Total Wine Explosion – The Big One

Total Wine Explosion – The Big One – Episode #110

October 18, 2006

Wines tasted in this episode:

Every 100 or so episodes Gary will step up and do a massive wine tasting and this way we may one day get closer to tasting all the wines made! Today Gary tackles fifteen wines, talks about palate fatigue and goes through many wines to try to help you in anyway he can. It’s going to be tough to tackle all the wines in the world four at a time so today Gary takes one giant step in the right direction. Sit back this is a long one!

124 Responses

October 18, 2006

Jim
1st?
October 18, 2006

Jaye
Someone other than Brandon is first? Congratulations, Jim!
October 18, 2006

the professor and....
in at 3, 4?
October 18, 2006

Jaye
Love the artwork! Enjoying my “Piping Shrike” with this. My palate was feeling kind of whacked out after 17 wines last week in Washington State. The only way I made it through was by stopping for lunch after the first 15, and then coming back to try the blockbuster wine and finally the dessert wine. By the way, your brother is a cutie!
October 18, 2006

TimF
Wow, 32 minutes long! I can’t wait to watch on the train home tonight…
October 18, 2006

SS Chris
Gary, I haven’t watched yet, but you’re killing me w/ so many wines to enter. LOL

And you’re blowing me off about my “discount” question for people who pick up the wine…not nice to you old pal SPREADSHEET CHRIS (a not so subtle hint that you owe me at least a response GV)
October 18, 2006

Tony
Close!
October 18, 2006

Brandon M
Question for everyone…
I personally have started ordering more wine from Gary as I’m sure a lot of you have, but I am also on a lot of wine mailing lists.
Some of the lists are now closed to the public, or have less allocations than they used to.
Do any others out there buy off of mailing lists?
If so which ones?
Any wines that no one else can get?
The list that I’m on that I’m the most excited about is the Kosta Browne stuff but what are yours?

Also…how many of you are in the wine business? In what capacity?
Would love to know how many people are Sommeliers, Wine Buyers, Retailers, Wholesalers, Importers, Growers, Makers, Winery Owners, or Cellar Engineers.

B
October 18, 2006

Tony
I can get through about 5 wineries in a day before everything all starts to taste the same. At 4-5 wines per winery, that’s about 20-25 wines.
October 18, 2006

Jaye
I want to know how you know what “grasshopper heads” smell like.
October 18, 2006

Brandon M
I have never experienced Palette Fatigue…mybe I should try 50 wines and see.

B
October 18, 2006

Tony
Gray, this isn’t your office. Where did you tape this?
October 18, 2006

garyv
OHHHHHHHHHHH MAN AJ you rock, great WORK CHRIS MOTT, I was totally STUNNED…BRO thnx so much…..I LOVE U !!!!
October 18, 2006

Jaye
Hey Brandon, I’m not in wine business, but I have toyed with the idea of opening up a wine storage facility in my area since there is NOTHING around here. I am on a few wine lists, probably Pax is the most well known. Got to say, Gary gets the lions share of my paycheck. I might as well just put Wine Library as a standard deduction on my W4.
October 18, 2006

Tony
Hot dogs, ham and cheese and barbacue ribs and bacon all in one pinot noir? It’s not a meal in itself – it’s four meals in itself!
October 18, 2006

Jaye
Gary, congrats on such a palate-tiring episode! I have a love/hate relationship in going to tastings. The person pouring the wine for you always wants you to love their wine, and when you get a mouthful of ‘yikes’, is there any polite way to spit it out and not make a face? You really put yourself out there in front of the world, I don’t know if I could ever do that.

Here’s a question I have . . . if you look at your wine collection and say to yourself, “geez, when am I ever going to drink all this wine?” how do you go about finding a buyer for it at a fair price (given that many of us pay retail or discounted retail for our wines). I have been thinking about “thinning out” my collection by about 100 bottles or so, and really don’t have the faintest idea how to go about this.
October 18, 2006

Jim
Excellent episode. Some great value wines! Only on wine lists where I can’t get the wines at retail. Vincent Arroyo is a favorite.
October 18, 2006

Brandon M
Jaye…I know you won’t go this way (I probably wouldn’t), but I read a great story in Spectator a couple of years back. A very wealthy collector had built an obnoxious cellar ond filled it with something like 13,000 bottles. He was of retirment age and he said he was sitting with his wife in the cellar one night and they started talking about how they would ever enjoy ALL of their wine. They talked it over and agreed that the only way they could TRULY enjoy it all was give the mass of it to auction for charity…..AWESOME

I’ll try to find the story as I’m sure I have forgotten how it was really told.

B
October 18, 2006

TimF
Jaye — I’ll send you my address. Feel free to send me anything you don’t want anymore.
October 18, 2006

hinrgman
Gary

Great episode .. like this set(from earlier episodes) better that the one you have been using lately
October 18, 2006

Jaye
Tim, I won’t give away . . . but I’m happy to share if you are ever in central NJ.
October 18, 2006

Jaye
Brandon, I hope I am in the position when I retire that I am able to do that . . . that would be truly super. So many great charities out there!
October 18, 2006

Russ J
Nice job, Gary ,in all the ways one might take that! I have a younger brother too. Seeing yours give you the intro reminds me to give mine a call.

Sadly, I have not had the opportunity to find my palate fatigue point. Something to look forward to. I want some of that Eno Zin. What is your thought on cellar time? Will two years be suffient?
October 18, 2006

Lawrence Leichtman
I’m on several lists, Turley, Ramey, Teldeschi, Ferrari-Carrano. I haven’t noticed any droppoff in what I can order. time on these lists does make a difference. I will probably be dropped from Harlan because I just can’t afford to order enough of it to matter to them. Just went to a huge ttasting in Santa Fe with 95 wineries. I only tasted from about 1/2 of them and was approaching palate fatigue at the end with about 50-60 wines tasted. By the way the pourers would be happy if you liked their wines but they know that not every wine appeals to everyone even if it is well made so spit away.
October 18, 2006

Brandon M
I spit anyway whne tasting. I’ve had the alchohol go to my head too many times after a day of tasting and then opening a bottle later and saying…what the heck was I thinking?

B
October 18, 2006

Jaye
I always spit in my tastings, but my question was how does one hide disgust, or lie and say, “hmm that was nice”, when all you can think about is “where is the water!”. Maybe I am just too nice. When I tasted a clunker the last time I tried to just keep my opinions to myself and not say anything after I spit, but the proprieter asked me my opinion. I said “interesting” but I couldn’t wait to get the taste out of my mouth. I guess this is not really an issue for most people.

For those of you who make wines, would you rather someone tell you why they thought your wine sucked, or is it preferable to have them just smile and said “interesting”?
October 18, 2006

Brandon M
I’ve used the line “It’s a little too tight, a little young for me” way too much, but it seems to satisfy both parties.
October 18, 2006

Grasshopper
Wine Sensei,

I laughed out loud when you tasted the Castle Rock and made the anology of pouring rasberry jam over broccoli and “if not done just right” it can go bad! That was really funny! What is the right way to pur rasberry jam over broccoli??

Grasshopper
October 18, 2006

Grasshopper
Brandon M,

I am on a couple mailing/allocation lists..one is Kosta Browne like you still waiting, but also got my first allocation from Sea Smoke earlier this year. Also on mailing list for Kistler and W. H. smith got a mailings from both in June but did not purchase any. So many wines, only so much money…:)

Grasshopper
October 18, 2006

Tony
Jaye,

Send me a list of what you want to get rid off, and for a good price, I’d be happy to take some of it off your hands.
October 18, 2006

Jeff S.
Welcome to Wine Jail…..Whadduya in for?

Gary,
Ordered my first case from WL last night. Thanks for the free shipping. Or maybe I should thank Eric Mangini – star pupil of Bill Belicheck. I got a mixed case of wines you have tried on the WLTV that sounded interesting. Unfortunately you’re out of the 03 Ramey. That’s what I get for asking you to taste it. Any more coming in????

QOD
I haven’t reached pallete fatigue yet. Unfortunately, all the tastings I’ve been to are dress up affairs where no one would dare spit, so blood alcohol level is more of a limiting factor.
October 18, 2006

TampaSteve
QOTD…I don’t spit at tasting although maybe I should as I am feeling no pain when I walk out. But, heck isn’t that part of the fun. I was just at a 70+ wine tasting this past weekend. I would have to say that after about 2 dozen wines the subtleties become less. However while after tasting the first 2 dozen wines my pallet may not be as sharp, I can still tell right off the bat after tasting the wine whether I like it or not.
October 18, 2006

Burton
I’ve seen all 110 episodes, and this one takes the cake. #1 ! I liked the format. I think the regular shows(although fun) you try too hard, I thought you seemed more comfortable today. You even said that is what you do when your not on WLTV.
October 18, 2006

Kahuna
Jaye,
I make wine and I always want an honest opinion. In fact I tell people they are not hurting my feelings as even legendary producers lay eggsnow and then and they grow their own grapes. In fact I have vintages I have made that I hate yet people love- I had a 10 gallon Barrell I was going to dump and my Mother In Law loved it- I set her up with the corks, corker, bottles and she did bottled it all herself.

I can taste about 5-6 wineries a day I have only spit once. Since we are usually in Sonoma/Napa for our anniversary it usually turns into 7 tastings per vineyard since they to celebrate anything and being so close to Manhattan I am usually answering NYC questions. I put my wife to bed at 8 and then go out for some single Malt Scotch and cigar it is a topper at the end of a tasting day
October 18, 2006

mikep
gary
lizzard skin?????????? Well you got the palette and your brother got the looks OH WELL. Great episode have a great night
October 18, 2006

lizv
hey hey mikep i beg to differ…let’s call it even, all the vaynerchuk men have the looks!
October 18, 2006

SS Chris
Thatta Girl lizv…stick up for your man!!!!!
October 18, 2006

Brandon M
Who needs looks when you have HUGE wine bottles?
October 18, 2006

Jason R.
I have yet to reach pallate fatigue – I would say I have only tasted about 12 wines at any one time.

HOW ABOUT THE SHOUT OUT TO BEAUJOLAIS – I BELIEVE A FEW EP’s BACK I THREW A BIG – BUY BUY BUY BUY OUT THERE FOR 2003 & 2005 AS YOU GET A HELL OF A LOT FOR $10 BONES~!!!

I dont exactly work in the wine industry, but I work for a company where we make stamping and embossing cylinders and dies that decorate wine labels – So a good bunch of my customers print and finish all of those pretty wine labels… Its a fun gig.

Go Cards!!!
October 18, 2006

Jason R.
I will be drinking the 2003 Georges Duboeuf Fleurie – La Madone tonight. RP-88-90 – $8 bones.

Nose is very floral, flowery, fun & fruity. On first taste mini-Fruit Bomb. Not that abnoxious Aussie stuff followed by heat – just nice fruit – A little simple, very yummy and worth all of the 8 bones.

I will see how it goes with my sun dried tomato chicken dish. Til then…
October 18, 2006

Brandon M
No wine for me tonight
Pumpkin patch with the kids!
October 18, 2006

TimF
I get palate fatigue at around 25 wines — and I always spit when I’m tasting.

I love the gamay. I ordered a few bottles earlier this week. Can’t wait to taste the recent Chaize…
October 18, 2006

TimF
Enjoy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIgmh-lgI4c
October 18, 2006

Jack
Hey ditto Timf. When are you going to blind tasteing? You said it would be in a couple of episodes back in episode 66.
I loved the big tasting and that some of the wines I’ve heard of. New to wine.
October 18, 2006

Jason R.
B – have fun at the Pumkin patch with the fam. You are not overpaying for a pumkin you could pick up anywhere – you are paying for the experience. Which leads me to: Scrapbooking – I am starting to wonder who spends more money in our house. Me on wine or my wife on scrapbooking stuff.

Have fun everyone tonight – NOW GO WATCH THE BASEBALL GAME!!!
October 18, 2006

Big Billy from Big D
TimF
Hurray for the Bacchus initiative.
Scientific review in all m,atter oenological or oenoillogical.

Cheers
October 18, 2006

Big Billy from Big D
TimF
Hurray for the Bacchus initiative.
Scientific review in all matter oenological or oenoillogical.

Cheers
October 18, 2006

JohnM
Never hit a fatigue point so long as tasting AND spitting. BAL has gotten in the way before, but pleasantly so, and I’ve done up to 40 at a time.
October 18, 2006

mikep
Sorry lizv ok they all got the looks but it smelled like LIZZARD SKIN ????????????????????????
October 18, 2006

lizv
exactly my friend! and that’s why we keep coming back right?
October 18, 2006

MarcT
I drank Corona for dinner and now I’m having a Vodka and Starbucks Liqueur.

Tasting fatigue hits me around #25- #30. I spit 90% of the time but eventually things catch up in my mouth!

Jaye…WineBid.com is a good place to sell large amounts of wine. Also, like Tony, I would be willing to purchase from you for the right price .

I love November 17th…Good parties and good food. I think that if you find good Beaujolais then you can hold one for Thanksgiving. It is a good party wine!
October 18, 2006

Rob M.
Brandon, I signed up for the William Selyem list as well as the Bond list (Harlan Estates second bottling). I have received one mailing from both, but have not yet decided to invest. I wanted to invest, but have not been able to take a $60 (William Selyem) or a $100 (Bond) fall, instead choosing to buy several less expensive wines. The next I join (and is not a mailing list, but a pay as you go), is the Z-list from Ridge. I am not in the business in any way.

QOD: I have never been to a tasting where I have tasted more than 8 wines, so I cannot comment on palate fatigue. I have had more than 8 wines in a (long) night, but fail to appreciate the finer points of each after about the 5th full glass.

Gary, you pulled the Philip Togni Cab from off the screen. After tasting so many wines, and then having this monster, I thought maybe that was the joke for today. Thanks for trying this.

Thank you for very long episode.
October 18, 2006

garybee
Brandon M…
I’m not in the wine business, unless you consider drinking to be a business. Because of our country’s stupid shipping laws, I’m on less wine lists than I used to be. Currently, I get wines from Harlen Estate and Leonetti Cellars.
Garybee
October 18, 2006

Jaye
TimF – the fact you put that up on a Wednesday night before Lost is even more funny. I wish I had the talent and free-time some of you have! Thanks for making this an even more enjoyable place to be.

MarcT – thanks, what is your e-mail address? You can get mine from Gary maybe (sorry I don’t publish it on blogs).
October 18, 2006

Chuck W
SS Chris – great reference in the spreadsheet.

Got go. Mrs. W and the spatula are waiting.

That’s the fact jack.
October 18, 2006

TimF
What was the deal with throwing the corks at the camera?
October 18, 2006

PeteB
100pts on this one!!!!! Thank You!
Gary let me tell you that your staff is onto that Togni. I asked for a recommendation on a great Cali Cab for a special occasion and was led to the 2003 Togni. It now sits in my wine fridge for that special day and I can’t wait.

QOD: Unfortunately a sore subject for me, basically my palate has been crap after I underwent surgery last year to remove my tonsils, adenoids & uvula. Basically, I ended up with nerve damage that effected my palate. It has gotten better over the year, but I can really only handle one wine at time – everything is basically skewed to the bitter side on my palate. Let’s hope it will get back to normal with time. Before the surgery I would be ok until my 20’s w/ fatigue. So my major contribution to this board will be – if you ever need or think about doing this surgery and your a wine lover or food for that matter – think very seriously, especially if it invloves your career – cause those little percentages that they quote you before surgery are actually very true and more common than you may think.
October 18, 2006

Pat B
Gary,

Way to go! Fifteen wines; you made up for last night. Great to see you cover wines from all over the world.

I can’t get past 5 or 6 wines without palate fatigue…maybe it’s because I swallow instead of spit, but it seems like such a shame to not swallow. The only time I have ever spit out a wine was when I tasted in the late morning. Is there a time of day when you feel your palate is at its sharpest?

Pat B
October 18, 2006

MarcT
Jaye…I’m contacting Gary to pass along my email address…
Thanks for the opportunity. And yes…I have cash

ps
Did anyone just see the Southpark episode?
That was AWESOME…Great spoofs…I hope GaryV gets a spoof on Southpark one day!!!
October 18, 2006

ChrisR
Gary,

Phenomenal ep! Love “The Fonz” on the Togni and your eccentric tasting notes throughout. The Casa Marin sounds fascinating. Very intrigued.

At last year’s Specatator Grand Tour I tasted 70 wines. I definitely had palate fatigue at around 50. That said, a really great phenomenal wine will break through no matter how late in the tasting. The Sette Ponte Oreno was late in the evening but there was no hiding the brilliance of that one.
October 18, 2006

TimF
I’m really loving this 2004 Sanford Pinot. Paired it with an Encore Veal Parmigiana…
October 18, 2006

MarcT
Gary…I’ve sent an email also…but just incase…Jaye can have my email address!
October 18, 2006

shawn F
Gary,

Like Tony Montana in scarface huffing up a mountain of white powder, have you ever wondered what it would be like to snort wine. I have actually tried this, though not intentionally.

While swirling a BIG red of some sort, occasionally I would get too enthusiastic and prematurely stick my nose deep into the glass. Thereby scooping up a sizable portion of the wine whirlpool into my nostrils.

I have to admit it’s not to bad, almost pleasurable. It opens up a whole new dimension in wine tasting. You should try it for yourself. You never know……you might like it.

Shawn “Rutgers Is the Man” F.
October 18, 2006

MarcT
Shawn F…it burns…it burns!!!!
October 18, 2006

PattyO
Big Billy – thanks for the pdf wine aroma wheel (on yesterday’s comments) It’s great!
October 18, 2006

joe
Gary, Thank You!! this was a 100 point episode. Thank you for opening and tasting so many; tasting so many very good wines; and tasting so many “hidden gems”. You provided real value.
October 18, 2006

Jaye
PeteB – tough break! Sending you happy thoughts that you will one day be able to taste everything perfectly again!
October 18, 2006

DennisA
Gary,
Real nice show. Looking forward to show on Gruner Veltlinr. I’ve recently “discovered” this grape and it was quite enjoyble. Definately a food wine. Also looking forward to the Beaujolais show. Are you going to try the various ones or ones from different producers.
A little bit late, but stopped by the store for this past weekends book signing, and the Bracco wines. She was a delight and the place was hopping. My wife enjoyed it and she really likes the cheese section.
October 19, 2006

Big Billy from Big D
Whenever I hear of Beaujolais, I canâ€™t help but remember an interview with Duke Ellington, circa late fifties early sixties, about race and the multiplicity of each individual. I managed to find the quote :

â€œLet’s see, my people — which of my people? I’m in several groups. I’m in the group of the piano players. I’m in the group of the listeners. I’m in the group of people who have a general appreciation of music. I’m in the group of those who aspire to be dilettantes. I’m in the group of — what? Oh yeah, those who appreciate Beaujolaisâ€

Duke Ellington was great gourmet. You can imagine that by the late 1930â€™s he was a world famous celebrity, and for the rest of his life people wined and dined him lavishly seeking his company when he was on tour.

Chin chin
October 19, 2006

Julius
QOTD – I never really evaluated how many wines I could taste before I developed palate fatigue, but I easily tasted well over 100 wines at the tasting at the Manor and didn’t suffer from palate fatigue. I guess I paced myself properly, rinsed with plenty of water and took appropriate food breaks. I know that I have not done as well at some prior tastings.

Some of the mailing lists I’m on are Alban, Blankiet, Colgin, Martinelli, and Pax.
October 19, 2006

Andrew
Gary, this is my first post here. I love your tv show. It would be great if you could upload five episode everyday. One question for you. How do you train your palate to identify the favor of wine?
October 19, 2006

Roberto
Gary.
You Need to come downt to my restaurant in the city and taste some more wine with me for my new award winning program….I need a Drunk Buddy LOL
October 19, 2006

Tony
TimF,

WTF??? The Bacchus Initiative? I was laughing thru the whole thing!

But you didn’t tell us what to do with the Vaynerbox!!

“Dr. Vaynerchuk”… ooohh, sounds impressive.

Hey, Dr. V, where’d you film this episode? I’m thinking that this is first not filmed in your office (except for the new wine room).
October 19, 2006

wey
Gary, about the Tallulah. The WL-review tells the following about this wine:
“(…) This soft, medium-bodied, elegant, delicate Syrah should be consumed over the next 6-7 years.”

Don’t you think that is misleading consumers? Medium body? They can’t be serious!
I often find wine descriptions on websites (and bottles too) to be completely wrong and my gues is that most of them are just made up without tasting the wines. What do you think [questionmark]
October 19, 2006

QueSeraSyrah
Very nice change in scenery. Thoroughly enjoyed your thoughts on the various wines and I’ve been eyeing the Togni for quite some time, but after hearing your raves about it, I think I’ll bite the bullet. Glad that you opened up an Eno wine, great small time producer (especially their Syrah). QOD- The last time I attended a mass tasting, I believe my palate fatigued in the upper 30’s. Is there a way to increase your palate’s endurance?

TimF- Bacchus Initiative eh? LOL… Good job as always…

Jaye- If you are looking to sell your bottles, sites like WineCommune and WineBid are a good way to go about selling your wine. I am also interested in what you might have for sale.
October 19, 2006

TampaSteve
Gary, think this was aked already but haven’t seen an answer:

How many people took advantage of the free shipping?
October 19, 2006

Paul
BrandonM – to answer your question (#8): I order from Ridge, Harvest Moon and Littorai (great Pinot Noir). I’m trying to get on the Rafanelli list but one has to wait for about 3 years. I’m planning a trip in February to Santa Barbara area and I’m sure I’ll wind up with more.
BTW, any advice from any of you out there in the VaynerNation regarding a trip to SB? Which wineries are musts? Thanks in advance.
October 19, 2006

Kahuna
Hi Paul,
Rafanelli wines are great. We go there every year when we go out to Sonoma- They have a 2 bottle limit at the winery(garage on a hill top). One night at dinner in Yountville we had a quater bottle or so left. Next to us was a pretty loud table of three -2 woman from NJ(pretty drunk) and a rugged looking man(pretty well off also). Since we are from NJ also we started chatting and the fellow asked about the Rafanelli as he had not had the current release- So I gave it to him(to my wifes horror) in turn he gave us a Half bottle of what they were drinking.

It was Saddle Back Merlot and we were hanging with the legend NILS VENGE the man who brought the first 100 score point wine to Napa Valley with Groth. What a treat, he owns Saddle Back, We got to go out to the winery the next day which was great and hang there for a while- His son is starting a new winery in Napa also-

Rafanelli is one of those wines everyone wants to know about if they are wine heads-Well anyway glad to know we have a new Rafanelli friend!

We were on a small wine club called Tara Bella very nice traditional in all manners tiny vineyard and small production- they used to be sold out but not sure if they still are.
October 19, 2006

Rick
les buveurs provencial transforment le vin en pisse
grout leger et mache
October 19, 2006

Kathy Hughes
I’m looking very forward to finding out when palate fatigue will set in. Our son is getting married in Napa in June; so I’ll let you know about the palate fatigue post the wedding. All the best, Naples, FL Kathy
October 19, 2006

Kahuna
WOOOO HHOOOOO just got my four cases of wine delivered for FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
October 19, 2006

Big Billy from Big D
Tasting vs Drinking Wine

I salute wine tasting athletes like Gary, Robert Parker and the rest who can endure tasting so many wines at a sitting. I donâ€™t enjoy sorting through a 6 or 8 wine tasting flight (much less 50 to 100), but tasting is entirely different from drinking. Tasting is work, and drinking is recreation. Recreationally, I enjoy delving out the nuances at more leisurely pace, Iâ€™ll leave the hard work to my friend Gary Vaynerchuk.

The forced pumping over in the mouth some have remarked about in this blog doesnâ€™t make the wine taste better. Instead what the swishing does is blast past the previous flavors in the mouth so that the subtleties of the current mouthful can be discerned. The receptors in my mouth begin to fatigue after just a few glugs along these lines. I am, however, grateful that GV is willing and able to do this for me.

Being able to see nuanced expressions of body language and hear GVâ€™s unique semantics provide me with a lens to narrow my selections to higher quality winners. Even more than that, by knowing which wines in my price range are worth drinking, I donâ€™t have to visit all the wine shops and liquor stores for miles around trying to find these elections. I just order from WL. Over the past year WL has become my primary source for wine.

It has gotten to the point that I hate going to shop for wine locally. First you may have to run the gauntlet of the â€˜wineâ€™ sales people smoking outside the store, then you have to endure the low level of useful information available for making a choice, if you ask invariably one the cigarette smokers will tell you, â€˜yup, thatâ€™s a goodâ€™un.â€™
Thanks for all you and the folks who work with you do, Gary.

Chin chin
October 19, 2006

Susan
Gary-
What a GREAT episode! I give it a 98!
Whose office are you in while taping this episode?
October 19, 2006

Susan
LizV,
I have to agree with you.
All of the Vaynerchuk men got the looks.
Way to stand up for your man!!!
October 19, 2006

Bob Berke
Gary,

I am going to have to call the Casa Marin pinot the ” Willie Wonka Wine”, based on your description.

Remember that gum that girl chewed that was like gravy and beef then she turned into a blueberry, it was like a whole meal. Thats what you just described!
October 19, 2006

Paul
Regarding tasting to palate fatigue, I haven’t run into it as long as I spit and rinse, take on some water once in a while. I also haven’t had more than 50 wines in a day, so maybe it’s out there somewhere. I think it’s the brain that goes numb when there’s no spitting.
October 19, 2006

Paul
Kahuna,

Thanks for the info. I got to visit the Rafanelli winery last Feb. Met Bob in the parking lot, too. Could only thank him for his marvelous efforts. Came back with everything they’d let me take – merlot, zin, 6 row cab was available. Since my wife and I were there, we got to double up. I can’t wait to get on the list. And the next time I get back that way I will be sure to visit.

BTW, I’m also in NJ. Work around the corner from WL. That can be good (easy access to wine) and bad (easy access to bank account).
October 19, 2006

Sam Zen
BIG episode. Shocked at the Catena, although I have yet to taste it. Now I’ll know to stay away.
October 19, 2006

SeanM
I missed the QOD yesterday:
2001 Yangarra Park Shiraz Appelation Series McLaren Vale I only found two bottles to buy. Enjoyed that spicey wine with leg of lamb both times, shared the last bottle with friends.
QOD:
I hit nose fatigue in Oregon during my day of wineries. I was at my last stop, the Carlton Winemakers Studio, when I realized that the 5 pinot’s all smelled the same. I could taste the difference but my nose had given up. I ordered a glass of reisling to taste, let the pinots sit for 15-20 minutes, tried again and found I could smell their differences again. Palate fatigue hasn’t happened yet, oh, I spit when I’m tasting and driving.
October 19, 2006

Big Billy from Big D
Words and Wine

Hereâ€™s a terrific article, easy to access (no subscription required) from Linda Murphy, Wine Editor at the San Francisco Chronicle (sfgate.com).

The article is titled:
Here, Kitty, Kitty
Wine Critics Love Cat Pee,
But Hate Wet Dog.

Hereâ€™s the link, check it out. A good read.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/03/24/WIG80BRKHC1.DTL#smell

Cheers
October 19, 2006

TimF
Mildly topical: I’ve mentioned that when I was in high school, I worked in a farm market in CT. In June I worked the strawberry table. I’d make up pints and quarts of fresh picked strawberries right in front of the customers. The first day of working the table I noticed the strawberry smell. However, on subsequent days I didn’t notice it. I always thought the customers were nuts because just about everyone that came over remarked at the overpoweringly strong smell of strawberries. I’m convinced that the exact same thing has to happen to guys who smell wine everyday.

Furthermore, I’m also convinced that the majority of quality a wine possesses have relatively little to do with the nose. For me, the best wines are pleasing in my mouth and have a great balance of mouthfeel, tannin, acid, and sweetness.
October 19, 2006

MaryS
I’m curious. On a similar note to Gary’s QOD……..Do you still get a buzz from the wine when you are only spitting? If so, after how many tastings?
October 19, 2006

Julius
To some degree, I think Gary overdoes the “pumping over in the mouth” as BBFBD puts it. It’s helpful to take in some air with the wine and gently swish it around to make sure the wine reaches all parts of the mouth, especially the tongue, so that all the different taste receptors are active and used. If the wine is high in alcohol, you’ll know it; if it’s high in acidity, you’ll know it; if certain flavors are there, you’ll know it. Your mouth is quite capable of determining what’s in it and whether you like it or not. I think Gary might be increasing the intensity of what he senses in the way he tastes the wine. Just one man’s opinion.
October 19, 2006

Italian Stallion
Hey guys,

Are my eyes deceiving me….or did I actually see TWO profound VaynerCLANKS!!!! The VaynerCLANK after the Tallulah was the most pronounced CLANK thus far in WLTV history. I was hysterically laughing at Gary’s face when he tried the Tallulah…guys, go back and watch his face as he pours it out…it’s classic…that alone makes the episode worth 100 pts!!!!!

Just want to give a shoutout to LizV….we met at the wine tasting at the Manor last week and had a good conversation. Like Gary, she’s a class act….love those Vaynerchuks.

I have got to try the Togni Cab…….Gary, how long is the free shipping good for?????????????????

-Stallion
October 19, 2006

Julius
TimF – Quite the opposite. It has everything to do with the nose. Read on.

“Approximately 80-90% of what we perceive as ‘taste’ actually is due to the sense of smell. Just think about how dull food tastes when you have a head cold or a stuffed up nose. At first students may not be able to tell the specific flavor of the candy, just perhaps a sensation of sweetness or sourness. If students are patient, some may notice that as the candy dissolves they can identify the specific taste. This is because some scent molecules volatilize and travel up to the olfactory organ through a “back door” – that is up a passage at the back of the throat and to the nose. Since we can only taste four different true ‘tastes’, it is actually smell that lets us experience the complex, mouth watering flavors we associate with our favorite foods.” (or wines.)
October 19, 2006

TimF
Julius – I know that’s what they say about the nose, but I argue that the ‘taste’ of wine is a little bit overrated. I think the mouthfeel, acid, sweetness, and tanin are at the heart of what makes a wine great. But maybe I’m crazy. My thought is this — if a guy like Parker can taste 100 wines a day and still accurately score them it has to be based upon much more than smell. Furthermore, if someone could prove that when you smell the same thing over and over again you don’t notice it anymore, then my hypothesis has to be at least partially true. Either that or these supertasters are frauds — which may also be true…
October 19, 2006

MaryS
Can anyone tell me how sweet the Dr L Riesling is? I’m looking for not too sweet but not too dry and was wondering if this is a good choice. Thanks.
October 19, 2006

Big Billy from Big D
Mary S,
I’ve had the Dr L on two occasions and have found it not be overly sweet, but it is sweet with a nice acidity and nice apple flavors with a little note of the Mosel terroir.

Cheers
October 19, 2006

Julius
TimF – I think that a wine having good body, ripe tannins and a good amount of acidity without the fruit and other developing flavors (leather, cedar, spice, chocolate, etc) is incomplete and should not be considered a great wine. As far as Parker’s prowess, he has been accredited by many as having a palate cabable of discerning an amazing number of different flavors.
October 19, 2006

GOL
Seriously, what a treat that was, 30 mins of WLTV! Thanks GV! Almost as much airtime as LOST last night, ABC stuffs in so many commercials on that, TIVO rules
October 19, 2006

Jason R.
Is everyone losing their vision here. Isn’t a great wine / experience – a delicate combination of everything. Haven’t all of us opened up a bottle gotten no nose and flavor profile that it excellent, or opened one up and had just a cornucopia of smells going on, and then get to the wine and think that it tastes like a quart of grape juice left in fridge for 3 months.

Great wine is about “putting it all together”. This comes with the “exotic” or “Classic” nose and a full range of flavor profile – Delivering beyond your expectations or as Gary would put it – Makes you a better person for having drank it. Also – is it all that fun for most of us (I may be the exception), to open up a “special” bottle and drink it by yourself???? I mean – you have a 1982 Lafite – you have stored it for 20+ years and when it comes time to open and drink – Are you going to cheap out and have it with a $5 hamburger by yourself? I bet the wine would be only average to most of you. Now – you take that bottle – you have it with a $50 Fillet, some creamed asparagus, nice potato dish, and that wine is going to be something that you will remember for the rest of your life. A GREAT WINE IS AN EXPERIENCE!!! (Gary – you can steal my quote if you want, but anyone else – I will need a royalty… lol
October 19, 2006

Tony S.
Gary…wow, that was long. It took up most of my lunch break. Great, now I have to go back to work. I think regarding the QOD, I’m at about 25-30 before my mouth is wrecked, but I don’t enjoy gigantic tastings, so if I’m at one, I try to just hit the wine I’m interested in. Otherwise, I stick to smaller tastings just so I don’t have to wreck my tastebuds. But once I went to an “All California Cab” tasting with about 50 wines, and it was a blind tasting…after about 10, they all tasted the same, except one or two here and there.

Brandon M: Regarding comment #8: I’m not on any lists. I don’t have the money to throw down on buying their “minimum” allotment of 6 bottles or so. I’d rather just buy one or two. And the lists that offer 1’s or 2’s, are sometimes too expensive or I’m not interested. And ya, I’m in the wine business. I inspect wines for retail/auction at a Chicago wine auction company. If you click on my name, it brings you to my company’s website, but I don’t want to be a commercial for another wine company while on Gary’s website. I totally love what he does and have the utmost respect for him and his store. And this show for that matter. The only problem I have is that he doesn’t seem to recognize a great football team when he sees one…he keeps calling the Bears overrated. Anyways, I spend my entire day in a warehouse filled with fine and rare wines (that I can’t afford) and looking at them and writing up their descriptions for either auction or retail. What could possibly be better!?!?!? And I can listen to whatever music or sports radio that I want cause I’m not in a cubicle with people all around me.

Aaahhh…I love wine. OK. See you later,
Go Bears!!
T
October 19, 2006

Bruce S
Gary,

One question on the Togni. They are known for being very long lived wines. The 2003 is such a baby that it I was surprised you did not mention it needing some serious age. While you clearly loved it now, when do you think the optimal time for drinking it will be?
October 19, 2006

GOL
QOD- After 15 I definitely need a break… if a break is for a meal then i can do another 15
October 19, 2006

Arnold
I like the new fancy room. Next you’ll have to upgrade the florecent lights.

Sorry, have another wine 101 question: How do you know when a wine is young? Or what are the characteristics of a young wine?
October 19, 2006

SS Chris
Arnold, I love the Wine 101 questions as I am a newbie. thanks!!
October 19, 2006

Matthew L
GREAT episode Gary. That was a real treat! I really appreciate you going through wines that are in my price range. It’s nice to find some solid picks for every day drinking.

Speaking of picking out wines. Let’s say you are on the run, you’re away from your usual wine shop and need to get a bottle of wine. You drop into a wine shop and don’t recognize any producers other than the usual array of shelf fillers like Turning Leaf, etc. What do you do then? I considered bringing a skunk bottle of wine to be one of the worst things to do as a guest.
October 19, 2006

TimF
Young can mean a lot of things — way too many. But generally when someone is talking about a serious red wine being too young, they mean it’s very tannic. The difference between tannin and acid is pretty simple to tell. If you stick your tongue into a glass of wine, you’ll get the acid sensation (in general). You get the tannin sensation when the wine hits the back of your palate. From what I understand (I’m not an expert in this area) tannin structures are small when a wine is new. So when they hit your tongue, there are many of them and they are small so you get a big sensation of tannin. As time goes on, the tannin structures link together getting longer and longer. Therefore as a wine ages, these structures are fewer and larger. So when they hit your tongue, the sensation isn’t quite as exciting as before…
October 19, 2006

Julius
A young wine, or what may sometimes be referred to as a youthful wine, is one without developing characteristics. These are what you taste and smell in addition to the body, alcohol, acidity, oak and basic fruits. These would include, but not be limited to cedar, leather, meats, sweet spice, smoke, tar and tobacco. These are secondary and tertiary characteristics that show up with bottle age and as such a wine exhibiting these is referred to as a developing wine. A young wine, especially those catering to a broad swath of the American market that ages a wine for as long as it takes to get from store to home, will be far from tannic.

Jason R – You are really limiting yourself if you can’t enjoy a great bottle of wine with a hamburger. Or, for that matter, having the wine on its own without any accompaniment.
October 19, 2006

Fluffy
Gary,
Only my second or third post but have stayed with most of the eps and on-going dialogue albeit much in retrospect so timely posts are an issue. I’m in the wine biz (distributor in H-town, TX) approx. 50% Italian portfolio so I have attended Vinitaly wine expo in Verona the last three years. This year (April 2006)was the 40th anniversary with thousands of producers, etc attending and pouring all those obscure indigenous Italian grapes in addition to every Barolo and Brunello wine made for one full week. I go two days take one day off and then go for two more and then head for a day in the Veneto or Venice to recover, if funds available. I offer this because these are monster tasting days back to back and if they know you’re in the trade and can import thousand of cases for distrubution to someplace like Texas (population over 20 million) you receive very special treatment and very special wines which are difficult to refuse and not offend some very generous people. I will taste over 100 wines each day and must take some notes but the late afternoon scribblings are often undiscernible. (Quick side bar, I’m an affirmed spitter but took my brother with me this year and he cried uncle first day on wine #63 and learned to be a spiiter on day 3 after sitting out day 2 down in the Verona palazzo eating pizza and only having one glass of Valpolicella, or so he said.) Gary, what major wine events do you or WL staff attend?

Anyway, I have found that brushing my teeth with baking soda/baking soda toothpaste really perks up the palate during these tastings, generally in the afternoon and sometimes 3 or 4 times. I carry my toothbrush, etc into the men’s room, first year accidently carried it into the ladies room and I wasn’t the only male in there and do my bizness. Of course you need lots of water and a thorough rinsing after but it’s worked well for me. Any other suggestions to revive that fatigue?

Thx in advance and keep on tasting!

Ciao – Fluff
October 19, 2006

Noah Rosenblum
Gary,

What time of the day are you taping the tasting ? AM ? PM ?
I’ve heard from many people, (Kevin Zraly, etc.) that it is better to taste wine in the early morning.

Thanks

Noah
October 19, 2006

Noah Rosenblum
Forgot to add the quote of the day:

“I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food!!” – Anonymous
October 19, 2006

Panman
Best episode ever!!
October 19, 2006

PeteB
Thanks Jaye! I appreciate it!

Pete
October 20, 2006

SS Chris
PeteB,

I’ll have a good thought for your full recovery!!

Are you in the wine business??
October 20, 2006

Kahuna
Fluffy-
You Rule- I love Verona but have not been there for the tasting event- I drank a ton of white wine in Venice- though generally I stick to reds- The whites were great because you could really taste the fruit and with no oak on most it was great- I believe they make it or store it in clay canisters that are buried- but I could have been drunk.

I was in Sorrento this summer for a few weeks and also enjoyed alot of their local wine- Scenery makes it all taste better!
October 27, 2006

JayZee
Fifteen wines! Impressive. For myself, I have been to tastings where I have had 12-15 wines and that seems okay for my palate. Perhaps at the end there is some “palate fatigue”. Gary, you say 40-50 is your limit? Well, your palate is pretty “buff” I guess. I don’t think I could handle that (although I would LOVE to try).

- JayZee
December 22, 2006

Large format Fever
Yup, I like it… Damn that young wine that catches you by the nay nay…. New adjective for you… Cuban Cigar (disclaimer, I have never enjoyed a Cuban– in the states –). I think of the languedoc…. Perhaps you should give it a shot… In front of camera of course. Top down, chrome spinnin’ CB
April 27, 2007

EvanK
Hey gary V, one quick question. what and how would you describe the spitting can after 4 or 15 differnet bottles of wine ???

EvanK
Remember what that guy said about you not being funny , well we all know you are the man GaryV, and keep it up.
June 3, 2007

Elliot
So according to your own words in this episode, you are overdue for another 15 bottle banger.

- Elliot

p.s. Is there a specific age vines have to be before they can be labeled “old vines”?
August 20, 2007

GrapeStuff
GV – think you are OVERDUE for an EXPLOSION episode. Come on, GV – Bring the THUUUUNDER!

QOTD: Maybe 25
October 22, 2007

Felipe
Thanks for all your work Gary, this is a truly educational program for all wine lovers around the world.

I followed your recommendation on the Casa Marin P.N. and I have to say that I was completly satisfied with it, even more I went to their winery in Chile and tasted all the varieties and all of them are truly amazing, the best winery in Chile so far.

Thanks a lot
November 7, 2007

Jo
Hi any chance that I can order 12 bottles of Santa Cristina and then get these sent to Australia?
September 21, 2009

John J.
qotd: good 1, I’m gonna find out in about an hour when I go to a huge tasting.
Love to hear you wanna tackle every wine out there. 2 we haven’t seen yet that would be great are vin jaune’s, and a tasting on the different charbono’s out there.

Total Wine Explosion – The Big One – Episode #110

Wines tasted in this episode:

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