Looks great on paper – Episode #260

June 20, 2007

Today Gary tries 4 wines that look great on paper. Let’s see if they deliver.

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Comments on this episode(148) Leave a comment ›

“The ercavio looks tempting..on the Pikes you mentioned it was focus th…” by Adrian
“Did Eric finally make an appearance on WLTV? Was that him writing in …” by Dessert Wine Nerd
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Allan Scott Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
2005 Defaix Chablis Cote De LechetChablis
2005 Ercavio Roble La ManchaOther Spanish Red Wine
2003 Pikes Shiraz EastsideAustralian Shiraz/Syrah

Links mentioned in todays episode.

The Introduce Yourself Forum

148 Responses

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June 20, 2007

Grapedigger
I think people now are hooked on finding wines scoring 90 pts and more. Leafing feverishly in WS or other reviews and just looking at the 90 pt mark wines..Screw the rest because it’s garbage!! What became silly is that a lot would dismiss an 89 pt wine, even if it has a good QPR, and jumb on the 90 right away. You tell me the margin of error between scoring 88, 89 or 90 pts, taking into considerations people’s different taste in wine!! Your episode today illustrates this beautifully and sends a message that people have different wine tastes, even if they are wine experts…

QOTD, I got suckered once into buying some abdomine exercise machines (the six pack dream, right) that looked good on infomertials but sucked the big one in reality…

Cheers,
Grapedigger – Montreal
June 20, 2007

Jermaine Justice
I believe it was a toucan on the box of fruit loops, not a pelican. Toucan Sam, if I remember correctly. (Who am I kidding, I see the commercials on Cartoon Network all the time.)

Great show though, I’ve been watching for a couple weeks and I am officially not a lurker. I posted a comment. I love the show.
June 20, 2007

maggiej
QOTD: The last hike I did with my husband and dog. On paper- lush and following a stream. Reality- the desert with a non-visible stream and a dog doing crzay dances and wining because he was burning his feet.

I can’t wait to try the Ercavio.
June 20, 2007

surf.sf
Bought a 1989 Chateau Meyney from K&L wines to see what an old bordeaux tasted like. There wasn’t any fading and it didn’t excite me much!
June 20, 2007

GeneV
Nice episode.

I described the 2004 Ercavio Roble as blackberry jam on a horse blanket draped over an oak twig. The fruit and the puckery tannins did not get to the 90 on my palate, but a dynamite buy for 8 bucks.
June 20, 2007

Alos Diallo
I had that happen with one of the last girls I dated haha. Life I guess haha
June 20, 2007

Tim H.
Awesome episode. As a sports fan, you see this all the time (See Robbie Alomar with Mets, Edgar Renteria with the Red Sox). As for the wine, I had the Allan Scott a few months ago & completely agree- great QPR. Looking forward to trying the Ercavio.

QOTD- Star Wars Episode 1- the trailer made it look great, but it was just awful.
June 20, 2007

Tom (vtjones)
QOTD: On paper those sea monkeys looked like they would be awesome!
June 20, 2007

amgryger
Good episode. While I never fell for the “Sideways Effect,” but I have been reading a lot of Hemingway lately and have found myself craving Spanish wines. Your description of the Ecravio reminded me a lot of the 2006 Luzon Verde I had the other night, which I picked up for 8 bones. Maybe I will seek this one out and compare the two, though I’d probably give the Luzon an 88.

QOTD: The “Impact of Technology” Class I took with Prof. JL (not to give any full names) I took about two years ago. It was a new class with a great description in the course catalog and just generally horrible and depressing in practice.
June 20, 2007

Herm
I really enjoyed the episode….the sauvignon blanc looks like a winner as well as the ercavio….QoTD: Have you ever owned a boat?….that question is my answer….
June 20, 2007

Madrone
QOTD: My first car which lasted about 50 miles.

Hey Gary, nice ad in the recent Wine Spectator. You look so nice an clean! I prefer the look after twelve episodes filmed in one day.

I haven’t looked back but have you ever critiqued the concept of scoring? Like scoring a painting or a sunset or my wife, it sometimes seems a little absurd. So the whole “looks good on paper” falls apart if you look too close. Sometimes something is just good (or bad) because it is or maybe because of the context. One of the best wines I ever had was a junk viognier but the context (people, place, and food) was so good that I think it is literally the best thing I have ever put in my mouth. I’m sure if I had it now: ho hum.
June 20, 2007

SacramentoCharlie
Good Episode GV…The viewers ask for value wine episodes and you deliver want the fans want…That is great customer service.

QOTD: Something that appeared better on paper than the real deal ??? Well, that pic in your Spectator AD this month looks possibly photoshopped.

Seriously, let’s go with Las Vegas. Seems like a great place to visit on paper….
June 20, 2007

stevo
Had the Ercavio a month ago. Paid around $13 for it. Didn’t like it at all. Down the drain it went.

QOTD: My wife and I have been looking for a home recently and there have been many that look great on paper, only to pull up to the house and see power lines next door. Got right back into the car. The equivalent of right down the drain.
June 20, 2007

Susan
Gary-Glad to be right about one thing in life! When you were first talking to the ‘peanut gallery’ I wondered if that was AJ.It was AJ!Great Ep!
:)
June 20, 2007

John Witherspoon
HEY GV

Nice EP, I have to see if my local shop has the Ercavio. ANd I have add Allan Scott a couple of times and haven’t been disappointed yet.

QOTD: I can’t really recall a time that I was disappointed by something that looked good on paper. I guess that is a good thing.

J DUB
June 20, 2007

cgf
QOTD: A-Rod.
June 20, 2007

Dave Canada
Great idea for an episode!
QOTD – London School of Economics. I got accepted there to do my Masters degree and the program was totally different in reality when I arrived. A realy mind bender for me.
June 20, 2007

portman
Good ep. I’ve been looking for decent Spanish wines. Now I have a good recommendation on one.

QOTD: a great business opportunity about ten years ago. Lost about two grand. Am I smarter now?
June 20, 2007

ChadD.
Hey Gary, I’ll send you a myspace add request. I use my online alias of “chuckwilson”. This is the ONLY blog/website where I use my real name. Just thought I would throw that in so you’re not like “who the hell is chuckwilson”.
June 20, 2007

ChadD.
Hey 2 out of 4 ain’t bad! Gotta get some Ercavio Roble. QOTD: at work everyday!! I work with numbers.
June 20, 2007

Bossman
QOTD: I have to agree witn Winodondist, my last hire seemingly had all the right stuff, say all the right things, had a resume tailor made for the position, talked the talk but didn’t walk the walk. Interviews are so subjective.
June 20, 2007

mas
Will have to seek out the Ercavio. That review was a surprise – worth taking a flyer on.

QOTD: Day old Sushi …. (just kidding)
June 20, 2007

Kraemer
I love the Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc and i’m glad that you reviewed this vintage. The last I tried of it was the 04,

I remember having a very very long night a few years back, then having to go to work the next day. A guest ordered a bottle of the Allan Scott (which I had not seen nor tried prior to this), I presented it to the table and started to cut the foil as I would a regular corked bottle. I did this for a solid 20 seconds before I realized it was a screw cap. Talk about embarassing.
June 20, 2007

Marc
QOTD: My code before I compile it, run it, and run into a error or calculation result from left field. If there are any other programmers out there you know what I mean. Or you’re better than me and you don’t.
June 20, 2007

JonE
QOTD: 02′Beaux Freres pinots at deep discount, it got cooked in the bottle by disreputable distributors. Terrible deception of the highest accord.