Aw, this was a really quality post. In theory I'd like to write like this too - taking time and real effort to make a good article... but what can I say... I procrastinate alot and never seem to get something done.

QOTD: Quilceda Creek 2002 Columbia Valley Red Wine. After drinking this with a dinner theme featuring fresh picked Chanterelle mushrooms, I signed up for their mailing list. Then Parker published his two 100 pt. scores for back to back vintages of the top wine. Glad I tasted this stuff when I did!

their website is tersiguels.com

qotd; Liberty School, lol kidding. I had a great Duhart-Milon Rothchild a couple years back. That may not be the 2nd growth of theirs, now I gotta double check that.
side qotd: Tersiguel's just outside Baltimore. French restaurant, killer food wines and service. You get fine dining without the snooty pretension. I had the pleasure of meeting their chef, Michel. He's was/is the youngest person to win Grand Master Chef of America. He won 2 years in a row if I remember correctly. Gary, can we get a charbono tasting episode? How about a vin jaune 1?

Ooh, what was thay you were saying about Peyton and Eli? :-)
If you're ever in Groton, MA, (outside Rt. 495 belt) check out Gibbet Hill Grille. They even have a fairly imaginative wine list:
http://www.gibbethill.com/index.htm

I really like this episode, I had actually wondered about many of the second wines and how good they are. Nice Job!

This is really late - considering the time the episode went "on air"...my favourite second wine was a 2001 Lucente - the second wine to Mondavi and Frescobaldi's Luce. In Europe only about 25$ - in Canada 27 Canadian Dollars. Spectator said 92 points. I, for once, agree. And, at that price...I say quite a value - especially considering that because of the relatively low merlot percentage, you should best drink this wine after 2010 - and that's an ageing potential I haven't seen in many second wines...can't wait to open the rest of the case...

Jumping in late, but what the heck

QOTD: Does the "regular" Shafer cab count as a second to Hillside Select? If so, that's my pick. If not, it's maybe a tie between '96 La Criox de Beaucaillou and '01 Pagodes de Cos (OK--edge probably to the Pagodes). I didn't care for my bottle of '96 les Forts de Latour--too vegetal.

Best so far......2000 Les Forts de Latour but it needs another 10 years still!

Due date?

QOD: The best second label wine I have ever had is the 2000 Carruades de Lafite. It is drinking really well right now. I give it a solid 90 points.

1st time lurker posting. QOTD - "The Orphan" by Justin is a 2nd label favorite of mine. Do a port tasting! I got spoiled as my first taste was a 1963 Quinta do Noval.

i guess you would consider 1977 Mondavi Napa Cab to be the 2nd to the Reserve.

poking around ebay a few years ago, bought a bottle for about $40 without high expectations. took it to supper with my wife for an anniversary. decanted at the table and was fantastic. good from the start and evolved into about 4 different wines over about 2 hours. loved it, especially for the price for a 25+ year old wine.

Louisiana George

Great show Gary,

My best second wine (that I can remember)? Was the 2001 Ornellaia Le Serra del Nuove. Comparing cost to the Ornellaia's first wine "Ornellaia", the QPR factor kicks in.

CDF

$38 for the second line Ornellalia seems a bit too high unless you think that it beats other $40 wines. I have had the second line wines from every one of the major Bordeaux's and have never been impressed other than the second line from Lafitte tha I think Carruades de Lafitte but it is no longer any bargain often going over $200 itself. One of my favorite restaurants with a great wine list is Bridges Restaurant in Danville , CA http://www.bridgesdanville.com

Tony - no math expert, but it's pretty tough to start an 8 1/2 month countdown for human gestation, unless Gary is going 'immaculate reception' on us. : )

39 weeks is normal gestation, and typically one learns at about 6 weeks in. That's 231 days. Baby theory is out unless Gary is working some serious MJ mojo or something ("He shoots....he SCORES!!).

- Laz

Heck yea with the juggling! Haven't commented here before, but had to do it after seeing that! Friggin awesome Gary. Keep it up!!!!!

see you in the forums,

Wai

Raspberry jam Blackberry pie Blueberry Dark Cherry Choccolate and more.... and Jammie Marmellade !! Jammy Jammy Jammy !!!
How Much jam is in your Basket >>??
Spred it and eat it....instead then Drink it !!!

Hey Gary,

Next time you are in NYC, venture over the Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn
to have some lovely food and wine at Stonehomewinebar.
The Chef has past experience cooking in the kitchen at Veritas.

http://www.stonehomewinebar.com

cheers JB

64th! Great episode, I love second labels cause they're way cheaper and are sometimes almost as good. Thanks for doing that. I'd have to say that my favorite second label, that I can think of is probably the Pavillion Rouge de Margaux. Freakin' rad. I had the 2000 a while ago and I can still taste the finish. It was so silky smooth. Yummy.

Allright man...take care.
Go Bears!
T

ps...I'm guessing about 257 days until your baby is due? 257 days is around 8 and half months away, so...it's just a guess. Or is that a count-down until the 2007 NFL Training Camps open up?

Used to be Liberty School when Caymus still owned them - they've gone down a little since the split.
I second Kahuna's mention of Hawk Crest.

I blogged about Second Labels wines back in August. Check it out
http://blog.thegrapenuts.net/?p=36

Bahans Haut Brion is the second label of Haut Brion.

Okay, so I guess I am not a lurker anymore. Hard to say which is the best second label wine I have had. One of the problems I have noticed with second wines is that they tend to be highly inconsistent - even within the same vintage. For example, I once had an outstanding Pagodes de Cos, but when I later tried a second bottle of the same vintage, I was very disappointed. What do you think the source of this problem is? Is it that the winemakers are not as careful with the 2nd labels, or do you think the problem is with the people involved with the wine after it leaves the vineyard (e.g. distributors, retailers, etc.)?

QOD:
The rest of the story:
You may be getting a Salsarita's near YOU soon. They are now in over 15 states.
Salsaritas Web Site:

http://www.salsaritas.com/

:)

Web site for Mama Ricottas:

http://www.americascuisine.com/restmenu.cfm/cit...

AND

Web site for City Tavern:

http://www.city-tavern.com/ct/

I hope some of you can find a Salsarita's in your town soon!
:)

Also... (I posted above)....

My favorite second label bottle...

Crossbarn Cabernet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Recently went to BLT Prime in NYC... wow! Highly recommended!! We also enjoyed a bottle of Hollywood & Vine Cabernet Sauvignon "2480" with dinner, could have been a 2003, I don't remember. Everything was a hit!!!

QOTD: I think Clos du Marquis (though not strictly a 2nd wine) is always great value, I also had a 1996 Reserve de la Comtesse - excellent stuff!!

I think someone said La Mission Haut Brion - my undertanding is that this is a seperate chateau, not a 2nd wine of Haut Brion
just to make it confusing you have

Château Haut-Brion
Château Larrivet-Haut-Brion
Château Laville-Haut-Brion
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Château La Tour Haut-Brion

$!$!$!$!$!$!$!$1000 bucks for a bottle of wine? That's about $40 an ounce. I hope you didn't rinse any glasses with that stuff.

Some favorite restaurants in NYC:

The ~"Cuba"~ restaurant in the Village on Thompson for traditional Cuban food and live music
http://www.cubanyc.com/cuba/media/cubarestauran...

AND

~"44 Southwest"~ for Italian located on 9th/44th - SouthWest corner
http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?...
(a menu is accessible from this page)

QOTD - I'm with KUHUNA - Hawks Crest is my favorite second label.

Boston: The Butcher Shop
Phoenix: Pizza Bianco
DC: Cafe Atlantico

top 100? all set U BET!!

Another gooder gary..keep it up...

side question: Le Crocodile is by far my favorite resturant in Vancouver, BC, Canada ( http://www.lecrocodilerestaurant.com/ ).

QOTD: Just getting into wine so havnt experienced any second wines.

QOD Langmeil Valley Floor Shiraz as a second wine to the Langmeil Freedom Shiraz... Then how about the Earthworks 2004 Shiraz also from Langmeil as a third wine to the second...

Is there anything else I need to add?

Gary-
Another fabulous episode!
Did not know anything about seconds until this episode.
I am getting such a good education.
Great stuff!
QOD:
Restaurants-
I have 3 favs:
American Fare:
City Tavern - no one has better american food and wine for the money. Entrees start at about $9.00.
Great atmosphere.
Italian Fare:
Mama Ricotta's -
NO ONE has better italian, it is freshly made every day and large portions and still entrees start at about $9.00.
they have fabulous atmosphere and a bar at the door so you can get a drink while you stand in line. I LOVE the all you can eat garlic rolls and their Chicken Carciofa is to die for! Their tiramisu is SOOOOOOO big!
Mexican Fare:
Salsaritas:
No one has more fresh food for less money. There is real and fabulous cheese in their nachos. Salads with bowls you can eat.
Fabulous burritos, tacos and enchiladas and everyone in charlotte gets their chips and salsa to go.
You can get alot of food for $8.00 (large burrito and a drink). Casual dining atmosphere.
:)

Great show Gary!

Gary, this was really a terrific episode -- I am sure a lot of your viewers learned something completely new today. Kudos! I also love your little digs with that number. I'm guessing it's the day you will finally put Tony out of his misery and do the much anticipated heat episode. :)

As for my favorite second, I committed infanticide when I opened it, and it really was awful the first day, but a few days later the flavors were quite good showing a great deal of promise for when I try my next bottle in about 3 years . . . 2000 Clos du Marquis.

Les Fortes de Latour, the #1 #2

Gary,

Give LaTour in Ridgewood, NJ a try (http://www.latourridgewood.com/)!

You say "Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove 2004 for $20.00" (not the $37.99 listed on the Wine Library web site)? I say I'll order a case or two today!

QOD: 2003 Chateau Lascombes.

Comparisons of 1st and 2nd growths to Peyton and Eli? Classic! I couldn't have said it better.

QOD: Is Reignac considered a 2nd growth? if it is, I love it, otherwise, I've had nothing memorable.

Also, the name of a restaurant I have found to be compelling or special? In our area of the world, (DC/MD/VA) The Inn at Little Washington reigns supreme with Le Auberge Chez Francois. Both wonderful restaurants though for the wine geek, Charlie Palmer's Steahouse, a stone's throw away from the US Capitol is the place to go. You have the opportunity to order wine via a PC tablet. Now how cool is that!

Dom

Thinking further, I do have a bait of Carruades de Lafite in the basement - 1989 and 2000, I think. It's a good 2nd, too.

I agree with BrandonM - Les Forts de Latour. It has been MANY years since I had it, though. Bought half a case of '66. It's long gone.