to relate. I’m pretty new to the wine game so I guess there is still time, or I may have been too obtuse to comprehend any snobbery I have encountered.

Brandon M: time to invite your ex-buddy, M, into the octagon for some attitude adjustment!
October 9, 2006

Tony S.
Nice episode…even nicer decanters. For the question o’ the day: Working in the “fine” wine business, there’s quite a bit of snobbery all around. We do auction and retail, and there’s usually a difference in the retail buyers and auction buyers. Though both on both sides we have lots of really great clients, there are those people that just take the $$ part of wine way too seriously. I don’t get too much of the snobbery in that aspect, because I think those people assume that I’m a snob since I work with this stuff.

But the WORST kind of snobbery is the “class” snobbery. I’m in the warehouse with all the shipping and operations guys…you know, the fella’s that get to wear jeans and our hands get dirty but we’re surrounded by wine all day. Well, one day one of the sales people came down into the warehouse with a client who wanted a tour (the warehouse is in the basement, the sales-staff is on the 5th floor). No big deal, the salesperson is showing the client around and at the same time, the client was going to pick up a few online orders he had made throughout the last couple weeks. Well, the salesperson told my guys that the client was going to “just pick up the most recent order”. So we give the client his most recent order and he looks at my guys like they’re idiots and says “I should have more wine than this!” (You know, it’s totally the end of the world of course). So, my guy says that he thought he was just picking up the one order (which is what the sales person told us). So the client, in his nice suit, chuckles and says, “That’s why you’re in the basement and not up on the 5th floor in the offices.”

Excuse me for ranting, but yes, I know that there are a lot of rich people out there that are super nice and treat people like humans. But I absolutely hate it when someone thinks that they’re more important because of a paycheck or job title. There are a lot of jerks and great people on both sides of the spectrum. People need to just be themselves and just treat people with respect.

Ok. I’ll stop now. Either way, I’m glad to see that a lot of the viewer/posters seem to be pretty laid back and not snobs. You shouldn’t assume someone doesn’t know about wine because they’re not wearing a $300 polo. The guy checking out wine deals wearing black Converse, shorts and a punk rock t-shirt holding his bike helmet might have tasting notes for an 82 Lafite at home.

See you later…and GO BEARS!!! Next Monday at Arizona…do I smell 6-0??
T
October 9, 2006

TimF
I don’t like it when people talk down to me and say something like, “I don’t drink white wine.” or “a white wine would never go with that dish”. Foo-ey.
October 9, 2006

TimF
Hey everybody, we’re mid-crush in the US right now, so let’s hear everyone’s winery visit stories. Where is everyone going? Anyone actually doing any winemaking out there? Maybe a not-too-distant-future QOD, Gary?
October 9, 2006

Brandon M
Russ J..nicely put, nothing an Arm Bar couldn’t fix!

B
October 9, 2006

zerokreap (kw)
good episode…you’re getting it down! anyway, i really wish i could give you a good example of wine snobbery, but when i hear it i try to foget it as soon as humanly possible…wine is cool, and i think it can have a level of complexity that begs for conversation…but who wants to hear someone be an ass about it? yeah, there are a lot of people out there that will say kendall jackson is awesome! or insist that carlo is as good as any other wine…and in general there will be misconceptions as to what is a good wine….but let those people be….they know one thing the snobs don’t…that wine is meant to be enjoyed!

gary: what is the best source in your opinion as it relates to the wine world…spectator, advocate, WLTV? is there some under the radar wine zine that is better? also, does RP know WLTV exists? have you spoken to him about it?
October 9, 2006

Brandon M
Tony S…..I’ve known so many of those types of people that have run into trouble financially. It’s funny how the tides can turn when ones priorities are screwed up!

Tim F…I haven’t been to a winery in a couple of weeks, but come November, I’m going crazy in Sonoma!

B
October 9, 2006

MarcT
That was awesome Gary!!! I have to buy new pants now because I laughed my ass off!!!

I’m a bear (used to have the nickname “Bear”)

Great tasting today.

QOD…I have mentioned in past poats about wine snobbery but I think the best comes from a restaurant owner I know. He has a grasp on a market in an area that will not pay for true quality so this restaurant is considered to be “fine dining” in my neck of the woods. It is not “fine dining” by my standards…hold on a second…am I committing food snobbery?…I am…I think.

OK so I’m not a rat and I am not going to bash this guy.

Yeah right…
So what the folks out here in rural GA consider to be fine dining, I consider to be just better than typical restaurant food. As the wine list goes…it is based on customer purchase, not request or taste, but cutomer purchase with a couple of high eighty pointers as the top shelf offerings.
I ask the owner about changing some of the wines and maybe offering a few others (I mentioned some that have great QPR) and he said,
“But everyone loves the house merlot. It is so good. I have been drinking wines for many years and know that this merlot is real quality. Would you like a glass?”
“What kind of merlot is it?” I ask.
Much to my suprise he said, “Yellow Tail. One of the best Australian wine producers.”
I replied, “I’m not a big Yellow Tail fan. I think I have a Sam Adams.”
“You are young so over time your palate will become defined and you will taste quality like I do.” was he response.

NO WAY!!! I may be “young” (28) but I know damn well I have a better palate than this jackass any day! I do still feel like I am learning but this guy was over the top on me because I am young and I must not know anything about wine.
I left it at that.

So Gary, when and where is the WLTV party?
October 9, 2006

Mike S.
The Redskins lost, so it wasn’t that great of a football weekend. However, amidst other good news from USA Rugby this weekend, the Men’s National Team qualified for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France next, so that more than makes up for the Redskins’ bend and break defense.

Gary – you’re not a shark. It’s a reference to an old “Happy Days” episode where Fonzie jumps over a shark while waterskiing and has become a reference for when a television show is no longer any good. If you don’t do an episode on red Burgundy, though, you just might reach that point…

Wine snobbery, easily when an arrogant French waiter pointedly told my girlfriend (who’s from Dijon) and I that he had a better, more expensive, wine than the one we’d chosen and refused to bring out what we originally wanted. Fortunately, the wine he chose was terrible and we politely asked for our original selection. Ahh, the expression on his face still brings a smile to face.
October 9, 2006

Brandon M
I hate to say it, but I probably get called a wine snob more than I deserve. I tell people what I honestly think of a wine (if they ask) but when I sayI don’t like it, they think I’m a snob..aaaargh!
October 9, 2006

MarcT
TimF…
Sawyer Cellars – Napa (OUT OF THIS WORLD)…also as a side note I did some barrel tasting and they have some serious juice coming too!!! I also got to taste some Cab that had been picked the day before and it was so complex already with green bell pepper, sweet blueberries, and blackberries cobbler!

Larkmead Vineyards – Napa (good wine and nice place…young)

Cass Winery – Paso Robles (some good to very good and some OK…young but very good concept and drive)
October 9, 2006

MarcT
Good point Brandon, I get that too.
October 9, 2006

John Coyne
This is in response to the question posed by Damon on Port decanting. For vintage ports older than twenty years, the bottles have a thick layer of sediment on the bottom. It’s OK to decant with cheesecloth to catch the sediment. Wash out the bottle, making sure all the sediment has been removed. Using a funnel, pour the decanted Port back into the bottle and top off with a Vacuvin. I like Port around 65 degrees.
October 9, 2006

Henry
Where’s all those cute Jet’s stuff… LOL
October 9, 2006

JohnM
Enjoyable episode, Gary. Thanks for continuing to taste and tell, instead of merely being a lap dog for anyone, as the audio clip suggested. Personally, I’d probably be a panther if any animal. Wine snobbery isn’t a topic about which I’ve got good stories. I know someone who can be quite a snob, but he’s treating me with deference now I’ve demonstrated having as (if not more) of a sophisticated palate and underwstanding of wine. As a psychologist, I see such snobbery as a sign of underlying insecurity and don’t worry about the message.
October 9, 2006

Anthony L
Hey Gary,

It was great meeting you and your father Saturday. I was the guy who’s running the shop in Staten Island(in case you remembered hehe). Anyway, I loved the Roquefort which I had with a bottle of Stephan Ridge Syrah, Awesome! I also picked up the Eagle Point Ranch Syrah, the ‘99 Palomero and the Godello which was tasted. It was an absolute pleasure walking through your store. I love this Industry, and as a fellow retailer I love seeing innovation as well as creating some. Thats what makes working all the long hours so worth it.

QOTD-I think I might actually be guilty of some snobery of my own. At my shop when a customer would ask for a “nice Burgundy wine” and I’ve followed it up with the question “are looking for red or white” when I know they ‘re really just looking for Paul Masson or Carlo Rossi. just havin some harmless fun I guess. Is it wrong? As far as snobery from other people, nothing significant comes to mind. mostly just closed minded opinionated stuff.

Good Luck with the tasting this week, not that you need it.
October 9, 2006

Brad
Considering all the football comparisons, how ’bout the question of what type of wine would Terrell Owens be? Or what type of wine would any player be for that matter? Critics and aficionados alike will generally liken wine to personality traits, and what better character to start off w/ then the bratty, brash and poisonous TO?
Considering the fact that he’s big, loud and colorful, it’s gotta be in the red family.
His muscularity has a spicy, tannic bite…so that leads me to syrah. The more I think of it, there are very little refined or balanced qualities that TO possesses. All this leads me to conclude that Terrell Owens is an under ripe Petite Sirah, maybe from the Anderson Valley in California.
If I was truly mean, I’d also add that he can be a ‘corked’ Anderson Valley Petit Sirah, which can be poisonous.
October 9, 2006

the professor and....
Tony S. – That’s just insecure bullshit!! never, never judge a man’s character by the clothes he wears. To this day I intentionally dress in jeans and t-shirts on my own time because it reminds me of where I started, and more importantly, to never become a materialistic, pompass ass.
October 9, 2006

Bill Nelson
Gary, the Vikings managed to beat the Lions so life is good this weeek. I was once standing at the bar tasting in a California winery and had the bartender take my glass and swirl it on the bar because he said I wasn’t doing it right. I always figure that if you aren’t spilling the wine it’s ok! Today’s episodes shows it’s not 93 points til Gary says it’s 93 points!
October 9, 2006

the professor and....
Gary, congratulations! You’ve offically become big enough to be slandered! People must be intimidated, or no one would give a crap what some guy in Jersey is doing. So let me be the first to say, congratulations buddy, you’ve made it.
October 9, 2006

Matty Van, Rochester,NY
class snobery…I remember when I was 8 years old my dad did something for his ammusment and to teach me something, he was going to but a new 88 vette with the the options and we went to the dealer only he wore cut off shorts (it was the 80’s) and a tee shirt with a small but noticable staine on it, he got just about no service and I remember the sales guy telling him that they only test drive the vettes for serious buyers only. The next day we went back only he was wearing a suit, freash shave and looking good, and there was a sales guy all over us kissing his ass.

its amazing how people treat you different based on looks
October 9, 2006

Tony
Aside from my own bout of wine snobbery last weekend, I haven’t encountered much. I’m not a terribly serious guy, and don’t hang out with people who take work/life/wine too seriously. Wine is too be enjoyed, not obsessed over. I agree with the insecurity comment.

In my wine column, I try very hard to make fun of wine snobbery and put new wine drinkers at ease in their lack of knowledge. My approach is to make fun of the people that new wine drinkers fear will make fun of them. Here’s a couple of good examples:

http://wine-thoughts.blogspot.com/2006/09/bad-acid-trips-and-spitting.html

http://wine-thoughts.blogspot.com/2006/09/jed-clampett-and-french.html
October 9, 2006

Kell
Did anyone else think it was hilarious that the wine that the clip used as an example was the review
of the Kendal Jackson 2005 Chardonay – ” A Wine Library *exclusive*” ???
Hopefully anyone hearing that will get the sense of humor and irreverence that makes WLTV great.

long time viewer, first time poster.
October 9, 2006

Chris Marcantonio
Gary,

Love the show! Your the Ryan Seacrest of wine. Can you recomend a great wine for watching re-runs of 90210?
October 9, 2006

Brandon M
Ed R…whats up? Did you really think the show was that bad? I mean cmon..whats wrong with telling what our wine backgrounds are. If someone says it was to get drunk, and now they have evolved into a connoisseur…then so be it. At least people are being honest.

What did you think was wrong with this episode? You REALLY didn’t eloborate.
To say Gary has 25 epsiodes left is a little harsh…even though you thought the episode was bad, doesn’t he deserve a bad showing every now and then?

B
October 9, 2006

Panman
I like the replication of the J-E-T-S chant, with the word WINE!
October 9, 2006

Ed R
Brandon M,
I posted a reponse too your last post on the previous shows comment section.
October 9, 2006

Rob M.
Biggest example of wine snobbery- this recent BBC report decrying RP as a critic, rating systems, and some Vaynerchuck dude who hawks wine on the internet.

What happened to my gravitar?

Thanks as always,
Rob (who curiously has not bashed the Jets or mentioned his beloved Dolphins in a while)
October 9, 2006

the professor and....
Kell, Great catch!!! I did notice it but forgot about it until you just mentioned it. Yeah thought it was ironic as hell, WL exclusive, 83pts, pazzzzzzzz. Totally classic!
October 9, 2006

Denise
Shark? Hawk? No, Gary, you’re the man!! Another great WLTV episode. Thanks!
October 9, 2006

GregS
Gary,

I feel your pain, nuff said about this weekends football.

The most annoying wine snobbery I have run into was the fine dining room on our last cruise. They have all these annoying sommelier guys who act like they alone have any knowledge of wine. Or even worse when they snob-ify the whole experience by going into the whole “excellent choice, blah blah blah” thing where they try to build you up into thinking you are a wine snob. I just want to enjoy my wine!
October 9, 2006

Ed R
I have no good wine snob stories in my early wine life. Thank You, Dan for clearing up the jump the shark reference for those not familiar with it. Gotta love the Fonz
October 9, 2006

stewart l
I was dining in Hilton head sev yrs ago with aphysician I was thinking of joining. To impress me he asked for a certain northern rhone wine that he said he had visited on vacation. After we had all drank about half a glass, he told the sommelier that he didn’t like it, and it didn’t taste like the same wine he drank in France. There was nothing wrong with the wine, just he didn’t think it was as good after he had bragged about drinking with the owner at the winery on a private tour. The sommelier reluctantly took it back. When he ordered a new bottle, which he preferred because it was a wine he also had in his cellar, she poured it, and by “accident” spilled it right in his lap. My wife and I still laugh about this. Not suprisingly, I didn’t join his practice.
October 9, 2006

RCP
Gary-

Did you pour the Neo into the Brunello decanter when you were answering one of the questions about Port? More importantly, did some of the staff end up tasting the “meritage”?

QOD: A couple times at wine tastings I’ve been to, someone told me I was wrong about what flavors I was getting from the wine. How can anyone ever tell someone else what they are or aren’t tasting?

Ryan P.
October 9, 2006

Lynne
OK..I’m not understanding the old world vs new world stuff. Could someone please explain to me the difference? Saw Ep #20. I don’t want to spend $125.00+ to taste the difference. Got any cheaper suggestions for old vs. new?

QOD: Was once told (by people in my party) I was showing my wine ignorance by coming up with strange descriptions when I tasted wines. Ex: one reminded me of the pink medicine I had to take as a kid, one, my Grandmother’s basement (Tho’ I did kinda like Grandma’s basement) another, my husband’s shop rags. Didn’t go to dinner with those folks again. Their wines sucked. Maybe I should have brought up cat piss.
GV, Loved the spoofs! Was it “West Side Story” that had the Sharks and the Jets? You’ve got them both! Keep on doin’ what you’re doing. I, myself, have learned so much and am gaining a greater understanding and appreciation for all these fruits of the vines. (And Grandma taught me how to make only jams; though I must admit, we have some really good Jams)
To Ed R: I’m sorry you feel the way you do. Get on board with us “unsnobs”…it’s fun!

C-H-E-E-R-S……CHEERS!
October 9, 2006

Greg
QOTD: I’m not sure if this really counts as wine snobbery, but I hate it when I’m at a winery, tasting, or store and I’m totally ignored or given slow service because I’m young (25) and don’t look like a high roller.

I typically won’t buy wine from wineries or stores that look down on younger customers (unless of course the wine is that good).
October 9, 2006

ChrisR
Gary,

I think I called it first when I said you are the replacement for Robert Parker. It is just a matter of time, my friend.

Wine Snobbery: Anyone who shuns red with fish, dessert wine with dinner, etc. Great wine goes with great food.

So how did you manage to arrange for Lorraine Bracco to come to your store? Did you woo her with your Sopranos WLTV spoof?
October 9, 2006

SS Chris
Tony, Thanks for posting the links to your column….loved the articles.

When you post new articles, could you post a link for all Vaniacs?
October 9, 2006

Flemboy
Wine Snobbery (sp) – Nov/2004
We were at a restaurant in Napa, Tre Vigne, celebrating a friends 50th birthday. There were 16 people for the celebration and I took a bottle 1990 Leroy Pommard Les Vignots. The waiter had a bit of an attitude that I would bring a French wine and proceeded to open it while examining the label. It had a wax cap and he struggled with it a bit, but eventually got it open. I asked him if he could decant it and he seemed annoyed at this. I was trying to be a good guy and I typically offer the waiter a taste of the wine if I bring a bottle into an establishment.

I will never forget the look on his face as he took a drink of the wine; he took a deep snoot full looked at the glass, exhaled, took a small drink, then finished off the glass and said “tastes like grapefruit”! He then walked awayâ€¦

Needless to say, the dinner did not go so well, but everyone else enjoyed the Leroy “grapefruit” wine and asked if I had anymore. Actually, it was pretty memorable wine. Probably the top two I have ever tasted.
October 9, 2006

Wildebeest
QOD: I’d have to say that my favorite experience of snobbery was the one I witnessed a couple Thanksgivings ago. I have two uncles who don’t get along very well, so every Thanksgiving dinner promises an entertaining clash of wills shrouded in the guise of politeness. This particular Thanksgiving featured the most direct contest between the two that I’ve seen to date, and it was played out via wine. Do my delight, each uncle brought out a better bottle than the last, in an effort to trump the other. This went on for quite some time, and with the wines only getting better and better, I’d be damned if I didn’t get a taste of every last one!

That’s my favorite example. My least favorite example is the owner of a local shop which caters primarily to the most wealthy members of the small community in which I live. She knows very little about wine, despite the fact that she sells a ton of it, but covers up her lack of knowledge by becoming as snobbish as possible anytime she’s asked a question she doesn’t understand.

Hmm… I actually sounded a little snobbish in that last paragraph. I suppose I operate under the assumption that being a long-haired Mexican male college student with no money precludes me from being considered a snob.

- Will
October 9, 2006

Dennis
Gary,
You have some of the most unsual descriptions for wines – “taste like skiddles”, or recently like the toy “strawberry shortcake.” My niece had the collection and the smell always got to me. Next you be referring to a jammy taste reminding you of the villian “Purple Pie Man.” Seriously, your descriptions makes this fun to watch.
October 9, 2006

Rick
All wines will be judged using the â€œPeterson Methodâ€ which was
developed for us by Richard Peterson PhD. Most other wine competitions bring wines
to the judges in flights of 10 to 15 wines at a time, then each wine is judged separately
and given an award or not. Under the â€œPeterson Method,â€ wines are brought to the judgeâ€™s
table in flights of 25 to 50 wines, depending on the varietal and how many wines are
entered. Each of the four judges on a panel will first smell a wine, then arranged it into
3 categories according to each judgeâ€™s own criteria. The judge then re-smells the wines
in each category and places them in a â€œrankingâ€ order. Finally, the wines are then tasted
and rearranged again in a â€œrankingâ€ order and awards are given. This system helps our
judges find the best wines without fatiguing their palates unnecessarily.
October 9, 2006

MarcT
Gary,
I have a serious question (not that the WLTV party question should be ignored).
Vibrationâ€¦
I have a decent wine cooler and use it for the bottles that I want to age for an extended period of time. Recently the compressor of the unit has started to cause vibration when it kicks on. The vibration is noticeable even in the floor so I know that the wine is getting some/maybe a lot of vibration as well.
I have read and heard that vibration is bad for wines but how bad is it really? In the grand scheme of things am I hurting my wines? I have been in the market for a new and larger cooler all ready due to my growing collection and the number of â€™05 Bordeaux futures I have purchased but I want to know how critical it is that I move my collector wines from the vibrating cooler now.
Does anyone have any advice or help?
I am looking at some of the compressor free units but the price is outrageous. I could dig a cellar in my back yard for the price of one of the 100 bottle units!!!
October 9, 2006

Big Billy from Big D
An experience sending wine back.

There is a restaurant that my wife and I used to enjoy. It had a menu with some ambition with no entrÃ©e over $35, balanced with a wine list that I would call affordable. The most popular red was Bonny Doon Big House Red with choices that ranged up to around $80. Their upper end mark up ran to 2-1/2 times retail. They stored their red wines in racks by the open kitchen. I need to mention the restaurant is in Dallas, Texas.

The last time we ate there it was a Tuesday night. The wine/beverage manager had posted a special with substantial discounts on the upper registers of the wine list. With the offer of a bargain I ordered their top Cali Cab (sorry I canâ€™t remember the specifics). When they opened and poured I couldnâ€™t taste ant fruit just alchohol with a faint tarry flavor – the wine was cooked and I said so. The waiter hustled up the bottle and left. I guess I was the first person to ever refuse a wine offered, and it was the first time I had ever sent one back.

He returned and asked me if I would like to try another. I ordered a different wine to take advantage of the offer, with the same result. On the third try I just went to their old stand by – Big House Red. The BHR tasted of some fruit, and smelled of some fruit, it was fine. The waiter then told me that the manager had tasted the two earlier refusals and informed me that there was nothing wrong with them.

I was shocked that they did the right thing, and then turned it into the wrong thing. The Bonny Doon BHR was fine because its inventory turned over frequently and did not dwell long in the sweltering â€œcellarâ€ by the kitchen. The pricier bottles endured probably 20 to 30 degree daily temperature swings as they waited much longer for some one to free them from their very warm cellar. Eventually the heat got to them. Iâ€™m sure the distributor would have credited them.

We havenâ€™t been back. I liked the kitchen, but hated their little hellish cellar.

Cheers
October 9, 2006

Dan G.
Very funny show. You have only been doing WLTV for what 7-8 months and its making waves. Man you must be doing something right. Keep up the excellent work because you have a lot more than 25 shows left in you.

No wine snobbery that I can actually remember. What kind of animal am I: how about an ASS:)

Hey Chris M. 90210 = Grain Alcohol

Greg S. wasnt a good weekend for Steeler fans either. At least we didnt get blown out. Then again my Stankees did again in another crappy post season. Damn what a weekend.
October 9, 2006

Dan G.
Oh gary was think about you concept of the Jets. I think the Steelers have the same one. 1st rd draft pick in 2007.
October 10, 2006

GOL's Girl
I’m a lurker posting for the first time (per Gary’s request)!
Love the show!
Here’s my question: Do you think the “wine essence” smelling kits are worth purchasing? GOL needs help because his knowledge of smells isn’t as good as mine. LOL
Thanks!
October 10, 2006

cgf
Gary,
great episode. For the QOD, I would echo what a couple of people said above about being young and getting talked down to. Two summers ago my friends and I did a cross-country road trip for a month and a half after graduation and spent some time in San Luis Obispo, Napa, Sonoma, and Oregon. So many times we would get talked down to (esp. in Napa) or ignored in wineries because we were young fratty looking guys. It was really frustrating, especially since we really wanted to learn and enjoy the wine, and we were not there to get hammered.
And also, 25 episodes? What are you nuts? I look forward to when you taste those ports fully matured.
October 10, 2006

MikeMe
Gary, you say it is cool to have your name mentioned with RP from the article but do you realize the suprise and honor to get a shout out from you wishing me a happy 45th? After a crazy day at work I was catching up on my “Gary Vision” and was stunned! I love that Caleb (pronounced Kale-ub) sent you an email – we sometimes watch the show together and he works down at the winery with me when he can. He is great kid, 18, and heading to the Navy soon. I was wondering why I had so many unique hits on my site (sorry to those who do not use IE, slideshows and other plug-ins do not work with other browsers). Thanks Gary – you have changed my tasting life! Best wine that night was the 02 Caymus Cab.

TimF – I make wine and work at Edmonds Winery as-well-as volunteer as much as I can at three other local wineries. We plan on heading back to CA in April (bud break) to hit some of wineries we missed last trip. I wish I could make the trip out for Super Tasting but just too busy with wine duties. Just a tip if you come to WA wineries; many do not charge for tasting. The few who do charge usually apply the cost back toward purchase.

I have seen wine snobs in many places but for us it has usually been a pourer at a winery when we visit for tasting. Most recent snob issue it was a rep from a local wine club I met at a wine event.
October 10, 2006

SNoethen
Hi Gary,

within this episode you really did something that made me change from a lurker to a poster.
By showing how to decant a wine, you’ve put some of the Neo into the decanter with the Brunello in it!!

Great idea!
I had no problem watching the last 100 episodes without really feeling any need to comment your show.
It is great. It’s entertaining and I like it very much.
Nothing I had to comment, but by mixing those wines together you caught me.

Greetings from Germany

Stephan
October 10, 2006

Tony S.
Hey Brandon M.,

Regarding comment 28…that is totally annoying.

I forgot about being called a wine snob by my friends that like wine, but aren’t that much into it, and when I say I don’t like a wine they think I’m being snobby. But it’s not as often as it used to be, they’ve all started to slowly experiment by going to a wine shop rather than getting the same old-same old from Trader Joe’s or a grocery store.

See you later,
Go Bears,
T
October 10, 2006

Matt G
Hello
October 10, 2006

Eugene
SS Chris
In the spreadsheet you should change the column header from GV Rating to VayneRating.

And since youâ€™re using vaynerPass, vaynerGo or vaynerYes should be introduced.

PS: when I see SS Chris I keep thinking â€œStainless Steelâ€. You should do something about it :=).
October 10, 2006

TimF
Tony S.: J’accuse! “Same old-same old” from Trader Joes?!? Trader Joes has some pretty good stuff. I just picked up a bottle of Sanford Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara 2004) for 23 bones the other day!
October 10, 2006

Jim
Gary;

Several years ago we lived in Jersey and I used to buy a lot of wine from you as you were just starting out your revamped wine store. Around the time of your grand reopening I remember your taking me down to the basement and showing the great collection of old wines you had acquired. It was awesome. Perhaps some day you will be able to ship to Indiana.

Regarding wine snob stories, a few years ago our one of our local restaurants had Bollinger NV Cuvee on the wine list for $40 per bottle ( somewhat more today,but still a good value), a great value in a restaurant. At the same time we were in Chicago and went to a very fine, highly Zagat rated restaurant. Their price for the same bottle of champagne was $120! All of their wines seemed to be similarly marked up. Needless to way, we passed on wine that night.
October 10, 2006

CShell
Gary,

I recently drank my last bottle of ‘02 Saint Chinian Domaine Rimbert “Le Mas au Schiste” which I thought I got from “the Library” but I can’t seem to find a record of it in my orders so maybe not…but all of us were quite impressed by the terroir in this offering.

Anyway, I was wonering if you’ve had this or similar wines (in both taste and price range) that you could recommend for us…maybe even a WLTV episode on wines from the same area and varietal.

Keep up the great work and always bring the passion brotha!!
October 10, 2006

Sam Zen
BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS… What’up G?
October 10, 2006

Brandon M
Did Theisman really say 16-0 last night? The Bears are just smokin teams right now, but it’s a loooooooong season!

Rammies…4-1 and we aint played sh*!

B
October 10, 2006

NickP
Gary,
Good episode – haven’t watched it until just now. Was at the Wine Spectacular last night – got to say hello directly to you. Great event – already planning to attend next year.
For anyone going tonight, a few pointers based on my experience – get there early (before 5:30); make a plan based on the directory BEFORE you start tasting; SPIT or you’ll never make it through the whole night; if you want to get into bordeaux make your first stop the Bordeaux Pavillion – great vertical flights, all the regions represented, but gets real crowded; take food breaks every hour; make sure you get to Tables 19 & 20 for some incredible Spanish wines – the biggest surprise of the night for me (perhaps just points up my inexperience in that area); save the ports and armagnacs and the like for last. Have fun, it’s a great night!
Nick P
October 10, 2006

Rebecca
QOD: This story pertains to both wine and food stobbery. I am in the restaurant industry and could tell loads of stories of my experiences for the past 10 years as a chef and front-of-the-house manager. But, I choose this one and it’s long so, sorry to those that hate the long posts…..

Almost 2 years ago I was invited to one of the best restaurants in NY; owned by, arguably, one of the best Chefs in the US. I was both honored and flattered to be invited and quite honestly, like a young kid inside, counting down until the day (Dec. 19th, 2004 – see I still remember the day because, to me, it was one of the highlights thus far in my food/wine career and hobby). Anyway, I was dining with several others that are truly what I call “wine-heads”. It was quite an experience to be in this restaurant, the atmosphere, the view of Columbus Circle and Central Park, the menu, the wine list, the service, just everything. To me, an opportunity I was going to savor every moment of, because, for all that I dine out, all the wine I drink, food I eat, whether expensive or affordable, it is just not everyday affair to dine at this particular restaurant. After a 5-hour experience, the Matre ‘d took us for a tour of the kitchens – WOW! Anyway, for months after this experience, one of the other guests at my table went on, and on, and on, retelling everyone he’d encountered how overhyped this restaurant was, the wine list, the food, just everything. He constantly “bragged” that he wasn’t impressed with the wines, he could have prepared the food better, and that plain and simple, his restaurant and wine list are better. I consider situations like this almost amusing; such ego and insecurity! (two traits that go hand-in-hand) This bragging person, happens to have been running restaurants for 25 years or more. Why can’t we all just go out and enjoy an experience and dine in a restaurant with an open mind to experience what a chef, or sommolier or owner are trying to communicate? No matter how developed our palates are or are not? Whether we are in the “business” or not? And respect others that are doing the same thing. Nonetheless, I still am delighted and it was a pinnical in my career to dine for an entire afternoon in that restaurant. I love the laugh I get inside when I am confronted with a “snob” customer. Just go out, have fun, eat, drink be merry – as the saying goes. Sure we are all looking for value, quality, etc. but, we only get to do this life thing once, right?

On another note…Being confronted by “snobbish” customers once in a while really makes my WLTV time worth coming home to. I enjoy reading the comments and participating when I can. BTW, Brandon M., you crack me up and you teach me a lot, as do lot of other posters out there. Thanks to all in this forum and of course to Gary for the education and especially for your absolutely, not at all, would never become you, “snobbish” approach!
Rebecca
October 10, 2006

Tony S.
TimF: I think Trader Joes has some pretty good selections. It’s just a lot of my friends that like wine, but don’t feel like trying, always buy the same, same, same wine from there. I picked up a really nice Australian Chard there (that I haven’t found since) that was really smooth, among others.

But ya, what I meant was that they buy the same exact wines from there all the time.
See you later,
T
October 10, 2006

Brandon M
Thanks Rebecca…great post!
October 10, 2006

Justin D
Hey, great show, you make want to buy wine every day. I know your point is not to sell the wine you taste but you shure make me want to buy wine in general.

Wine snobb? The most outrageous thing I can think of is a liquor store in Morristown NJ. This store ( I think the name is chrodnnay) has been trying to sell a bottle of 1983 Opus One for $350.00 or maby more I can not be shure, which has been stand up, in the same place, and on a hot upper shelve for the last three years at least. As far as I can tell this is over priced and poorley kept and yes I know “wine is tough” but I don’t know if anyone will ever buy this bottle for that price. Not to mention the rest of the store is overpriced. Than been said, this is why I shop your store…. Good Job…. See you tonight, Justin D
October 10, 2006

Rich S
Gary,

It is great that you were recognized although I disagree with the comments that whoever that guy was made. You are trying to bring “wine to the masses” and that is the whole point of WLTV but I don’t feel you are trivializing wine. Maybe whoever that guy was is really a lurker out there who watches every episode of WLTV ten times. That would be quite comical………

Anyway, my friends tend to think I am a wine snob (even though I really am not). Most of them just don’t appreciate wine as much as I do. As far as the best example of snobbery I ever encountered, I discussed in a post way back when (somewhere in WLTV episodes 20-30) where I was out to dinner with a bunch of people from work and the so called “wine expert” at the table ordered a brunello that everyone (including me who tested the wine when it arrived) hated. Instead of listening to what 4 people were saying, the expert insisted that the wine was fine and that maybe we all had just never had an expensive Italian wine before……………. Hysterical…………
October 10, 2006

DougG
God…I created a monster and the biggest snob now is my wife. She only drunk White Zin a couple of years ago, then a trip to Napa and some mailing list wines later she now doesnâ€™t touch anything under $40 bucks and when I do find a bargain that I like most of the time she has something negative to say. Well I guess it’s better then if she still drunk swill.

Question Gary: Has anyone every stuck there nose up at you for something you recommended or was drinking?
October 10, 2006

TimF
DougG: You are a lucky, lucky man.
October 10, 2006

SeanM
I could have sworn that the ‘journalist’ said ‘hocking,’ not ‘hawking’, meaning you are using WLTV to sell wine by shouting out at the masses. Obviously the ‘journalist’ was ony using WLTV as an example of the American use of the numerical rating system and didn’t really bother to learn anything about WLTV. I also noticed that the ‘journalist’ never actually described how the numerical rating system works. I never thought I’d see such a poor job of journalism at PRI or NPR, those guys usually know their subject inside out before they open their mouths. The really funny part was that the clip was of an American wine that was being ‘pazzzzzed’. The whole thing makes me wonder what those French farmers think when their wine gets a good rating.

I haven’t run into a wine snob yet, or atleast, if I have I paid no attention. I did get a look from a friend once when a said a nice desert wine wasn’t cloying.
October 10, 2006

GOL
GV – Sorry about the J-E-T-S, but my fears weren’t realized as you came through with your usual high energy level in this ep. I am saving room on DA BEARS bandwagon for you, but get on quickly because it’s filling up!

QOD – Was at a wine tasting hosted by a friend at his house. Very low-key crowd, absolutely no pretention in the room, just people tasting wine, some of whom were into wine and some of whom were new to wine. The host had organized and ordered the wines by varietal, including putting blends in between pure varietals, to help people compare, and there were far more reds than whites, maybe 15/20 reds and 5 whites. The tasting started, and some guest decided that his palate could better decide how to organize the wines, so he started moving them around, grouping them to his tasting! I was incredulous, and after he was out of sight I did my best to put them back. What a snob
October 10, 2006

Kahuna
QOD- I was in Sonoma in a town called Healdsburg and I was shipping 7 cases of wine back to NJ. I was in the shipping center and telling my friend about Clos Du Bois winery. Which I intentionally said wrong as part of the story. A woman actually tugged my sleeve and corrected me in the middle of my conversation and said I should learn how to speak the French name properly. I smiled and laid an Italian word on her pronounced quite correctly.

Gary,
At least they didn’t call you a JAGUAR
October 10, 2006

karl satirev
Many years ago at a wine tasting party, I went through the line last to get a taste of the “champagne du jour”. Wow! What a blast of disgusting liquid. So as not to give Jerry (the host) a problem, I took him aside and said, “What was that crap?” He roured laughing and said “It was warm beer. I knew you aren’t a beer drinker, but you are the first one out of twenty five people to realize it wasn’t champagne!!!” He was laughing so hard I thought he’d require a pants change. There also was the time Ed, after much pomp and circumstance rejected the Soave he ordered because it wasn’t red!
October 10, 2006

John Manzi
Boy, how happy am I. I bought 6 bottles of the DANIEL NEO. Really nice to
see that you think it’s worth 93 pts.
Keep up yhe great work…love WLTV!
John M.
October 10, 2006

Safsam
Haven’t posted in a while. Gary, way to go. Entertaining stuff. Wanted to post to avoid a “long term lurker” status. Have you heard of the Molly Dooker stuff? From the Marquis family down under. Will you carry any of this stuff? Big Parker scores. You may know them from their Marquis Philips days. Bad break up with Dan and his Greatful Palet, I hear.

Go Jets!
October 10, 2006

Jaye
Better late than never? At least I know Gary will see this comment. I am posting a day late because I am taking a few days off on the left coast. Anyway, wanted to say “congrats” on the continued media recognition. As for QOD . . . never met a wine snob in person (thankfully).
October 10, 2006

bomy
When he was showing how he poured I think he poured the NEO into the Brunello decanter Hope he doesnt ask for other opinions on that one…Cool show though, like the fact that you havent tasted the wine before and gave an honest opinion on the K. Hall.
October 10, 2006

Italian Stallion
Hey Gary,

Another great show….but lets not be happy for the Tigers, afterall they did beat the YANKEES!!!

QOD: I walked into a wine store in the city (new york city….and the place shall remain nameless), and they ignored me because I am a younger guy..(24 years old). Funny thing was, once I got the attention of one the salesman, I whipped out my wine knowledge and stunned the sh*t out of him. Needless to say I didn’t buy anything, but I had total satisfaction watching him squirm as I blew him away with wine knowledge. Moral of the story….NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

-The Stallion
October 10, 2006

Bob Berke
The greatest bit of wine snobbery had to this summer in London at a famous London wine shop that will go unnamed (BBR)

My wife and I walked in and the first thing just cracked me up, in the most uptight English accent you can imagine, the gentleman say ” may I help your sir”! slow condescending almost right out of a movie. He had no idea I have fairly large cellar and basically just shuffled us out the door with his attitude. Of course I a former Marine so that kind of stuff is not my style. You had to be there!
October 10, 2006

Jack F
Hi Gary,
I some how found WLTV on youtube in june. i’ve since spent more time these last couple of weeks and watched each episode in order. Starting at episode 1. Youtube stops at episode 101. Will they continue to show up there? Is there a lag time between when an episode shows up on tv.winelbrary.com and when it shows up on youtube?
After watching all of the episodes I thought that I would try some wine that you had show cased. After three wine stores which did not have any of the wines that I had writen down which you liked, I decided to try one which I remember from the show. It turns out it was one that you did not like. It was the Los Vascos 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon.
I really have no experience with wine other than what I’ve learned from WLTV so bear with me. Upon opening the bottle, I decanted it. I tasted at this time. I found there to be little to the nose except a weak alcohol smell. I tasted some muted fruit in the front, a hollow mid palate, and an alcoholly finish. 6 hours after being decanted I tasted it again. I found that the wine did not open up in the nose very much. Just a little more fruit on the nose. In the tasting I noticed a big change in the taste just before I swollowed my mouth was filled with a shocking flavor of wet stale spider web or something remeniscent of the crawl space in the basement of my Mom’s house when I was growing up. This flavor was followed by the same harsh alcohol flavor I noted in my earlier trial.

Question: Was that spider web flavor teroux(sp?)or a sign of a corked wine or something else?

If below 80 is undrinkable on your scoring system I would have to rate this wine as a 70. I couldn’t finish a glass. My delema with this flavor profile is that my wife liked the wine Los Vascos. So how can we find something we both would like.
October 11, 2006

Julia
Hey, Stallion: Try being a *girl* and going to a wine shop, if you wanna see books judged by covers. Actually, a lot of the staff I talk to these days seem kind of pleased I know anything. Things are changing, of course. Best story I heard about wine snobbery was experienced by friends dining in Paris…an American couple were there to eat, and he sent the wine back because it “wasn’t expensive enough.” However *do* we get the reputation for being Ugly Americans???
October 14, 2006

good old ludwig van
My brother in law told a great story about (misguided) wine snobbery. He was at a company party with an open bar, and a woman walked up and ordered a *Beringer* white zinfandel . . . as if no other brand would do for her sophisticated palate!
October 14, 2006

Roberto
I like it thank god you are not liking that Brunello.
October 16, 2006

JayZee
Hi
October 17, 2006

Brandon M
Couldn’t stand it sitting at 99…i know I’m type A

B
July 20, 2007

David Canada
QOTD – Hmmm….had a person I know who is way into wine tell me that he only buys Bordeaux in good years, that he only has 45,61,70,82, 90, 95, 2000 in his cellar and that buying Bordeaux any other time is like flushing your money away…..
January 21, 2008

yathink2
Hi ya Hawk, I am an otter. I really loved your last few episodes. Still working my way up to get caught up. Keep up the good work and never mind all your business nay sayers. You are providing a great service and I am learning a lot. Thank you
February 17, 2008

thefanjestic
Qotd: I’m a liger.

Qotd 2: The biggest wine snobbery is from myself unfortunately. I had tried this Australian shiraz (whose name escapes me) in the bottle and was blown away at it’s quality for $6 a bottle.

I then told another friend about it and a few days later he said he went to the liquor store and it was only a box wine. I was pissed, thought he was messing with me and refuted the idea that this wine I had been so impressed with was a box wine.

Well, it was. My friend and I had a huge laugh about this later on because we were both telling each other we were wrong and getting frustrated with the other person. I then went on to tell the person who had suggested the bottle to me that it was a box wine and the argument began all over again.

I was ashamed to have enjoyed a boxed wine – I thought I was better than that, but now I know – the best things in life are free! Or at least very very cheap!
May 24, 2008

manonthemoon
QOTD: I tend to get a first hand account of “wine snobbery” the first few times I go into most wine shops because I am in my mid 20’s and tend to be a t-shirt and blue jean type of guy, even though I do decently well for my age group. I always tend to get the usual questioning look or they point out the lower level wines that they are trying to push on people. But luckily after talking to most of the people they either realize I have a decent amount of wine knowledge and they engage me in a equal minded approach. And if they continue to talk down I just do not purchase from the store, thats the best way to show displeasure with service.
September 21, 2009

John J.
qotd: I totally agree with manonthemoon with his answer. I’m the wine steward in my restaurant, and I’m going to make wine my profession, but I have absolute contempt for wine snobbery.
Like manonthemoon, I know what it’s like in those liquor stores. I’ll go in on my day off in a t-shirt and jeans, and I’m in my 20’s, and look a little young for my age. So quite often I get all the employees, most over twice my age, staring at me and/or following around the store. Everyone will come up in succession asking if they can help, because they are suspicious of my age or that I might steal since I’m looking at the nice wines. So, only when they behave that way, will I start asking them wine questions they can’t answer. Or questions about wines in their own shop they can’t answer. Or seeing if they can order me a wine, and I’ll tell them what distributor to look for in the beverage journal, and if they quote me a high mark up, I’ll ask why, since I know how much they are buying it for.
That’s probably the worst snobbery I see and hate.
The one that sticks out for me as far as me dealing with guests, was a lady I was going to serve wine to about 2 years ago. A real Mrs. Howell type from Gilligan’s Island. She asked for a glass of chardonnay, and I replied I’d be right back with a real nice burgundy. I’m sure you’ve dealt with this one Gary, lol. She says, “No, I want a chardonnay.” I politely try to explain that that IS a chardonnay. She doesn’t want to hear it, tells me I’ve made “an egregious faux pas.”, and gets very frustrated and decides she doesn’t even want any wine at all now.
My question for you now Gary. I’m looking for something I’ve never seen you do before so, will you do an episode on vin jaune’s? And for something a bit more laid back, can you do a tasting episode on different charbono’s?