Bringing the Thunder – Episode #240

May 22, 2007

Today Gary brings out some serious wines and shares some thunder with you.

Comments on this episode(184) Leave a comment ›

“I love this episode Gary!

“Bam! 40 bones! Gone!”

“So don’t p…” by John D.
“One of my favourite episodes to date, it’s just an enjoyable episode a…” by richardvinifera
View all 184 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2004 Roger Sabon Le Secret Des Sabon Chateauneuf Du PapeChateauneuf du Pape Rouge
1999 Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Riserva Ripe Al Convento Brunello Di MontalcinoBrunello di Montalcino
1995 Vega Sicilia UnicoRibera Del Duero
2003 Chat Leoville PoyferreSt Julien

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184 Responses

May 22, 2007

DaveyDonut
last
May 22, 2007

Jeffrey
second to last.
May 22, 2007

YoungDave
#2??
May 22, 2007

panoca
Yes! 2 in a row! Top 5!!
May 22, 2007

YoungDave
Damn
May 22, 2007

thkorent
Whow! power wines!
top 3!
May 22, 2007

Hinrgman
Thunder INDEED!!

This is my annual wine budget in 1 episode!!
May 22, 2007

sfgiants55
Bring the Thunder G Man
May 22, 2007

Andre
Open a special bottle this weekend? Sure! I didn’t need much convincing. I’m going to open my 2003 Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon.
May 22, 2007

Jason R.
The 03 Leoville Poy.. – 1999 Brunello – Heaven on Earth (And will only get better!!! I cant wait to watch…

Any chance of getting some 04 Leoville Barton in stock??
May 22, 2007

Jason R.
I AM DOING SOMETHING!!!! DID I WIN??
May 22, 2007

SS Chris
Show off!!!
May 22, 2007

Tom (vtjones)
Hey feel free to share thunder with me Gary!
May 22, 2007

Elliot Essman
The most confusing thing about wine – mineral notes like petrol, rubber, stone (and what kind of stone?).

Great format with high-end wines. I might very well buy one of these sooner or later. Life is short.
May 22, 2007

Lynne
And the thunder rolls…..
I’m so excited! I can watch the Viddler eps again!! I don’t know who to thank for this, but I am very grateful. THANK YOU!!!
May 22, 2007

PhilB
What happened to the free T-shirt????? Il ove pickles too! Man, what an episode! That was mindblowing! Any of you guys have had the 2003 LÃ©oville-Barton?? I love the 3 LÃ©ovilles and I think that PoyferrÃ© and Barton are really good buys for the money (of course, when you can get your hands on them before they reach 150$!) I bought a bottle of 2003 Barton for 60US$ last month in Spain and can’t wait to get feedback from people who might have tried it!

QOTD: Although I’m starting to familiarize with it, Burgundy has got to be the most confusing area in the world, no?
May 22, 2007

Ben N.
Great episode!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 22, 2007

Montrose
GREAT SHOW! Couldn’t wait to see what you thought about the Leoville Poyferre. When I bought one bottle on futures, it was the most expensive single bottle I had ever paid for ($50). Should have bought more, but i still feel very lucky indeed.

The most confusing part of wine: anything to do with Italy.
May 22, 2007

3dvw
QOTD: Winemaking …. don’t know much about agriculture.

I hate pickles but I like t-shirts … so send it to me .. heh
May 22, 2007

thkorent
Qotd: definitely how wines evolve over time – so the right time to pop a bottle.
May 22, 2007

organicguy
WOW!!!What an episode….would have been nice to be at WL in NJ after the taping and sipping some of greats….thanx….QOTD,trying to remember what all the ______leses are of Alsace wines, for me very confusing!!!
May 22, 2007

Rob B.
Good show, A little out of my price range, but good show.

The most confusing part of wine to me is really Bordeaux. I look forward to learning more about it, so that is exiting, but still confusing.
May 22, 2007

Karl Laczko
Yo Gary, greetings from the Philippines…the wonders of Hotel Internet and serious Jet Lag means I’m now drooling over serious Chateau Neuf du Pape and pickels, which is not good at 5am in Manila.
May 22, 2007

Jason R.
BURGUNDY IS BY FAR THE MOST CONFUSING AND ALSO ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE AREAS TO GET “FAMILIAR WITH”…. Its not like Spain.. Hey I think I will try one of everything and it costs like a Buck Ninety Five for a 90 pointer,,,,,,,,
May 22, 2007

tim
QOTD; trying to learn all the designations of French wine always leaves me a bit baffed. I am amazed they get so specific with the geography.
May 22, 2007

Kelldey
Another great show!

QOTD: I am most confused about WHEN to drink a wine. I have a special bottle that was a gift, but I’m afraid to drink it because I’m worried that I’ll find out in a year or two that I should have waited. Probably just my hangup, though.
May 22, 2007

DK44
Great show! I’m inspired to open a borolo this weekend.

It’s hard to keep the vintages straight. Amazing how much some wines vary from year to year from even high-end producers.
May 22, 2007

Tom (vtjones)
QOTD: Reading the labels!

My wife is a huge fan of pickles and would LOVE to have that shirt.
May 22, 2007

CampingLisaB
Hey Gary…I am doing “something”…may I have the t-shirt…I give you $.10 almost EVERY day!
May 22, 2007

MrTC
Can’t believe you just reviewed a bottle of LÃ©oville PoyferrÃ©, and a pretty great vintage at that, when I just received a 1990 bottle of this wine from my father over the weekend (as a birthday gift). That bottle is now safely stored in my wine cabinet, and it is the most precious bottle I own by a margin of 6x to 7x compared to the next one. Quite amazing coincidence indeed.

QOTD: I am, as many I am sure, absolutely dumbfounded by Burgundy. I love the stuff, I’ve even spent some days in Beaune (visited Les Hospices too), driven through the vineyards, and I still don’t know even 0.05% of what is going on there.
May 22, 2007

Ben N.
QOTD: Bordeauxs wines.
May 22, 2007

Jason R.
Kelldey – You have to do some research – There is so much info available online – you can get an idea off what others have written about tasting it…. Either that or post it in the questions and I am sure someone will answer you.. TRUST YOUR PALATE
May 22, 2007

CindyW
QOTD: Confusing? Hmmmmmm, I’m not really confused, just want to learn more about Winemaking. I’d love to learn a bit more about the chemistry and mixology behind great wines.
May 22, 2007

Jason R.
Oh yeah – I am heading home this weekend for a little golf and fishing, so a couple of t-bones should go nicely with the 1988 Diamond Creek – Gravely Meadow – Been waiting to drink it, and I think this is just the Not-So-Special – SPECIAL occasion to drink it!!!
May 22, 2007

John Blue Label
GV,
HUGE ENEGY SHOW!! Lots of fun. I agree we need to treat ourselves on occassion. It is so much fun to keep exploring the world of wine. QOTD: I get confused by Bordeaux: I know that certain areas tend to mix a higher percentage of a certain varietal in their wine, so I am not yet clear on where to look for the wine with the highest percentage of cabernet sauvignon, etc.

Anyway, rockin’ episode. Keep em coming.
JW
May 22, 2007

wineSmith
Awesome show, makes me want to run home and grab something great from the cellar.

I am sanding on one leg while juggling knives. Do I get the shirt ?
May 22, 2007

Neil
QOTD: The thing that puzzles me the most is the 100 point scale used in evaluating wines. Let’s say for an example, a ‘01 Ch. Pichon Baron scored 91 points. The 2005 vintage is currently in the 92-95 range. Are they both based on the exact scale or are they compared in light of the vintage? Both would exhibit characteristics that were similar (wine making style, etc.) and characteristics that were different due to the weather/climate. The 2001 retails for 69.99 and the 2005 is 114.99/bottle – on futures – and will probably be more on release! The wines’ scores vary by +/- 4%, whereas the price varies by 64%. Wine spectator blind tastes their selections several times before issuing a score. All things being equal, it would follow that the 2001 is a relative bargain comparatively.
May 22, 2007

JustinD
Great episode, makes me want to buy a bottle of Chat Leoville.
QOTD: I agree with Neil above.
May 22, 2007

Dan G
Great show as usual Gary..

QOTD – Still trying to learn all the different regions in France and what they grow the best.
May 22, 2007

yowens44
Gary- really into the episode, must have been a pleasure to try those 4 heavyweights. Confusing about wine: Burgundy. Everything about it. Whats up with the pickle shirt? BTW- saw the oak monster tee and my girlfriend and I love it. We’ll be in for two.
May 22, 2007

Karl Laczko
2 rinses of Vega Sicilia, now that’s classy. Interesting to see that it’s not as good as it’s price and reputation suggest (I’d still kill for it though).

QOTD – confused about why Frnech wines confuse so many peaople, a couple of hours with a map and a half-decent wine guide clear up most of the problems (although Burgundy is still a maze when you try and break it down too much).

How does tuning into WLTV half a planet away workm fot the T-shirt thing?
May 22, 2007

Lb in KS
QOTD…Regions. How can one part of the world make grape juice different from another using the variety? That, and pickles. Pickles confuse me Question…no I don’t get pissed when you rinse, but, what happens to those bottles of vino after the show? I know none have been overnighted at a humoungous (sp?) discount to my doorstep…oh yeah one more thing, actually it’s one more word. how do you spell sylvulization?
May 22, 2007

RuralTom
Greeting Mr Vaynerchuk,
Fascinating episode… From description alone I got a perfect snapshot from your tasting of what makes some wines deserve the REALLY high ratings and corresponding price tags. Indeed, I should have a wine this weekend that reminds me why I fell in love with wine. It’s a toss-up whether the wine of Burgundy puzzles me the most or is just the most frustrating; my luck turns up more Vega than Leoville Poyferre. Hard to gamble on my kinda budget.

Thanks
tom
May 22, 2007

Jonathon M Chicago
gary, you just cost me another grand!!!!!!!!!!!!

QOTD: Italian wines scare the crap out of me!
May 22, 2007

Treegs
Most difficult: describing in words the nose & flavors of a wine. I don’t know how you do it…. but I can tell your comments come from the gut. nice episode.
May 22, 2007

Matty Matt
So whats the something for the TV shirt. I should be doing something work related like building a model but took a 20 minute break to watch WLTV. I love pickles as does my 21 month old son. I have a picture of him with a pickel in one hand and an ice cream bar in the other. He was alternating bites.

QOTD – I find France the most confusing. Not that the wines aren’t approachable but some many regions to learn and not just Bordeaux vs. Burgundy vs. Rhone but within each region there are so many appelations. Then you layer on top that I have never heard of any of these places, all of the wines have names that are not familiar and sometimes hard to pronounce correctly and the lack of labeling and well you get my point.
May 22, 2007

1855class
captivating episode!
question of the day for YOU, gary: what do you do with all the bottles left over after you tape the show? i happen to know this guy who really likes to drink wine…

qotd: i would love to learn more about the grapes used to make wine. how many different clones of pinot noir are there and what are the characteristics of each? another topic of personal interest is yeast. you seldom read or hear about yeast but i understand this can make a profound impact on the end product.
May 22, 2007

JJW
QOTD: Burgundy wines. The classification system makes identifying grand crus v. premier cru v. village wines difficult (even with a map in front of you).
May 22, 2007

Jess Schload
Hey, great show, and my first time commenting. Hate pickles but love good wine. Most confused about the nose. I seem to miss so much of what you discribe. I will keep practicing. Thanks
May 22, 2007

C.W. Miller IV
Maybe this topic / question has been covered before but what is the difference (generally) between and 95 point wine that costs $250 and a 95 point wine that costs $15 besides the price tag? Why would I pay more for a wine that is rated the same, say, by Robert Parker?
May 22, 2007

dublin
Good show, I love the episodes that have you tasting wines I usually wouldn’t buy due to cost. I say this because when you taste $10 wines I know I can just run out and buy one on my own, but when you taste a $200 wine it’s a great service to me for when I want to buy that special bottle I have a better more informed idea as to which wine I’m going to chase. Thanks Gary, I really do appreciate it when you open sick bottles like today, it’s fun and insightful. Cheers!
QOTD: Probably how different yeasts affect the taste of a wine, not sure how many there are out there and what each one does to the wines flavore profile and/or texture. I always thought that it didn’t do much since non of the reviews I read ever provide the yeast info, unlike many beer reviews (especially Belgian) provide yeast info.
May 22, 2007

Garret Nagle
Hi Gary,

Thanks for treating us today to a top notch episode. My QOTD response would have to be French regional wine designations.

(tangent topic)
When I went to one of my favorite wine stores two weeks ago, I purchased a Cotes du Rhone for 9.99 and a Louis Jadot Cote de Nuits Villages – Le Vaucrain 2003 for 20 BONES!!!

In what was my first entry into Burgundy, I was astounded at how polished and controled pinot could taste, compared to the Santa Barbara / Sideways in your face style of New World Pinot. I’m kicking myself for not buying two or three bottles of this stuff because I’m probably never going to find good Burgundy at that price again.

(This is the part about my question)

That being said, when I opened my Cotes du Rhone, I could see how people would enjoy the wine, because it was well made, but it was very light bodied, and was about 80% Grenache (insert sad face for my palate that wanted a more full bodied wine). To me, French wines are sooo hard to understand because they don’t usually say what the varietal composition is. Unless I ask someone, there’s really not a way for me to know if a Rhone wine is a see through Grenache, or a more full bodied Syrah.

I drink a lot of Old World wines, but I think I’d like to see more education on WLTV about how to read bottles from different regions in France…. because it’s not easy at all. For example, within Rhone, there is the north and south sections, and sub regions within, each having a different style of wine. Because I like to research bottles before I buy instead of just showing up at the store and saying I need help, it’s hard to know what to look for on the internet.

I’m starting to get an idea about what somelliers are learning about in school…..
May 22, 2007

vivaitalia
Awesome episode! Thanks for doing the frescobaldi brunello, I really want to try it and now I have a better idea of what i’d be getting into. I’m like the fourth person to ask but it’s been bugging me since the first episode I watched, what happens to the rest of the wine after you taste it? Does Eric get hammered? If so he has the greatest job in the world. QOTD: the appelation systems of any country, especially France. It’s like you need to to serious research just to really know what you’re looking at in the wine shop. Also how to know when a wine is ready to drink without having to open a bottle. I LOVE PICKLES!
May 22, 2007

Chris
Great stuff Gary! New to winelibrary-tv.
May 22, 2007

wolfie
qotd: state laws that govern distributors/retailers, and as a result govern the wines that are available to the consumer.

i want to know why there are restrictions on what i can purchase.
May 22, 2007

Pauly
wine… TWO things that confuse me: the 100 pt rating scale and same varietals that essentially taste so different.

I don’t like the 100 pt rating scale, because the score essentially tells you nothing about the wine. What the score tells me is that the taster like that wine, and not necessarily me! I prefer the WLTV scale, like the ones we watch every (week)day. We learn the flavor and the essence the wine has and that is most important. It’s like the difference between reading a book or getting the “yellow notes” of the book.

It amazes me how the many Cabs can be so different from each other. How an Aussie Cab, essentially the same type of grape, can taste so different when it is grown and pressed some place else. Shiraz is some of my favorite juice but some California Cabs have come very close to tasting like Shiraz/Syrah’s. How? Why? Why ask why?
May 22, 2007

Marc
QOTD: How can the Rhone and Spain and Chile grow the vines, tend the fields, pick the grapes, make the wines, load the ships, send them to the US, pay the tariff (are there any?), mark up the price at every point where ownership changes hands, and still make very good wine for $10 a bottle. Especially with the French stuff, considering their labor laws are every bit as strict as ours if I’m not mistaken.
May 22, 2007

Justmarsh
Can anybody say NJ WLTV Tasting & Transformers showing? Sounds like the kind of event WL should be hosting… I’m in! Details, I need details GV.

QOD:

I think food and wine pairing is still pretty difficult. I always feel like I have do the classic style combo like pinot & salmon, spaghetti & Italian wine, cabernet & steak, etc. I guess I don’t feel comfortable experimenting.
May 22, 2007

Brad
Quit wasting your money on crappy Jets Jerseys…especially w/ that pricey-ass NY rent/mortgage to content w/. Definitely concur on the Poyferre; my note from Executive Wine Seminars in Febrary blind:
Leoville Poyferre 2003
A boatload of Indian spices (such as curry, cumin and chili powder) filled the air so vividly, I assumed Cos d’Estournel due to it’s distinct spice profile. Flowers, rich cassis and mocha spice were present in copious quantities, clearly stamping Poyferre’s place on the ‘big time wine’ category. The loads of dark fruits and bitter chocolate simply wouldn’t quit as they sailed on the ripened-to-perfection tannic backbone. Unreal…just wait 5 more years and then see what happens. 99 points.
May 22, 2007

hugh
wow…serious grape juice today….i love St julien wines, and my splurge was 6 each of the 2003 L Poyferre and L Barton….looks like i’ll pop one soon-now i’m way too curious!!!!
May 22, 2007

wine-ot
99 Pt. Episode GV (free shipping gets you 100) start to finish, what I look for in an Episode of WLTV….!!!Extremly hard to avoid the temptation to buy several of the 03′ St. Julien…spent my $ at WL last week! QOD : California!
May 22, 2007

Harold
Arrghh…why is my internet so slow? It’s almost like they don’t WANT me to download these podcasts at work.
May 22, 2007

Jennifer
Excellent ep, Gary.
QOTD: Most confusing to me is matching the grape with the type of wine, or not understanding if the wine name is describing the location it came from, or the type of grape.
May 22, 2007

dude
Gary I wanted to let you know that I’m hitting up Paris this weekend and looking forward to spending my time relaxing by the Eiffel Tower while sipping on some wines from Bordeaux. So, I will in fact be with good friends and company and enjoying a great bottle of wine. Kudos btw for mentioning my home state (Wisconsin) today.
May 22, 2007

Lynne
Wow! I wish I could bring myself to spend that kind of money so I could taste that kind of wine! Gary, you are one fortunate young man.
I loved your queen analogy and I was humming Kumbaya as I was listening to you rave about the Chat.Leoville Poyferre.
Your QOD is difficult for me as I find most wine related issues confusing.
Marketing….I wouldn’t know where to begin. I guess shadowing Gary on any given day would give me some insight.
Most fascinating to me: winemaking. I would so love to particpate in it from beginning to end. I’ve helped plant grapes with my grandma as a child and grown with the vines until we made pies and jellies together. (they were concord and Grandma didn’t imbibe)That wasn’t too technical but it was so much fun.
I can’t even begin to imagine what the beginning to end process of winemaking involves and I would truly love to somehow and somewhere be a part of that. Just once. Or twice.
Loved today’s episode.
May 22, 2007

KenP
Brilliant episode. Top five for me. At your charming best. Excellent wine choices. They really got your motor goin’! If I can’t drink them, then I’m gald its you who can.
QOTD: Italy.
I would like a pickle tee-shirt but don’t know what you meant for us to do to get it. I just ate an earthworm. Is that it?
May 22, 2007

Montrose
Interesting Note: the 2003 Leoville Poyferre received 89-91 points from Spectator as a barrel sample in 2004.
May 22, 2007

Ferrigno
GREAT EPISODE, GRATZ GARY YOU REALLY NAILED IT IN THIS ONE
QOTD: ITALY BY FAR, BOURGOGNE HAS A LOT OF APELLATIONS AND WHAT GIVES YOU, BUT ITALY IN GENERAL IS KING OF CONFUSION SEE YAAAAA
May 22, 2007

rvc
Great episode GV! You brought the THUNDER today!! You inspired me to break out a Ridge Monte Bello this weekend.

Ewing better the MJ? You are kidding I hope?

QOTD: I am most confused with how long to cellar wines and when is the right time to drink them.
May 22, 2007

Randy B
Great ep and the LP makes me feel a little better about buying all of those 2005 futures. Okay, so I’m from Cali and have never had a Sour or Half-Sour pickle. We’re bread ‘n butter out here, but I’d still like that T-shirt.

I understand the idea of terroir, but is it the dirt, the microclimate, the environment, how the vineyard is maintained or a combination thereof that makes say an identically cloned cabernet sauvignon grape taste different from the one down the road.

There have been a lot of comments about winemaking. If you’re going to the SF party, look me up. I’d love to share my philosophies of its science versus art.

Ciao
May 22, 2007

Corvette Tony
Some thunder! I think I’ll forgot about making my car payment and use the money to buy 2 of wines featured!

QOTD: I find getting the nose and palette in wine tasting, especially those with mineral notes the most confusing aspect.
May 22, 2007

SoCal
G!
WOW great ep dude!
I want some of those!
QOTD: For me it is detecting which wines will age when tasting them young. I would love to be able to judge upon release to know which wines can age for 5-10 years and which ones are drink under 5. Any suggestions?
May 22, 2007

TommyBoBo of WI
Most confusing…. most European wines until they start listing grape varitel.

If you ever spent anytime in a corn field in Iowa I can’t believe any wine reminding me of that,,,, and I spent 10 summers detasseling corn.

Great ep,,, would have loved to see you do them double blind???? I CHALLENGE THEE!!! MORE BLIND TASTINGS! COME ON EVERYONE!!! BLIND TASTING! BLIND TASTING! BLIND TASTING! THEN LET’S SEE THE THUNDER!

Thanks for letting me enjoy a bit of the Vaynernation.
May 22, 2007

Winodontist
SAND CLOCK, Very nice!

I was again salivating watching you today. You are costing me a ton of money this year Gary.

QOTD: French wine in general is tough for me, but overall I have trouble remembering which vintages are the best from various parts of the country, this is especially true when I’m dining at a nice restaurant.
May 22, 2007

mas
Awesome Gary – surprised at the Vega result, but that’s why you taste ‘em!

QOTD: Viticulture.
May 22, 2007

laposte
QOTD: Burgundy wines
May 22, 2007

GeneV
Super episode. Thanks for the splurge–Luv ya, man!

This set of wines would be my dream evening.

On the other hand, I also really liked your interview with New York Magazine about the Portuguese wines. I’m sipping a Portuguese red right now and loving it. It’s nice to know you can also drink very well for under 15.
May 22, 2007

Jen
Hey, I rinsed my DECANTER with a little of the wine from my treasured bottle last night (hey, I’m a poor housekeeper, and it had spots!!!); I’m glad to know you endorse that kind of behavior!!!! ha ha ha
Great episode. I’ a little closer to dropping that 125 bones on my dream wine… maybe if I book another commercial really soon!!
QOTD: This is going to sound totally lame, but all French wine is confusing to me. I mean, I’ve taken the time to learn basic facts, like what grows where, etc. but I still find it terribly daunting. There is a barrier between me and the French language.
May 22, 2007

J Crazy
Man Oh Man! Hot Damn!! I’m gonna run out to the closest wine shop ans STARE at all those wines for a really really really long time. You know it!

QOTD: direct shipping laws are fraggin’ confudling!
May 22, 2007

Samantha H.
Great show, even if I won’t be able to afford those wines in the near future!

QOTD: European wines confuse me – so many different types, I don’t even know where to start!
May 22, 2007

Shadowbird
QOTD:

The part of wine making I find most confusing? Hmm…that’s a difficult question. I have to say that I’d like to know how vineyards decide where to plant and what to plant there, though. So many varieties of grapes and so many regions…
May 22, 2007

Karol
Nice to have a place to start if I decide to buy one of the ‘expensive’ wines. The disappointing thing would be, to buy the wine and find you hate the taste.
OTD: As you, I find everything confusing. Still learning the nose and then what I find in the taste.
May 22, 2007

Bossman
Gary,

Please tell me Erik was quick enough to save his shoes on the over-tipping and subsequenting splatter when showing the color of the Brunello.

I toasted your, and your family’s health, in return to your toast (albeit with a $15 Shiraz).

Oh, I’m doing, I’m doing alright,(in my best Kramer voice), shivering and clutching opposite biceps trying to stay warm until the shirt arrives.

QOTD – confused why you keep telling me to expand my horizons. I’m having a hard enough time exporing the world of Shiraz and finding those that appeal to me when every time I step outside of my comfort zone I’m disappointed. Granted I don’t make the same investment, I guess it’s a catch 22 I’m buying crap and ending up with crap, but why spend more on a gamble when I know I can get something I can enjoy without breaking the bank?
May 22, 2007

HipandKneeDoc
Great episode. The thunder is a step up, and it showed in your excitement.

QOTD: keeping the contents of Bordeaux straight, and remembering who makes the good wine.
May 22, 2007

bluescientist
Great show,

I’m a scientist so I want to understand (but do not) the malolactic fermentation process. My friends who make wine tell me that this is the time they sweat: waiting for the “malo”. What is it and why is it so important?
May 22, 2007

amgryger
Holy crap Gary!

Great episode and I appreciate you tasting these wines for us. I too watched my yearly wine budget go into the spit bucket today.

Never had a Chateauneuf Du Pape so maybe the special wine this weekend will be one.

QOTD: I have started a tiny collection for aging and I am most confused about knowing when to drink these wines, and also, when tasting a wine how to know whether or not it has aging potential.
May 22, 2007

Patrick
Gary love the podcast and found you via Diggnation.
May 22, 2007

Wave
Gary,Rhones are my absolute faves.What CDP’s do you recomend in that $25 dollar range? Vacqueras or Gigondas as well.Help me out!Thanks in advance. Dave
May 22, 2007

Matthew Dunn
Gary, super show! I really like the message of gratitude you started the show with.
May 22, 2007

geespot
Hey, amazing ep, I think the bucket was smiling.

QOD: I’m baffled by the merchanting/pricing of wine. There are plenty of great wines that come from small yield vineyards and end up reasonably priced. Yet, there are producers that can make thousands more cases and charge an arm and a leg for products that are only marginally better. Is it all marketing or is it middle-man markup? Are we, the customer, getting the short end of the stick when it comes to these ‘big name’ wines? More importantly, are the people that tend the vines, pull the weeds, pluck the fruit, climb into the tanks and scrub them…are they benefitting from the from the huge-normous sticker prices, or are the fat cats just laughing it up all the way to the bank?
May 22, 2007

Harold
GREAT EP! I love when Gary tastes the good stuff but I have to admit that I’m jealous of the bucket. I’ll never be able to afford what was dumped into the bucket today.
May 22, 2007

njbabs
Ahhhh it kills me to see so much dumped out, even for the sake of humor.

If I could only afford these… maybe I need to change career paths…

QOTD: naming systems in the different regions of France
May 22, 2007

JoeinLA
Awesome Episode! NOW we’re gettin’ somewhere. Most of us can afford to buy an inexpensive bottle, risk it and taste on our own….and toss it if we don’t like. This kind of episode is great because these price points are a little more risky…and your review goes a long way. I had the Castelgioncondo reserva in my hand last night to buy but didn’t. Now I may go back and get one.

QOTD: I’d like to know more about declassifying grapes in poor vintages…and then which bottles get them! For example…02 Brunello grapes going in to the 02 Rosso?
May 22, 2007

E-Rock
I love it when he brings out the big guns. Nice show I was disappointed in the Vega I thought it would show better than that.

QOTD = The most confusing thing about wine… Is those who love to make it more difficult than it has to be………
May 22, 2007

Dave Canada
Gary, this was the best episode yet…right up until the part where you said that Patrick Ewing was better that Jordan…How many rings does Ewing sport (that one finals appearance was brilant??!?), how many MVP’s? Ewing is GARBAGE…….get a new team…the…..Knick…..BLOWWWWWWWW! DO you get the message.
Anyways, back to the show. this was vintage buddy!! This was why I watch, the love the enthusiasm, the keeping it real. I love it!!!
QOTD – I gotta say the scoring….it is all so subjective and I have had so many wines that were scored 90, 91 that I thought were complete garbage….If anyting these expereinces have taught me to follow you mantra, TRUST MY PALATE!
You are rockin’ it Gary, keep up the good work.
May 22, 2007

Michael
Gary, we got the whole family involved in this episode out on the patio, enjoying some very cheap wine. Your contrast was quite entertaining. My son Leo is a Vaniac, and at 9, its probably abuse, but since he eats nothing but cereal, he sees the world ahead of him in enjoing fine flavors. I gave him some wine to sniff and try, but to be honest, he enjoys the spitting more than anything. I’ll have to do a video, you’ll be proud.
QOTD: I think the relationship between price and quality, that’s the biggest mystery in wine, as always, does price mean quality?
May 22, 2007

Gareth
Greetings from the Cayman Islands! (Well at least from a born and bread Caymanian)

What happens to all those nice bottles of wine after you get done tasting? what about the bad bottles? You should do an out-take show of nothing but that.

Looking forward to getting into some good wine.
May 22, 2007

glenn
i got “buffered” 20 times before you even got the Sabon to the screen. what gives?
May 22, 2007

KenP
bluescientist,
Malic acid, rather harsh, is converted into the softer Lactic acid.
Read this: http://www.winecaveinc.com/resources/wine/malolactic.htm
Someday you may be a scientist. Can’t cure you of blue.
May 22, 2007

Jon B.
Great episode that is huge, one day I’ll uncork a four bottle lineup like that… but for now i’ll settle for a little less.Looking forward to the weekend will for sure crack a few nice one’s now that you got me all fired up.. great show keep it up…QOTD french wines got my head spinning
May 22, 2007

PeteC
Out to dinner with friends tomorrow. I think I’ll bring along a ‘97 Brunello we brought back from Italy in ‘02. Why wait for the weekend!u QOTD- just trying to recognize different tastes and aromas in wine.
May 22, 2007

ciaobarbara
What area am I confused about? as far as location goes…Southern Africa (besides the whole French scene). As far as topic – different grape varieties – vitis vinifera, lambrusca – making different grape varieties through grafting. etc.

Did you forget to tell us how to win the tshirt?
May 22, 2007

NathanN
Thanks for trying the Roger Sabon Le Secret Des Sabon. It was cool seeing you tasting a wine that I can only dream of tasting.

QOTD: What is in a bottle from Bordeaux? Is it going to be Merlot, Cab, Cab Franc? Are they all blends? Are some regions more Cab than Merlot? I can’t figure it out. I also don’t understand Burgandy are they all Pinot Noir?
May 22, 2007

Alos Diallo
The thing that I find most confusing is the lack of relivent information on some french wine bottles, also how the wine is imported.
May 22, 2007

E
OK, so that’s what that question was about! Fair enough.

Perhaps some Bordeaux then, in honor of unity through Bordeaux, which sounds like a wonderful idea. Or perhaps something in honor of my dad who all of a sudden can’t drink wine anymore for health reasons, which is really a damn shame. So, to your and everyone’s health with the May WOTM.

But: I don’t think that cork’d link to the Sabon is quite the same wine. I’m just sayin’.
May 22, 2007

PeterL
Gary–Great show. I still haven’t received my 3 bottles of 2003 ChÃ¢teau LÃ©oville PoyferrÃ© ($60) future–can’t wait. Thanks for the preview. The most confusing thing about wine these days is Italy. So confusing, in fact, that I mostly just stay away. I know that being an ‘old world’ guy that it’s my #2 region after France. But right now I’m studying all the subregions of Bordeaux and that’s already filling the little space I have left in my head. Maybe if Bordeaux would STOP having great vintages year after year I could spend my time and $ elsewhere.

Keep bringing the Thunder.

Peter
May 22, 2007

ChrisR
wow what an ep. i’m fighting the urge to buy that 98 pt St. Julien beauty. Saving my money for the Benefit for City Harvest on June 20th.

QOTD:
Ok, well I’m totally confused by the Loire Valley. Chenin Blanc, Chinon, any varietal that starts with a “Ch”
May 22, 2007

Ben Lee
Very good episode, Gary. I probably will never be able to afford these wines, but I still like to watch episodes about them. Great energy. Miss the tie in’s with stuff from our childhood. Remember, we’re the same age. Glad you brought the Transformers in on this one, Optimus Prime.

QOTD: For me, it is still two things: flavor profile and what makes a “good” wine. I still can’t seem to pick out very specific flavors and smells from the wine like you can. For the other part, an example would be what makes wines from Harlan Estates or Insignia great wines over something like a Greg Norman Cab-Merlot, which I love? Never had a Harlan, just using them as an example. What does it take to make the jump from an 89 point wine to a 96-97 point wine? What are you looking for?
May 23, 2007

Fiorentina!
Hey Gary-
It’s been so long since I’ve had the opportunity to watch your show, I almost forgot how good it is!
QotD- I have a hard time with Germany’s QbA and QmP. However, I have no idea what is going on in China, Japan, North Africa, India or Bulgaria.
May 23, 2007

Justin S
QOTD: Keeping track of grape varietals.

We need some behind the scenes footage!

Bringin the thunder as usual.
May 23, 2007

wm mole
Bam! Another hot show! That was fun. Thanks for the royal treatment in high season.
Qotd:Winemaking puzzle. Going back to the Bordeaux trip…Sansonnet, 100% new french oak, 16 months. Why does this not become an “oak monster” while some cal efforts go “monster” with far less contact time Are we getting oak powder or some other trick from the cal makers, or what?
May 23, 2007

caleb
If theres a day to drink your spit bucket i would reccomend today
May 23, 2007

acrobaticfish
QOTD: Italian wines; more esoteric. Then there’s Burgundy: gotta love it, but what a pain in the arse sometimes.
May 23, 2007

t_moderne
Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about. Big wines.
A wine called Vega? Isn’t that a name of a car?
How can you name a wine after a car? That’s like calling it Red Truck.
Yeah – I know. just kidding.
QOTd – It’s not confusing so much as it is annoying – wineries that sell cabernet for astronomical prices – $80 to $100 for just a bottle of wine. I’m not talking about some rare exclusive wine – but some ordinary wines for huge prices.
May 23, 2007

Greg B.
BIG G, Did you bring it today? Like John Holmes on Prom Night. Wow, that’s all I can say. Now what do I do? I can’t keep buying 100-200 dollar wine every time you make me salivate. It’s just not right G.
QOTD. The Names are confusing. All the different languages and how they are pronounced.
Damn good one. Thanks!
May 23, 2007

manual
Excellent episode! Especially since i bought some of the ‘05 Ch. Leoville Poyferre.

did you spill a little juice on Eric’s shoes?

QOTD : figuring out which “new world” wines have the potential to become “old world” in style? or is it a lost cause?
May 23, 2007

MRB
Outstanding Episode! Thunda Thunda THUNDER-CATS! The only thing that would have made the episode better would have been a light playing of ACDC’s Thunderstruck in the background to begin the show.

Can you just send me the left-over wines with a wine saver in them? I’ll pay for the shipping!
May 23, 2007

MRB
Oops! Forgot the QOTD: The remarkable difference between an old world Cahor’s Malbec and a New World Argentinian one. Why such a dramatic difference? New World’s are almost like drinking INK! Is it really just all about the grape’s environment?
May 23, 2007

YoungDave
AAAAAAnd now to watch and comment on the show after work…

HEFTY price tags today, and I’m glad that we were able to see your opinion on them.

QPTD: I guess that beyond the Indian wines, and those that I see randomly from Thailand, Italian wines are the most confusing mainstream wines to me. I’ve been trying to seek out affordable reds other than Chianti and Barbaresco because I’ve tasted them, and super Tuscans are a bit out of my affordability range… AND, more importantly, I’ve been lookinig for decent other-than-pinot-grigio Italian whites lately, but the differences between labels of varietal names and geografical regions have got me a bit confused…
May 23, 2007

cyrock1
WLTV motto for today: Gary Vaynerchuck, he tastes great wine because you can’t afford to.

Great show Gary! I really liked your little nod to Petit Verdot.

QOTD: Why you haven’t tasted the wine I’ve been recommending.
http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=23902

Now that we know what “thunder” is, why don’t you show us the “lightning”?

Ka-chow!
May 23, 2007

KC DAN
Great ep gman You brought THE THUNDER today fo sure . Liked it when you did the double rinse BAM there goes forty more Bones . AWESOME !!! Qotd picking out the flavors on the nose Still trying to learn that . Once in awhile i’ll get something on the nose And i’m liked that was cool I finally got something .
May 23, 2007

Panoca
Still happy on being on the top 5 (or 6) two days in a row!
Spectacular episode, Gary! And yes, i also want that shirt!
Every once in a while, this “expensive” episodes are a gift for drinkers like me, that can not even dream of affording one of those beauties.
Thanks for sharing that privilege!
May 23, 2007

TSchampaert
This was the weirdest show you ever did:. What about that little mean laughter after ‘ciLvilisation’? And what about the T-shirt, you forgot the T-shirt.
For this weekend we’ll have a 2004 CdP Blanc (don’t remember, was an RP 94), a Haute-CabriÃ¨re Pinot Noir 1999 and a Domaine Diznoko Tokay 5 Puttunyos 1995. Nice enough?
QOTD: most confusing, definitely the Loire Valley. Not because it’s difficult to understand the appelation structure or smth, but just because it’s difficult to link it with performance. You can have an extremely poor year, a unexciting climat and a normal winemaker making extremely good wine, while the other it’s just the opposite …
May 23, 2007

wildebeest
HEY, weren’t you going to tell us how we could win that shirt??? …I’m a medium, but I’ll happily take a large as well.

QOTD: Honestly, despite the fact that I’ve spent a good portion of my life there, I think California is the most confusing place on the planet when it comes to wine. I’m so sick of the marketing hoopla that I’ve nearly come to avoid buying CA wines altogether, which is a shame.
May 23, 2007

tvpittner
strongarmed into some Cos this weekend… not much force needed though
May 23, 2007

Louisiana George
QOTD: Burgundy confuses me and, like others have commented above, the price point of their wines makes it hard to experiment to find out more.

A quick shoutout to you on a food/wine pairing I just had last night: fixed an apricot preserve flavored chicken, matched it with the Hermit Crab I had picked up from you a couple months back (based no the WLTV review) and the pairing was the bomb.

up to 6 cents, 4 more to go to dimehood.
May 23, 2007

wolfie
just thought of a 2nd answer to the qotd:

lesser known italian varietals. i read about them, want to try them, and then get into a store and can’t remember what’s what. you know, since there are about 5,000 of them…
May 23, 2007

DustyBottles
Italian and French wines baffle me. I have no clue where anything is from. I’ve looked it up and read (read the france chapter of Wine for Dummies easily 5 times now and i’m still lost). Maybe it’s cause I haven’t trained my palate to taste the differences in regions in those countries or what, but when I pop open a bottle from one of those two places, I might as well be doing a blind tasting. Plus I never understand most of the words on the labels anyways.
May 23, 2007

jorge
Very nice episode, even with all the teasing by putting the glass in front of the camera to the point that I was reaching to the screen trying to smell it and sip from it, good camera work.
A bit down about the Unico, that has always been one of my fav, but I guess they can’t be perfect every year, I am still savoring the 2004.
This week I’ve been getting my shipments in from my visit to Napa/Sonoma last week, so you bet that I will be pouring some nice wines this weekend.
QOTD: What baffles me is the different taste profiles of the wine, I guess I don’t have a good nose or palette, I know what I like and don’t, some times I do pick up cherry, rasberry, some chocolate, but that is about the extend of it, I wish I could segregate more, and had a wider nose and taste memory library, but I am satisfied with what I have.
May 23, 2007

jorge
Meant to say the 1994 Unico, not 2004.
May 23, 2007

Fishamble
QOTD: Scoring system for wine – is it true that you get 50 points straight off the mark just for *being* wine? Wish I got that kind of a head start just for *being* an engineering student doing exams in college.
May 23, 2007

Kathleen
Loved the episode, but I do like the times that a wine unexpectedly brings the thunder, at a great QPR.
I will open something special this weekend and share it with my boyfriend while I’m at Fort Benning! Maybe I’ll pick up something at Three Sisters Winery in Northern GA?
Memorial Day is all about recognizing exactly why we’re able to be so lucky.
Kathleen
May 23, 2007

Andrew G
QOTD: the tasting. Trying to taste flavors like “a smÃ¶rgÃ¥sbord of fruit with a second layer of tobacco smoke” is very hard for me. I taste wine and can get some fruit, but usually just end up thinking, I like that and I don’t know why. I guess tasting things like this will come with tasting better wine and experience.
May 23, 2007

mike m
Wow! Some great wines.Just curious,have you ever thought of rinsing your glass with water? or using a new glass each pour?To me you showed just a bit of arrogance today,or maybe it’s just my age showing.
May 23, 2007

Tom T.
Excellent ep, Gary. Thanks so much. We are all indeed very lucky.
QOTD – probably most of the bigger areas like Napa, Bordeaux, etc. Just the map of Bordeaux that you guys made for us was a bit intimidating. It’s amazing how much wine there is in just that area.
May 23, 2007

E
That reminds me, I never got around to answering the question did I. So here we are: even out here in the stix, I can wander into a retail joint and for a reasonable price find me a nice, if not terrific, wine from France, Italy, Germany, Australia, South America, and so on. And of course from CA, WA, and maybe OR too. And of course, that’s before we even factor the internets into it.

So then why is it so difficult to find stuff from the rest of the USA–TX, VA, CO, GA just to name a few. I know there’s decent stuff in a lot of these places, but I had to go there to find out. And I’m not sure some of these places would even ship to me in any case. That’s what I find confusing.
May 23, 2007

daniel von trier
Thanks for tasting that Leoville Gary and for your commentary on it.

QOTD: What interests me most but what I don’t know a lot about is wine-making itself, from the time the grapes get picked until the time they end up as wine in the bottle. That confuses me, because I know generally what goes on, but the specifics I would like to learn more about someday.

We are all so lucky! (I say this now that I’m back in Trier after a year away…)

DvT
May 23, 2007

xBigDanx
Wow… nice episode.

If there was any doubts that Wine Library TV has turned very profitable, today crushed them. Rinsing with $40 worth of wine? Must be nice

QOTD: Nose. I am getting better with taste, I can pick out the flavors when I taste. But when I smell a wine, I still just smell….. wine. I try and pick out other smells but unless it is very obvious it is lost on me. And this is after ramming my noise in the glass and inhaling a ton, almost to the point of burning the noise from the alcohol.
May 23, 2007

glenn
got to watch it today with 0 buffering! have to say my new issue coming from The AV Pinot fest i attended is cooperage.

lots of underlying respect paid to the coopers up there in Anderson Valley.

i am interested to talk up copperage now. may be picking some brains on the 31st.
May 23, 2007

Rempshaker
AWESOME…you threw away wine like it was water and then yelled at us after doing it! LOL!! AWESOME
May 23, 2007

Doc Dan
Way to bring the THUNDER Gary!! I love these BIG tastings! I have always wanted to know about Leoville Poyferre. Would love to see you review Duckhorn, Decoy, Goldeneye.
May 23, 2007

Bill
OK – the dumping out of this quality wine is truly, truly tragic. Criminal almost. Humour aside, why can’t you just raffle off the honour of some viewer being “Gary’s Drinking Assistant” for episodes like this? And don’t tell me you have to rinse the glass for God’s sake, at this price you would be well ahead having a NEW Riedel glass for EVERY wine, then – if you want humour – SMASHING the GLASS (Russian vodka style!) afterwards!! This way you could just pass over the glass to the “assistant” when you are done and he/she could finish it off (perhaps even sparing the glass)! There would be another massive plus in this: you could entirely get rid of the huge spit bucket from on the table, leaving more room for the bottles instead of Gary being behind them more and more as the show progresses. I mean a show like today – you would have had to beat them off with a stick if you had suggested this as a possibility for your viewers beforehand. I could NEVER afford any of these wines, and I am not watching another show where you chuck this stuff out!!
May 23, 2007

wayno da wino
Yo Gary,

Can ya hit me wit a loan, so i can get somma dat wine?
i want somma dat “dirty dead mouse” wine for $255, yummy!!
May 23, 2007

mcj
QOTD: Definitely distribution laws. How come Wine Library can ship to Kansas, but it seems nobody else will (wine.com, direct orders from wineries, etc)? Not that I’m complaining about WL…
May 23, 2007

PMN
QOTD: I find German and Alsace wines most confusing…

Does this mean I no longer lurk?!?
May 23, 2007

Smith MBA
QOTD: It is all pretty confusing, but I think the most confusing is why a wine purchased in a vineyard tasting room can cost 30% more than a wine in a retail store. Are there negative transportation costs? I don’t get it.

Pumpovers? Whats the point?

French Oak vs. American Oak? Why the difference?

Why no national retail wine chains? I don’t count COSTCO.
May 23, 2007

Brandon M
QOTD: Labeling, especially Europe.
May 23, 2007

MikeyB
qotd: most confusing thing is – what does one winery do so differently from another to make one wine be great and one be bad. i mean, if you have neighboring wineries, you take the grapes and crush them up and then what is the trick for making a wine great?
May 23, 2007

Harold
QOTD; My own palate. Sometimes I can’t tell if I’m tasting, blackberry, raspberry or currant and then other times I bark out “chain link fence” or “creosote”. What’s up with that? I’m not even entirely sure what creosote is so how am I tasting it in a wine?
May 23, 2007

Mojo
QOTD: Burgundy by far. Its like a black hole where my money gets sucked in, never to be seen again.
May 23, 2007

Dave-from-Katonah
Yea GREEN BAY!!!! Thanks for the shout out for the mecca of the NFL, Titletown, USA!!

Loved this episode for the wines. Hated the “in your face” waste of good wine and “40 bones” worth for a double rinse, no less. I have never knocked you for the wine rinse and waste, since afterall, you are doing this whole thing for us loyal fans and it is your dough. Just don’t be a shmuck on WLTV, it discredits what WLTV is all about. LOL!! Give the leftover to Chris Mott or Eric or the cashiers!

Loved the way you did not spit out the Ch Leoville! Loved the CDP in the leadoff spot as a way of bringing the thunder.

One of your best efforts. An instant classic. Great TNs.

QOTD – What confuses me most about wine???? So many things – so little time to write them all down…Wait: What confuses me most is when you tease us loyal Vayniacs with a contest to win the new pickle shirt (which I love), but then forget to talk about it!!!! LOL!!!
May 23, 2007

karl satirev
QOTD: The German system for categorizing wines is not easy to decode.
May 23, 2007

Dave-from-Katonah
BTW – how do I get my Gravatr working? Can you have one of you IT guys help me out here? I did register with gravatar.com, but to no avail.
May 23, 2007

Adam
QOTD:
How does one person (RP) have such an effect on the entire wine world? It is the only industry I can think of that is effected by one person.
May 23, 2007

FTboomer
Thankss for emailing us back during our Bern’s dinner last night. We missed you, you would have loved it. We have the 1955 Leoville Las Cases and a 1961 Pavie. EXTREME pleasure! Even better sharing it with TampaSteve, Kahuna and TimF.

QOTD: The middle portion of the “brewing process” is what I don’t understand.
May 23, 2007

Lars
Great ep! Crazy arse wines. 2 bottles for $250 each? Do you offer financing with that? For one of those bottles I could buy 10 1/2 cases of Two Buck Chuck. That’s a bottle of wine every third day for a whole year.

Just razzin’ ya. Thanks for “taking one for the team” and doing these wines.
May 23, 2007

eatapc
QOTD: Burgundy confuses me. Between the growers, the wineries, the negociants and the importers, it requires a professional to decipher it.

I’m also confused by the high prices of most Burgundies — totally undeserved.

Which brings me to my last confusion: I don’t “get” red Burgundy (and most pinot noir); it just doesn’t bring the thunder for me. I remember not being surprised by the big scandal of diluted Burgundy being sold for high prices a few years ago. I haven’t bought any this century — don’t intend to — and I haven’t enjoyed a red burgundy since the late 1970s. I appreciate the thought when friends pour it for me, but I just smile, nod my head and bite my tongue when they ask if I think it’s great.

Great bordeaux can be worth the high prices. Great Burgundy is an oxymoron. (Maybe I’m just speaking from ignorance because I don’t have enough experience with it.)

So to answer yesterday’s QOTD: What I’d most like to taste is a great Burgundy to prove myself wrong.
May 23, 2007

Michael Z
I sure hope I get to try that Bordeaux someday! The meeting of the two worlds, huh? Pretty exciting! I’ll be in Chicago this weekend visitng family, so maybe I can pick something special on the wine list and they can pay for it …

QOTD: Probably Bordeaux in part because I’ve never been there so I can’t begin to wrap my head around it.
May 23, 2007

ol_fezziweg
When I saw “bringing the thunder,” I thought this episode was about the chili I made over the weekend. I’m glad it was only about expensive wines.

QOTD: Italian wine classifications. They’re even more confounding than German wine classifications.
May 23, 2007

Capt M
I’ve been so busy and thus behind on all, but I’m back. And this is a beautiful episode, thanks so much. BTW, I just got my bottles of Chateau Guiraud Sauternes. QOTD: Hmm.. perhaps South Africa. I just bought a bottle of South Africa Pinotage today; trying to get into them some.
May 23, 2007

Clifford James
Thanks gary … great episode.

NOW, since I have learned that you sometimes do get what you ask for, and it’s always worth asking, how about you sending me the rest of that bottle of 2003 Chat Leoville Poyferre, since I am indeed one heck of a faithful Vayniac, and my girl Darcey loves you too, so: 1811 4th St in Radford Virginia USA 24141! I thank you in advance! Hey, go ahead and hit me up for the shipping if you want!

Although many may not be able to afford these wines (I am, sadly, near the bottom of that list … for NOW only, though), it is still educational and inspirational to see you taste them and to know what your reactions are to a 97+ wine! As always, it is a pleasure to watch you and to feel a part of the whirlwhind I do believe that you are creating.

QOTD: All the varieties of grapes out there can be confusing, sometimes with many different names for the same grape, but I’d have to say that I am still confused by all of the Bordeaux wines. They are how I learned wine originally, in the mid 80’s, yet they are such a mystery still compared to wines from the rest of the world, which seem relatively straightforward in comparison. BUT, that also makes them fun and interesting on some level too, so …

Thanks so much … and my girl Darcey thanks you too!
Keep it up!
May 23, 2007

lifestooshort
powerdrill of fruit in your face? Leatherface Meets the Master Somelier IV! lol. too funny…two things: hook us up with some sweet vs. dry in your notes and ya know, you actually *don’t* have to waste $40 in vino to rinse your glass. Just have four clean glasses for each one (I’d say that makes sense for tasting half a grand-plus of vino?). Just sayin, yo.
May 23, 2007

Orion Slayer
Watching today’s episode made me feel like when I was a little kid on Thanksgiving Day watching all the adults at the big table and longing to join them. I’m sipping the kool-aid and watching Gary drink Bordeaux! This is not a complaint, because someday I’ll grow up!

QOTD: What confuses me the most about wine is how people can detect all those things (leather, cassis, blue-stone, etc.) when they smell and taste wine.
May 23, 2007

vibemore
If you keep dumping all of that beautiful vino into your Jets bucket you’re going to have to start giving us tasting notes on the bucket as well. (hints of saliva with a lingering tongue finish…that being said, 98 points)

QOTD:
I live in Seattle and the Puget Sound region (where I live) has to be the most confusing region to me. With so many great WA state wines (Red Mountain, Walla Walla, Columbia Valley) to drink I have no clue what people are growing in the Puget Sound region. And it is most definitely considered a wine region.
May 23, 2007

jbailey
Orion Slayer mentioned what I initially thought. How can one detect the slight taste and smell of various things in a wine? I can follow with cherry, oak, blueberry, etc. but when it comes to cat pee, locker room socks, stones, army ranger down the pants, how can one associate these random items to the smell or taste of a wine? The description is great and brings an “ah ha”, but where does this catalog come from? I’ve smelled cat pee….never tasted it. One must be able to really be intuned to smells, tastes of things that are rarely smelled nor tasted. Intriguing.
May 23, 2007

sharon
Thanks for the great episode. I will try those wines in my next life or two.
QOTD: It’s all a mystery to me the terrior, weather, remembering those names, Italy!(Italy is so confusing) and let us not forget the process. What DO they put into the wines besides grapes?
May 23, 2007

Nico
I’m on a mission to save and seek out a bottle from Ch. Leoville Poyferre! I’ve probably heard more about this bottle (in its different vintages) than anything else in Bordeaux.

QOTD: It confuses me why there are shipping restrictions on some states! (I’m still hoping some miracle saves Texas).
May 23, 2007

Susan
Gary-
Fabulous ep!
Just can’t afford ANY of these!!!!!!!!!!!!!

QOD:
It confuses me why in the
USA there are shipping restrictions???????
What third world country is this?????????????????????????????????????????????????????
May 24, 2007

Jimmy B
QOTD: It is so confusing to me as how wines can be so expensive and taste terrible and some of the cheaper wines can bring so much satisfaction!
May 24, 2007

Julius
What does viscosity smell like?
May 24, 2007

Robert F
I could never imagine spending $250 on a bottle of wine. $100, yes, but not $250. Maybe when I win the lottery.

QOTD: The marketing/distributing is really confusing to me. Importing, exporting, 3 tier system, shipping laws. There’s no uniformity in the US. I think they should regulate it so we can buy from whomever we want from wherever we want and pay the same liquor taxes in every state!
May 24, 2007

JayZee
OK, so it was great episode. I can afford the occasional $100 bottle of wine and I even bought (somewhat coincidentally) a bottle of 1982 Poyferre this February when I was in Geneva, Switzerland for about $150. I am hopeful that this bottle is superb as well.

QOTD: What I find most confusing is the absolute disconnection between price and quality. While it has been my experience that a $30 bottle of wine is better than a $12 bottle from the same region and the same type/vintage, there are just too many variables involved. Usually, you do pay an incredible exponential premium for a 95 point wine versus a 90 point wine. But there really isn’t anything close to a good “rule of thumb” let alone a “sure thing”.

And again, nice wine spill on showing the color – that’s twice this month!!

Most of the commenters need to post their questions (that’s what most of the QOTD “answers” were, actually) to the Ask WLTV board so people can answer them. However, since Bordeaux is my fave, here is my answer to John BlueLabel and many others: Yes, almost all Bordeaux are blends of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and petite verdot (at least the first two and often the third or fourth). How do you tell what varietals are present in the blend? Yeah, that is a problem. Basically anything from the left bank of the Gironde River (e.g., Medoc, Haut-Medoc, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estephe, Margaux, and Pessac-Leognan) is predominantly cabernet sauvignon and anything from the right bank (e.g., Saint-Emilion, Pomerol) are predominantly merlot and cab franc blends.

Gary, I think I added more than 2 cents today.
May 24, 2007

Matt the Lurker
QOTD – France! Someone once explained to me that French wine is much like the French language… you have to know what something means already in order to understand it. Basically, if you don’t already know then you never will. Lame.
June 2, 2007

desmaic
i want to find some world class wine laying in a bush somewhere.
June 2, 2007

desmaic
qotd – European labeling with the region instead of the blend contents and grapes used…. it almost seems pretentious and maybe that is where the fear and lack of understanding came from.
June 4, 2007

Lawrence Leichtman
Bought the Leoville and several others in my last future’s purchase so I have half a case of this and Las Cases and Barton. Weren’t the 2003 futures the ones with the big scandal about bogus sales etc? What disappoints me with the Internet is the inability to smell and taste what you are tasting to compare my notes. This also is one of the confusing points of wine. While it may not be fragile, wine tastes and smells different often depending on its storage or when it is opened and how long it is opened so when we have different tasting notes sometimes it is not a difference of opinions as it is almost a different wine.
June 8, 2007

Sam I
Hey Gary

You say to you’d tell most people to skip this wine for good wine costs the same price for a case (start at about 6min 50 sec). Well what are those wines … You kill me with that.

-Sam
June 14, 2007

Mason
It’s shows like these where I wish that I could be there with you, tasting world class stuff. Instead, I sit in a messy office about to go to sleep because I am up late watching WLTV. Yes, Gary, I choose WLTV over getting my 8 hours of sleep. Who knew wine could be this entertaining?

QOTD: I find that the scoring from critic to critic is so confusing. It’s a shame that so much of the wine world lives and dies by what 2 or 3 popular critics think, which is why I am out to change the wine world with you!!!!
July 19, 2007

Kelly
One of my local Boutique shops has a 1995 Vega Sicilia Unico and I always hassle them about it, turns out that it isn’t all it’s hyped to be–or maybe you had a bad bottle.

The most confusing wine region to me is Burgundy, Bourgogne or whatever. I’ve been doing tons of research and it still hasn’t hit home. We shall see one day maybe I’ll just visit and than get it figured out.
November 18, 2007

vivaitalia
As far as understanding the classifications I find France to be the most confusing thing in wine. But really what’s confusing to me is discerning what’s in the bottle. Many wines from France, Italy, etc. don’t list the grape variaties or even give you A clue as to what might be in that bottle. You’ve really got me lusting after that Brunello but damn, i’ve had alot of bad experiences with overrated and overpriced brunellos.
July 9, 2008

Dessert Wine Nerd
QOTD: Labels from other countries. Ive gotten fairly good with German wines, but Italy and France can be downright confusing. Sometimes its like throwing a dart and hoping you picked a good one. How lucky are you to be tasting expensive wines like these? Damned lucky, thats what. Id love to sit in on a tasting like that. I would like you to do more white Bordeaux, however. Theres a very nice one they’re selling at Costco (a 2005) and I think I just might buy it. $55, though, so I hope it brings the thunder in a few years.
June 30, 2009

Phredd
QOTD: I find French wines confusing. You need to have a map of France and a French dictionary to figure out just where a wine is from. Once you have that licked, then you have to realize that the various producers make different blends each year that may or may not taste anything alike, so your knowledge from last year is immediately out of date. You practically have to make it an obsession just to keep up. American producers specifically try to “commodify” wines to avoid this problem. That has some disadvantages, of course, but it sure makes it easier to follow for us amateurs.
July 27, 2009

richardvinifera
One of my favourite episodes to date, it’s just an enjoyable episode and you can feel you are experiencing the wines vicariously (even more than normal!) plus the classic Vaynerchuk banter, “Bam! 40 bones, gone!”
August 22, 2009

John D.
I love this episode Gary!

“Bam! 40 bones! Gone!”

“So don’t pee on me if I waste a lot of wine!”

“If you find this in a bush…”

“Sort of reminds me of Lincoln Logs…” – I loved playing with these growing up! (Born in ‘75)

Classic stuff!

QOTD: Without a doubt, Burgundy. Good God. And the prices. I enjoy Pinot as much as the next guy, but 60-80+ bones for a quality (90 – 90+) French Pinot?! After Burgundy, probably the disparity between critics in scoring wine. Obviously, each person’s palate is different. So that probably accounts for a chunk. But sometimes, they’re poles apart. For instance, 2008 Bordeaux. Parker is consistently 5+ points higher than James Suckling in all the reviews I’ve read, and probably a similar amount relative to Jancis Robinson on many wines (even though she uses the 20-point scale). I’ve come to rely on the tasting note more than the score itself!

Thanks for keeping all these old episodes in the archives. It’s fun going back and watching the classics. It’s like TBS or TNT showing great old movies you would never see anywhere else!