Kosta Browne Taste Off With a Ringer…Blind

Kosta Browne Taste Off With a Ringer…Blind – Episode #271

July 6, 2007

Gary Vaynerchuk has some fun on this friday, answers a few questions and tastes some AMAZING PINOT NOIRS Blind!

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Comments on this episode(203) Leave a comment ›

“QOTD: Had a Jordan Chardonnay tonight…yeah, not too good….” by Tooch
“QOTD: Ravenswood Lodi Old Vines Zinfandel, 2007 I think. It was one di…” by richardvinifera
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2003 Kosta Browne Pinot Sonoma on Wine-Searcher
2005 Amisfield Pinot Noir Central OtagoNew Zealand Pinot Noir
2004 Kosta Browne Pinot Sonoma on Wine-Searcher

203 Responses

July 6, 2007

ChrisR
1st?
July 6, 2007

Norcal
Ballsy choice! Top 5! Woohoo!
July 6, 2007

jack
3rd!
July 6, 2007

KenP
top 5
July 6, 2007

Karl Laczko
Have you given up on the Friday sofa experience?
Exclusive Pinot Noirs – that gives me an idea for the weekend. I like the blind idea, but not sure on the moustache.
July 6, 2007

garyv
SOFA will be back hard NEXT WEEK!
July 6, 2007

KAHUNA
Pinot Suc…. Nevermind! Great to see all the Vayniacs on Thursday and GV and Ian. Always fun!
July 6, 2007

ole ole
Love it. Good one.
July 6, 2007

KAHUNA
Did you smell them before you started filming?
July 6, 2007

Tiny Enemy Crab
You better make good on your sofa statement Gary! That sofa is the heart and soul of WLTV.

Ok so maybe it isn’t…
July 6, 2007

panoca
TOP TEN?!
Kosta Browne Pinot are my favorite pinots from U.S. Just a little hard to find.
GW Gary!
July 6, 2007

Noflag
QOTD – Ridge, ZIN, Ponzo vinyards, 2004. It was not plunk, just a BIG let down. the wine making was just all oak, too bad. $30 too, ouch!
July 6, 2007

Keith E
Week long viewer, first time poster.

Gary, tell me what I need to do to get some of that free Schwag? How do you think a La Crema Pinot Noir would stack up against these 3?
July 6, 2007

Sonnenuhr
U r 1 crazy mother – great show, keep ‘em coming!

How about a review of The Prisoner (Orin Swift)
July 6, 2007

Shad
Fun episode. Its nice to see that there are “big” Pinot Noirs out there. Most I have had have been thin and I have not been impressed at all. QOTD: worst wine in last 14 days…Ruffino Chianti that was brought to our home for a dinner.
July 6, 2007

John Farrin
Thanks Gary, it makes me feel better about actually being on the KB waitlist. I think we Californians should get waitlist priority status

On another front, watch the false modesty. I will appreciate it if you don’t get a big head but ‘just don’t have the talent’, oh please. Have you read the Time article ?:) If not, I told you earlier that I was going to tear the page out and put it in my wallet so you can borrow mine and educate yourself on your popularity.
July 6, 2007

KAHUNA
OK – Pinot traditionally is not equal to Big Wine- so why do the Cali Pinots get Props for being Over extracted big wines instead of finesse wines which Pinot is traditionally known for- I would think your tasting notes should have been followed with – this is what is wrong with Cali Pinot- Over extracted too big blah blah blah- Just curious because Napa Cab gets panned with the fake over extracted tag for doing the same thing the Kosta Pinot’s did-

Sounds like the Kosta Pinots are made to please a Cab or Zin drinker as opposed to a long time Pinot/ Burgundy fan.
July 6, 2007

Nick
Have you tried the 2005 sonoma coast. we just got it in and I must say there was an awkward cola sweetness and much less depth than the 04 (I’ve never had the ‘03).

I don’t really drink much stuff that’s been very bad recently but for the price the new vintage of Kosta Browne would have to be up there. I had Allison Rose from Steltzner Vineyards and that was “like Skittles”….but the sour kind that you have to chew forever. It was perhaps the worst rose I’ve had all year and is pricy for rose.
July 6, 2007

Ken B.
Gary,

Great show, the blind tasting is fun. I think it shows that you have a great palate and I would like to see other shows in the future to really challenge you.

QOTD: No bad wine in the last 14 days! Good for me.
July 6, 2007

TheDumbPhase
You look kinda like Tri-Klops from He-Man with the shirt on your head.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tri-Klops
July 6, 2007

KenP
KAHUNA in right on point. I am puzzled by what has happened to Ã‡ali Pinot. Next time include a similarly priced Burgandy. Or do a blind Burgandy ep with Romanee Conti et al. Fun ep, neverthelass.
July 6, 2007

shaggy D
I haven’t had any! I’m dieing here
July 6, 2007

Jonathon M Chicago
QOTD: I don’t drink bad wines. I only drink wines recommended by Gary Vay-ner-chUk!!!!
July 6, 2007

Shadowbird
QOTD: A Chilean Shiraz. Tasted too oaky.
July 6, 2007

Stevei-e B
Hey Gary,

I love Sonoma coast wines. Tried some great Pinot Noir from Failla (Rancho Santa Rosa) and some Viogner from Failla (Alban VineYard.) Lovely stuffing.
July 6, 2007

yowens
Love Darth Vayner reading the NJ weekly or whatever that was- well done. QOTD: Nothing that was bad, but the worst of them would have been a muscadet last night.
July 6, 2007

Randy
Another classic episode. Good one, Gary!

QOD: I tasted a BV Carneros Pinot (review is on Cork’d) that wasn’t really inspiring, but that’s about as bad as it got for me. I gotta say that almost everything I’ve tried in the last two weeks has been nice and drinkable, not anything like Two Buck Chuck or worse.

Hey, next blind tasting, you should wrap Jennifer Piper around your head! (let’s see if she picks up *this* plug)
July 6, 2007

Randy
I would probably go for a Pinot that tastes like dirt before drinking one that tastes like a cab or zin. Gotta live up to expectations. BAH!
July 6, 2007

Elliot Essman
Worst wine in the last 14 days? I haven’t had any wine so bad it deserves the title. There are so many great wines out there.
July 6, 2007

caleb
A classic! Worst wine is Chateau St michelle cabernet 2004…tied with clos du bois pinot grigio….naw pinot grigio was worse!
July 6, 2007

jorge
Not excited about Pinots, for the money that these guys cost there are great Cabs out there.
QOTD: All wines have been good for months, thank goodness for that.
July 6, 2007

dkeck
I am deal hound that looks for wine under $15 dollars. I have tasted some real cheap wine and the worst is “Matties Peak” from South Australia.
July 6, 2007

italianwinelover
Interesting show!? Probably will never have the opportunity to drink those two Kosta wines….shame. But thanks for the info!

QOTD: Haven’t really had a bad wine (one that I opened and poured down the drain) in the last two weeks..my picks have been pretty good!!
July 6, 2007

Sydney Australia
“I shoot from my hip; and I come with my heart”. I think I’m gonna puke. Where’s the cool setting with the comfy sofa? Don’t do any more shows with juice I can’t get except from flippers. Flippers suck. Overall though, it was a nice but corny show.
QotD: Sorry, I haven’t had a bad bottle of juice in the last 14 days. I am however, drinking as we speak, the ‘05 Schild Estate Barossa Shiraz, which is very nice. Big, lots of fruit, heat should blow off in a while. VG QPR @ $19.43 tx inc.
July 6, 2007

AndrewG
Gary-

I like what you are doing with facebook, not only joining and getting a bunch of friends, but the leader of a group and a WLTV application! Pretty cool stuff…much respect from the CKCs…

You sure are bringin the THUNDER!
July 6, 2007

Colleen
Great episode. I do like the blind tastings!
QOTD: 2005 Full Boat Cabernet. You guys had an awesome sale on it… no wonder!
July 6, 2007

Billy G
QOTD: 2002 Lunada Cabernet-Merlot Sonoma County

Way too much bell pepper, overpowered the fruit. Not that bad of a wine but I’ve had mostly good stuff lately.
July 6, 2007

Chris G
Wine tasting in hostage situations. Niche market but might catch on

QOTD Went to a works do and had Rosemount Chard….rather not talk about it.
July 6, 2007

Micha
QOTD: well, i really dislike the Bodegas Binigrau “e”. A Rose CuvÃ©e vom Mallorca. Lots of Heat, 15% Alc!!, very off-balance, faky plastic Aromas. Or in a short term: A major pazzzz
July 6, 2007

Julia
QOD: I had the misfortune to attend a Kosher wine tasting this week and had some Baron Herzog I honestly wouldn’t use to clean my bathroom.
July 6, 2007

BruceP
QOTD: Mollydooker “The Boxer” 2005. I don’t know why I periodically make myself drink these Ozzie dogs. Tasted like grape kool-aid mixed with cough syrup and flat root beer. On the positve side the flavour disappears completely within about 1 second, so you don’t have to worry about it lingering. I cannot believe the ratings scores this wine gets. A complete dogs breakfast in a bottle.

Great show today. I’ve had all of these and Gary pretty much nailed it.
July 6, 2007

FredinNYC
QOTD: A 2004 Joseph Phelps Syrah: I could swear I saw the Oak Monster (but I should add that I’m not a big syrah fan)
July 6, 2007

Wave
QOD- Taltarni sparkling rose.One of the only times I’ve ever poured wine down the drain.
July 6, 2007

E
Mutant Pinot? Well, if you’re into that sort of thing …

QOD: Monte das Nogueiras Portuguese red (Alentejo, if I remember right). Too green, too dirty and generally unspectacular. Not so much bad, as lacking in good. Even the Texas meritage had its nice points.
July 6, 2007

GottaGoDrink
Gary- Fun show today. A little different, keep up the good work.

QOTD- None. Life is good. Enjoy the weekend everyone!
July 6, 2007

RandyB
A fun episode. I’ve still never had a Kosta Browne. Almost had one at the SF party but was a few seconds off…damn you Brandon. The Walnut Creek Crew are real fans of Siduri and Mahoney pinots. Someday we’d like your opinion on them.

QOTD: Wow, can’t of anything I had to pour down the drain over the past 14 days. I have had my share of disappointments, but also surprises. I expected better from a 2001 Grgich Cabernet and expected much less from the 2005 $2C even after it scored a double gold.

Have a great weekend Vayniacs!
July 6, 2007

Russ J
Coming through on the blind tasting! Nice! There is surely a better way than the t-shirt around the head though. Keep working on it.

QOTD: Las Rocas Rosato ‘06. Like it better than GV did, but it is in the bottom slot in the past two weeks.
July 6, 2007

amgryger
QOTD: Bodegas Luzon 2005 Jumilla. My tasting notes: A touch of banyard and meaty gaminess on the nose. On the palate this wine tastes like you threw a fresh baked cherry pie in the ocean and then realized that you are desperately hungry so you pulled it out and ate it anyway. An awkard wine.
July 6, 2007

Neil
I agree with Kahuna and KenP on this one. The profile of California Pinots have increasingly become more in synch with Syrah, more extraction and less finesse. Having said that, I wouldn’t turn down a glass of Kosta Browne, but in general, the “hot” Cali Pinot as reviewed in WS this year have become overextracted, monolithic fruit bombs not worthy of their high scores from Laube and Co., which speak loudly about high scores and the resultant high prices these producers anticipate receiving. All these overpriced Cali Pinots sure make Merlot taste a lot better on the finish.
July 6, 2007

GlassRunnethEmpty
QOTD: 2002 J.& F. Lurton Sauvignon Blanc Vin de Pays du ComtÃ© Tolosan Les FumÃ©es Blanches (France, Southwest France, Vin de Pays du ComtÃ© Tolosan)

6/25/2007 Popped poured at cellar temperature.

Very light color. Grapefruit, slate, lychee grass on the nose. Crisp but a bit hollow. Soapy mouth feel with slight citrus finish. GRE82
July 6, 2007

luvgrapesqeezings
This week I did not taste any bad wine per se. However, earlier this week I had two bottles of New Zealand rieslings (Brancott ‘05 & Stoneleigh ‘04) that were somewhat of a let down. Both had nice qualities, especially the petrol flavors in the Brancott. In the end they left me yearning for a kick ass Mosel.
July 6, 2007

Jagron
Great show. I like the tasting blind. Not much else to say.

QOTD: Nothing too bad. Haven’t been drinking much wine lately.
July 6, 2007

Norcal
QOTD: A corked bottle of Ojai Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot….Booo….
July 6, 2007

MateodeVT
Lolonis 2002 Heritage Vineyards Tryfon Zinfandel: $32 right down the terlit. A true unfiltered disappointment.
July 6, 2007

Robert F
QOTD: Worst wine was definitely the 2004 Ercavio that you recommended on the simpsons plastic cup episode. It smelled like horrible cheap vodka and was extremely hot and disjointed on the finish. Not sure what happened in between New Jersey and Kansas, but it wasn’t good. Other wines from that same shipment were just fine though, so I have no idea.
July 6, 2007

John Blue Label
GV,
Nice episode. Fun, interesting. I like the fact that you didn’t know which one was which. The double blind episode you did a while back was even better, and a greater challenge for your palate!
QOTD: Just this week had my first corked wine: a 1998 Langedoc. Yuck.
July 6, 2007

portland guy
Very enjoyable episode — but concur with Kahuna. Given that Cali PNs can have up to 25% of another variatal (the S word and Z word come to mind), as opposed to OR PNs limited to only 5%, could this explain the unBurgundian character of Cali PNs?
July 6, 2007

Matt the Lurker
QOTD – Can’t say that I’ve had any bad wine recently. I guess I’ve got a lot to be thankful for.
July 6, 2007

Dave Canada
That episode rocked….what was with Darth Vayner reading New Jersey Life?
QOTD – Easy….went to a friend of someone that my wife works with and they served us Yellow Tail….I didn’t even have the heart to tell them that they could find some really good wine for $11…..
July 6, 2007

portland guy
Oh yes, QOTD. Has to be the 2005 Frederic Mabileau Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Les Rouilleres, one that GV would ever recommend —– er, wait, who did?
July 6, 2007

Catherine M.
That was very amusing to watch….

QOD-The worse wine I had recently I can’t remember the name but it was a merlot and it was putrid. It was so bad I blocked out the name

However, a good one that I did have recently was a 2004 Martella Syrah…
July 6, 2007

mas
Great episode Gary – really enjoyed that one. Have to agree with Kahuna though – not sure I’ve enjoyed a California Pinot recently – they have some of the same characteristics I don’t like in 2000 Barolo. I think Pinot Noir, like Nebbiolo, looses some of it’s elegance when picked at higher Brix. They are still great wines, but not what I’m looking for when drinking either wine.

QOTD: 2005 Dry Creek Vineyards Taylor’s Vineyard Musque – this was a very nice white. I’ve just been drinking some great wines in the last two weeks!
July 6, 2007

Greg B.
Great Episode Big G. Now I gots to find me an expense account for some of that Kosta Browne.
QOTD. Maybe something bad from Trader Joes. I don’t recall. : /
July 6, 2007

Jen
Darth Vayner is my new hero. And you taunt me with these pinots… I want them!!! Ahhhhhh! Sounds so good.
QOTD: The worst…. Some kind of pinot grigio at a club. It was too hot and I needed something cold…. but I should’ve suffered instead. Ewwwwwww it was bad. Sorry, I didn’t ask what it was after I tasted it. I should have, so I could warn people.
HAVE AN AWESOME WEEKEND!!!!!
July 6, 2007

Jen
RANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I should really read all the other xomments before I post. LOL, oh my god, you are out OF CONTROL!!!! Love it.
July 6, 2007

Wine-ot
Q.o.D. – Terra Blanca Merlot…Washington 2004….C-rap!!! P.S. Thanks for the cellaring times!!!
July 6, 2007

Dominus
Now that was good! I’ve asked for KB and you did it. Unfortunately, the link to allcorked.com ($69) shows there is none available. Surprise, surprise.

QOTD: Worst wine in the last 14 days? Hmmmm, maybe the Mahi SB since all of the others have been stellar. Just had a glass of the Broglia Gavi (appetizers) and the Vulture Aglianico (grilled tuna) and both were wonderful.

TGIF!
July 6, 2007

OttawaB
Great episode, nice to see a tasting done on Kosta Brown. But big and over extracted is not what drives me to love pinots. But it is easy to see why many love Kosta. Just doesn’t seem like my cup of tea, although I would like to try on someday to see for myself.
July 6, 2007

Dominus
Ooops I just remembered! At a jazz festival last weekend I succumbed to the infamous Two Buck Chuck (how could I forget) and a Fetzer SB. No, I did not bring a bottle so I was desperate.

ABSOLUTE GARBAGE
July 6, 2007

Wine-ot
Who’s jennifer piper, besides a seemingly hot blonde…?
July 6, 2007

Erin
QOTD-Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel. It was TERRIBLE! I was anti-screw top until last week when I had this wine and it was CORKED!
July 6, 2007

John H.
I bought a couple discounted Kosta Brownes a few years ago on a close out rack. Boy, how times have changed.
July 6, 2007

Robin
We have some 2004 Amisfields, WS: 89; not quite as good a rating as the 2005, but we’re looking forward to trying them.
July 6, 2007

Bernie Bearnaise
I linked into your show about a week ago and I’m hooked. I took a $29 bottle of Chateau La Fleur Peyrabon to my mother-in-law’s as a dinner gift and whoops, it was terrible. I realize that you have only one rule and that is that there are no rules but that taught me a lesson. You should always bring a backup wine if you are pouring for a crowd.

I don’t know if you allow any touting of recent value discoveries but here goes: I was swirling a 2005 Alberto Furque Tempranillo from Argentina while watching last night’s episode. It was big cherry nose and nice dry finish at 12 bucks. I stumbled onto a very floral 2004 Lalande Sauvignon Vin de pays from Cotes de Gascogne for 9 bucks which I might take to my mother-in-law’s next time.

Today I figured out what the sign meant. How many days until NFL Sunday! My team was pretty bad until we signed a few Jets and they were our best players week in week out. Who are we?

Gary, you are my top draft pick. You are a natural….
July 6, 2007

Vinovintner
Gary,
Another great show. I would like to see more blind tastings on your show.
I think it would be interesting to do a blind tasting composed of Oregon, California, and French Burgundian Pinot Noirs. I haven’t been very impressed with California Pinot’s lately. There is a lot of junk for very high price tags. I find most to be very thin and uncharacteristic of classic Pinot from Burgundy. Classic Pinot should be velvety and smooth with a touch of black cherry. The aroma of a good Pinot Noir is unmistakeable and very intriguing.

I do not understand why winemakers in California and Australia let grapes get over ripe before they harvest them. This is very challenging to yeast and requires a lot of manipulation. Over ripe fruit makes wines taste more like syrup instead of wine with elegance and finesse. I could go into a disertation on the subject, but do not feel this is the appropriate medium for that.

The worst wine that I have experienced in the past two weeks was a Penfolds
Cabernet Merlot blend. The fruit was way over the top. It was like drinking cough syrup. New world for sure. I like a wine that has elegance and finesse. If I wanted to drink cough syrup, I would go to the drug store and buy it. It doesn’t go well with food.
July 6, 2007

L from Cape Cod
I had the good fortune of working at a bar where these wines were available and a lot less expensive, a couple years ago. They were good then I can only imagine how nice they taste now.
July 6, 2007

Shirazzle Dazzle
Hmmm….well I dont like paris Hilton & I havent found a Pinot I’m crazy about either. At this point I hate to donate anymore money to looking for a Pinot I might actually like. I’ll just stick to my un-cool Merlot, Syrah & Cab & Sangiovese.

Hey gary…..Why not do a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo? Tasted one awhile back suggested by someone on the boards. It was pretty damn good!

QOTD: Toss up between 2 wines….BV Syrah & an Argetinian Malbec (Tapiz).
July 6, 2007

cnw
Fantastic show!!! I loved Darth Vayner …. except he looked more like Pancho Villa with that mustache! Loved the NJ Living, Time, and French Wine “something” or another book…. priceless!

QOTD: I haven’t had ANY wine in 14 days because I have been working tooooo freak’n hard and then came down with a case of a nasty stomach bug. Today is the first day that I am feeling good in a whole 8 days. I am abstaining until tomorrow evening so that I just make sure I’m over this crazy bug….. then I’m going to pop a bottle and savor every sip. Don’t know what I’m going to have yet but I sure wish I had some of the Kosta Browne!!
July 6, 2007

bossman
Some heat episode…….

Ian, I hope he doesn’t watch the episode and catch you giving him devil’s horns amongst the other obscene gestures. I too, often catch up on my reading while this talentless hack rambles on incestantly (yeah right, that’s why I busily hit f5 every weekday afternoon and never fail to comment)

Sorry, dude I only do photos with gratis schwag (and even then I delegate).

QOTD: Carina Cellars Santa Barbara Syrah 2003- I sure hope it was corked, I can’t imagine anyone willingly spending $16 on that when there are so many other tasty bottles at that price point.
July 6, 2007

RieslingRon
QOTD: 05 Bulletin Place Shiraz from SE Australia. WS rated it a 90, but I couldn’t get any where near that!!!

A different look to the usual format……We need to see your face and expressions, so on the next blind tasting please wrap the bottles.
July 6, 2007

barbotus
Nice show. Good to see Darth Vayner wearing the French Legionnaires Moustache…. you don’t want to know where that thing has been.
QOTD: Nothing really bad in the last 14 days. The 2001 Zingaro Zin in my glass right now isn’t doing much for me, but if you give me 21 days I’ll go with the 1999 Notarpanaro IGT. May just be way past prime, or maybe it was a different vintage that I liked in the past, but blech.
July 6, 2007

thach
Good God Gary! My wife walked in the room seeing me with this episode and mistaken that it’s another hostage situatin in the Middle East. Very nicely done and thanks to Vader!
July 6, 2007

napaspa.com
Fun episode! keep tasting those Cali pinots. love to see an all russian river episode.

QOTD: pillar box red (was not that bad for $10)
July 6, 2007

Tariq Amjad
Hey Gary,

Thanks for doing the Kosta Browne episode. 2004 was KILLER for KB (and some other producers, especially Russian River Valley RRV as I call it. Can’t wait for the Harlans and big cult Cali cabs. Thanks!

Tariq
July 6, 2007

portman
Nice ep. Good to mix the format up a bit. Maybe do a blind tasting once or twice a month. Variety is good.

Darth Vayner. Good to see you again. Unperturbed as usual.

The last 14 days? It was a flat monolithic cab we had at the Kennebunkport Inn last weekend. I have been traumatized, and no longer remember the label.
July 6, 2007

Totte
Hi G.V.

Like the blind tasting. But what about the bags you used in an early episode ?

QotD : Vigna Cabernet Sauv. 2005. Horrible. But the last 14 days have been very good wine days: -88 1:er cru Burgundy, -98 Gruner and some other exciting bottles.

Swedish T
July 6, 2007

JonE
First off: G-Man big props way to bring the thunder!!! NZ crossed with cult Cali Pinot is definitely the thunder show.

Secondly: “OK – Pinot traditionally is not equal to Big Wine”-Kahuna
Am I the only one who see’s something wrong with this comment?
How come so many boneheads are posting pissy comments about the Kosta? Kahuna feels the need to bash big Cali Pinots? We should compare all Pinot to Burgundy? Give me a break! Cough syrup, blah blah blah. Anyone who has tasted Kosta Browne and still thinks its overextracted syrup by all means let me know.
Three months ago I finished my last bottle of 02′ Sonoma Coast, it was fantastic. Balanced, finessed and yet still with a very powerful backbone. And if we had to compare it to Burgundy, it had many of the characteristics of a middle aged Echezeaux, with some Pommard punch and bit of brooding Volnay aspects. To all the nay sayers who seem so apt to mock KB try it first.

QOTD: Valckenberg Dornfelder. Sometimes expanding horizons can be very sweet and awful.
July 6, 2007

Jon B.
Unbelievable show today loved it.Darth Vaynerchuk classic…This is the thunder show…QOTD Goats do Roam 2006 Rose’ worst in last two weeks by far. later
July 6, 2007

Tom T.
Excellent show Gary. Will definitely seek out a Kosta Browne soon. Gotta keep expanding my palate. QOTD – worst is a “relative” thing sometimes. None of the wines I had over the last 14 days were bad. Thanks again for a great ep.
July 6, 2007

Alos Diallo
Great episode Gary! Love the Darth Vaynerchuck addition. The worst wine that I have had was a white zin from turning leaf it was terrible.
July 6, 2007

Ben N.
Thanks Gary for the food tips. And I love the French book, I have the same one. I guess that was the Bordeaux part of the show. Have a great weekend everybody.
July 6, 2007

Matty B
QOTD: There’s a wine at Trader Joe’s called “Three Buck Chuck” I would cuss here if it wasn’t so mean. But that stuff isn’t wine. It’s not anything.
July 6, 2007

wmole
Agree with you JonE about Kahuna’s comments. Didn’t make sense to me either. How can you overextract a grape that has thin skins? There’s nothing to overextract from.
Also, the bad cal pinot was from which region?
Alexander Valley
Carneros
Central Coast
Central Valley
Dry Creek Valley
Napa Valley
North Coast
Northern Coast
Paso Robles
Russian River
Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Maria Valley
Santa Ynez Valley
Sierra Foothills
Sonoma
South Coast
Other Regions

Which winery?
http://www.cawinemall.com/a-c.shtml
All love right back to you brother GARY!
July 6, 2007

nougat
Great episode Gary. Would have liked to have seen you guess which was which. Looks like you had them right.

QOTD: Ordered a 2003 Sparr One at a Thai restaurant and sent it back – it had no signs of life . Replaced it with a 2004 Jacobs Creek Reserve Reisling that FRIGGIN ROCKED!
July 6, 2007

Brandon M
Remember when you told me Kosta Browne Pinot’s were just ok Gary? Do ya remember, huh? Huh? Do ya?
July 6, 2007

Sarah L
OK, I didn’t comment on yesterday’s QOTD, but I’d still like you to do a benchmark episode. A wine you consider a benchmark for the varietal per country or terroir. I.e., this is a Cali PN let’s compare with other Cali PN’s; or let’s compare with Oregon or France PN benchmarks.

After trying the ‘05 Sea Smoke Southing PN earlier this week, I have been obsessed with PN. I know that the ‘05 was a baby, but I was in a restaurant and it was their last bottle . . . someone was going to drink it so it might as well be me! Impressed I am. So sublime! I had really chalked up Cali PN as a fad because of the Sideways movie – well it is not. The movie may have brought up the price but this juice brings the thunder! Other Cali PNs that I’ve tried were too sweet and lacked structure. I wish you had sampled other Cali PN in this episode.

QOTD: Black Box red wine from my sister’s house and an oxidized Neyers Chardonnay that my cousin paid $29+ for.

Loved, loved, loved this episode of WLTV
July 6, 2007

Cabdrinker
Looking forward to Brandons bottle coming my way after the Padres smoke the Dodgers again in a few months.

Great episode Gary!
July 6, 2007

TommyBoBo of WI

Great ep!! love the blind tasting.
Seems Kahuna has underware in wad… ????
93,94,95 rated wines…. pay what you can afford. I like paying the price at times if it is giving me perpective on what “the experts” feel is a great example. But I’ll shop for the bargins.
Great weekend up here in Gods country!!!! Enjoy everyone!
July 7, 2007

Brandon M
CabDrinker is a jerk…no one listen to him. He likes night train mixed with 7-Up.
July 7, 2007

Canuckchuk
QOTD: A Rueda (region, not the grape) from Herderos del Marques de Riscal, a Spanish white wine.

A California pinot that may appeal is the Stature, a higher end line from Kendall-Jackson.

Thanks for contributing your own bottles, Gary.
July 7, 2007

wmole
Go Padres, when have the dodgers not sucked? raise two fingers for answer
July 7, 2007

Dan NYC
Nice show Gary. Just kicking myself because a couple of months ago I saw some Kosta Browne at a wine shop here in NYC and didn’t pick any up. Of coarse it wasn’t there when I went back. QOTD. The Trio Infernal which wasn’t bad but a horrible QPR since it was $50 and I felt it was a 89-90 pt wine in my book.
July 7, 2007

Brandon M
Not to go against any of me bros, and you know who you are, but Kosta Browne is not even close to being made in a Syrah or Zin style. I find a ton of fruit with the wines, but that unmistakable earth nose is there, and it’s there big!

Kosta Browne may have over extracted fruit compared to the Burgundian style, but it truly is an unmistakable Pinot.

And remember, Kahuna doesn’t hate Kosta Browne, he hates Pinot in general. So I say let’s all show up at his house and drink all of his cabs!
July 7, 2007

JC
QOTD: Barefoot red, Not that great, but $6!
July 7, 2007

Grapedigger
GREAT idea to do blind tasting…liked the “French soldier” side kick…
Cheers
July 7, 2007

thabeav
Cool show.

While you’re tasting overpriced Cali wines……how about grabbing some Kongsgaard and letting me know what you think?

Where’s Kahuna’s house……I could go for some good (free) cab?

What’s up with the couch fire – and does you wife know about it?
July 7, 2007

Harley Stan
Nice episode! I like the blindfold.
QOTD Two Rivers Riesling 2006, I am drinking some now, great nose, like sniffing fresh banana bread but it does not deliver to the taste buds, I am very disappointed in this wine, I may just pour the rest of the bottle down the drain. As I said yesterday, it is now hard to be in the top 100 comments.
July 7, 2007

Randy
Wine-ot: Jennifer Piper did the “Vayniac” video in the T-Shirt contest. Though TimF’s effort won the day (and deservedly, I will definitely admit), I still feel that Jen’s video was the more original and creative throughout.

Obviously, a plurality didn’t agree with me about the genius of “Vayniac”, but then, that’s what opinions are for. So I’ve been pitching her to Gary like I’m some kind of freelance (unpaid) agent for her.
July 7, 2007

ChrisR
Las Brisas 2005 Verdelho/Sauv Blanc. Toilet water wine. Seriously, use the little bit of alcohol in it to disinfect your toilet, b/c it ain’t bringing nothing but that to the table!

Nice to see you putting some of yesterday’s comments into play for today’s episode. The food pairing, especially with these wines, is maybe a little out of place. Probably not something you need to do every episode. The cellaring times are always appreciated and interesting, plus they’re a good reminder not to drink our wines the moment we buy them. Cheers!
July 7, 2007

TimF
Randy — Just about every piece of my video had a hidden meaning. Did you happen to get, for instance, the Diff’rent Strokes reference and how it related to WLTV? Did you get the meaning behind the Southpark Spoof? Do you remember watching Crazy Eddy commercials? Did you get the significance of the Rudolph stop-motion photograph? Did the ‘chucker’ reference make a lot of sense to you? I’m guessing a lot of folks missed a lot of the references.
July 7, 2007

Panoca
Great Great episode Gary!! I love blind tasting episodes! They are my favorites…
qoTD: i bought a couple of Don Melchor 2004 a month ago. Last week was a special day and i opened one after decanting it for 5 hours. Dissapointed. Mute fruit and overtones of vegetables all over. I guess it was a very bad vintage for Chile.
July 7, 2007

WPROC
QOTD: 2005 Plunger Head Zinfandel. Gary’s sweaty sock probably tastes better.
July 7, 2007

WPROC
Sonnenuhr -
“U r 1 crazy mother – great show, keep â€˜em coming! How about a review of The Prisoner (Orin Swift)”

I agree with this. I have heard TONS about this wine…..is it propaganda or the real deal?! I hope Gary will help us deside.
July 7, 2007

jdl8r
Worst wine, by far, was the Roshambo Zinfandel… Worse than the Rosenblum Vinters Cuvee you tasted a number of episodes ago!
July 7, 2007

Mason
Awesome, as usual, Gary. How ironic that I am participating in a blind Pinot Noir tasting tomorrow in town!

QOTD: Haven’t really had a bad wine in the last 14 days. Just pulled stuff from my own stash.
July 7, 2007

John Witherspoon
Hey GV
QOTD: Well, since 7 of the last 14 days we were in Italy drinking awesome wine, those 7 days are out and prior to that I don’t recall anything bad jumping out at me. Sorry I don’t have one to diss for ya.

Great EP, I love the blind tastings they are always fun. Don’t change a thing, the show is always great, it is always something a little different, depending on which hip you are shooting from.

By the way the TOUR DE FRANCE starts today in case anyone forgot!!

L8R
J DUB
July 7, 2007

RuralTom
Greetings Mr. V!

QotD: I must admit I haven’t had too many misses of late but the wife and I did pop Whistler “the balck piper” GSM and really wish we hadn’t. Feral, foxey a bit too sweet.. perhaps it just didn’t go well with our meal…
July 7, 2007

Dr. Dan
Blind tastings are great.

I haven’t had the Amisfield PN, but the couple of New Zealand PNs that I’ve had I found to be too thin and light for my tastes. I prefer a more Rubenesque pinot, I guess.

QOTD: I had a Governors Bay SB from NZ a few weeks ago that wasn’t very good compared to other NZ SBs that I’ve had.
July 7, 2007

Michael H
Liked the idea of a blind tasting on your show. Maybe there’s an easier way to do it without the WLTV blindfold? Wish I could get on the Kosta Browne mailing list. I am on the waiting list with no proximity in sight. Good show Gary!

QOTD: Probably some Champagne I had a few nights ago. Cannot even remember the name of it (started with an Memm.. or something like that). We were celebrating a birth and I tried to bring a bottle of my own (better) champagne, but they were happy to provide their bottle. The good news was that we shared a couple of Cuban cigars (Cohiba Siglo 6 & an H. Uppman Reserve)…
July 7, 2007

Sir Lloyd
Great show! Thanks!
July 7, 2007

Jim
Worst wine I took a chance on a 3 bones wine called Golden Gate Cab. It had a picture of the Bridge on it and it was on sale for 2.99. I figured it would be fun to try…I figured wrong! I couldn’t even choke it down! So I tried to see if it would help unclog my sink.

Great show!
July 7, 2007

Ryan D
Probably a Cabernet Franc from Tennessee, Highland Manor Winery. It was decent but acidic with somewhat of a cleaner aftertaste. The others I’ve had the last two weeks were excellent.
July 7, 2007

David
Great show, Gary. Would have liked to seen you guess the wines, but loved the blind tasting. Keep those coming.

QOTD: 2003 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Rutherford — horrible wine that I picked up at a wine store for like $25 – waste of money. Poorly balanced and not complex at all.
July 7, 2007

fatherthechair
QOTD, nothing terrible in the past 2 weeks…Rhone Rebel Vacqueyras 03 was probably the weakest (strong Robitussin on the mid-palate), but quite decent for 8 bucks. Thanks for responding to the requests for blind tastings!
July 7, 2007

lee
G-

Nice to see some single-blind. Next week you can bring the thunder with some double blind.

Lee
July 7, 2007

Lawrence Leichtman
As someone who writes the checks for the expense accounts I cringe every tme Gary V says go out and get this on an expense account dinner. I’d rather be paying for Applebees thank you very much.
Agree about Gary trying some of the really high end CA chardonnays like Konigsgard etc.
As for me, if I’m paying that much for Pinot Noir it will have to be a Burgundy.
Worst wine…given a glass of wine at an outdoor barbecue last weekend… tasted it and spit it into the bushes…Yellowtail Shiraz vintage doesn’t matter.
July 7, 2007

Christopher T
QOTD My church (presbyterian) uses wine for communion, but its a small church so they can only afford the $3 grocery store brand red “table wine.” Sicky sweet vinegar, actually. They provide grape juice for alcoholics, and I may have to go with the Welch’s.
July 7, 2007

Andy
Saving some dough so we can try 2004 Kosta Browne.
QOTD—- 2004 Martin Ray cab ++++ not good.
July 7, 2007

Dusty
loved the blind tasting format! keep bringin the thunder gary!! and man, i would love to have a look through your cellar, if you’re bringing two 150 dollar bottles out without breaking a sweat.
July 7, 2007

1855class
twisty twisty

qotd: a corked 2003 eponymous napa cab.
July 7, 2007

Eric Nyeste
QOTD: Cakebread 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon. Cakebread’s tasting room is about 50 degrees and staffed by evil oompa-loompas that charge you $25 to talk down to you. The wine at 50 degrees was completely unimpressive and closed, not to mention that you couldn’t afford a moments peace between the 6,000 handouts and commentary from Unfriendly the Tour Guide. It had to be said.
July 7, 2007

WMiree
QOTD: About a week ago, I had a 2001 Kistler Chardonnay – Kistler Vineyard out of my cellar that was badly oxidized. This was my 9th bottle out of a case of this wine over the last couple of months, but the only one so far that wasn’t superb. I presume this one bottle to be an abberation from a defective cork. I have been collecting Kistler for about a decade, and have never had an oxidation problem except for the 1999 vintage. I had to pour about 25 bottles of that vintage down the drain. I wrote to Kistler twice asking if they knew of a problem with the vintage, but most disappointingly never got a reply.

I have never tasted a Kosta Browne, but would love to, since Pinot Noir is my favorite varietal. However, I can’t even image myself paying $150 for an American Pinot.
July 7, 2007

WMiree
Kudos to Sarah L. She has a great idea in suggesting a series of videos to demonstrate what you think would be good benchmarks for the various varietals by country or appelation.
July 7, 2007

James Roscoe
A carbonated rose. Nuff said! Great show!
July 7, 2007

Daniel O
I haven’t had any bad wines per se in the past 14 days, but I did have an underwhelming glass of Wolf Blass Yellow Label Riesling on Sunday. The Cono Sur Viognier was alright but I probably won’t get it again.

Awesome show Gary. Nice twist on the blind taste test. I probably won’t be able to get my hands on any Kosta Browne Pinot Noir up here in Canada, but it was still fun to watch. Well done!
July 7, 2007

Bill Luby
QOTD: Rosemount 2005 Shiraz
July 7, 2007

Helios Gallery
Love the blind taste test, please do more of them. I would like to see several double blind taste tests.

On a visual note, this definitely looked like a hostage video. Your grey shirt looked like olive drab fatigues. The t-shirt made you look like a hostage. Darth Veyner’s mustache made it look like a middle eastern hostage video. The New Jersey Life Magazine also put a place and month when this disturbing tasting was filmed. Visually the most intriguing show so far.

QOTD: No horrible wines in the last two weeks. However three bottles of Gewurztraminer not living up to the notes that I associate with the varietals Alsatian standards. I got hooked on Gewurz a few years ago because of it’s spicy pepperiness. None had that pepper I was looking for. 2004 Claiborne & Churchill Central Coast Alsatian Style Dry Gewurztraminer; 2004 Abbazia Di Novacella Gewurztraminer (an Italian Gewurz!!!); 2004 Valckenberg Gewurztraminer Pfalz. The Claibourne & Churchill, and the Novacella were disappointing with the first glass, but on the second or third day gained some spiciness. The Valckenberg, was a bit on the grape juice side, probably safe to give to people who don’t drink wine.
July 7, 2007

Tina Smith
Great episode, Gary. I’ve been lucky enough to drink alot of the Kosta Pinot in the past. Yummmmmm. Another absolutely phenomenal Pinot from the same area is from Flowers. Their Chard is also amazing.
July 7, 2007

Malarkey
QOTD: an italian red that tasted like it had sat in someone’s western facing 2nd story closet for about 5 summers. Turns out, it had.

No fruit, way too much tannin, way too much astringency, that unmistakable ‘dead’ flavor. Didn’t pour it out, the owner of said bottle put the cork back in and stuck it in his fridge saying “I’ll use it for cooking.”
July 7, 2007

Winodontist
Awesome episode, I love Pinots, too much hype I know, but the good ones are spectacular! I will seek out the Kosta Browne, but wondered your thoughts on Sea Smoke or DuMol, which are 2 of the more complex pinots I’ve ever tasted.

QOTD: guess I’ve been lucky, not much bad vino lately, maybe a wine by the glass I had out at the club, kind of HiC-ish.
July 7, 2007

Jack2112
Yup, another fun and worthy episode. I actually LIKED the format of putting such modern “cult” wines of higher cost up against a lower cost option. Really a nice way to look at QPR in context.

I will put in agreement on Sonoma Pinots, and the Flowers above. I also have to make a huge shout out to Fort Ross. GV recently reviewed their Chard at 93 I believe, and their pinot noir is equally fantastic. Right down the dirt road from Flowers.

QOTD: Thankfully nothing. Even the Meridien Sav Blanc surprised me the other day. Been in a craft beer mood…but I’m sure that will change shortly!!
July 7, 2007

Sassodoro
QOTD: The last couple weeks have hit some highs and lows. Unfortunately, more lows than highs.

For worst, I’d say it’s a tie between 2002 Beaujolais, Pierre Chermette
and 2004 Domaine Massamier La Mignarde, Cuvee des Oliviers (rose).

In the category of very, very disappointing:
1967 Chateau Pontet-Clauzure, St. Emilion GC (oldest Bordeaux I had), and
1975 Chateau Pontet-Clauzure, St. Emilion GC.

In the category of (merely) disappointing:
2004 Matteo Correggia Roero Arneis
2001 Tomaso Gianolio Roero Arneis
1996 Chateau La Grande Clotte, Lussac St. Emilion

In the category of just ok (or maybe a touch better than just ok):
2003 Cameron Hughes, Pinot Noir “Lot 8,” Monterey County
2002 Chateau d’Oupia, Minervois.

All of the above were less than exciting. However, I did have two wines that were really great:
2003 Chateau Dassault, St. Emilion GCC, and
2004 Emmanuel Darnaud, Crozes’Hermitage, “Les Trois Chenes”.
These two made up for a lot of disappointing stuff.
July 7, 2007

Kent Benson, CSW
Gary, just cover the bottles with numbered foil or paper bags, or pour them into numbered carafes (if there are various bottle shapes). Itâ€™s a lot easier and you can use your eyes.

I think you should conduct all your tastings blind. Itâ€™s the only way to guarantee objectivity and maintain the integrity of your rankings.
July 7, 2007

purple-toothed freak
How about a Kosta Browne v. Gary Farrell v. Rochioli taste-off?
July 7, 2007

elliottf
In response to the question of the day: Smoking Loon 2005 Syrah. It started strong but fell apart on the mid palate and never recovered.
July 7, 2007

Hosedragger226
GV,

GREAT episode!!! Love Pinot Noir; and YES a good Pinot can hold it’s own with a very nice cut of NY Strip and a double baked potato. Try it.
July 7, 2007

Keith
Love WLTV, but this one did not do it for me, sorry.

QOTD: Nothing to complain about
July 7, 2007

gary b
good shoo, really good shoo. I learn something with each episode. BTW is that mustache for real?
July 7, 2007

joe trdinich
Worst wine was a 2005 albans viognier that we had at a white wine tasting with our tasting group last weekend. We are all red drinkers so this was a bit different.
Thanks for the Kosta Browne tasting. I have been on their mailing list for a year but have not risen to the worthy few yet!
July 8, 2007

stevo
Love Darth Vayner and the blind tasting. New Jersey Living…good stuff. Blind is the way to go (double would be better), especially to silence all the criticism about your interest in Wine Library.
July 8, 2007

John
I like the blind tasting- why not have Darth Vayner just bring in bagged wines, pour them, analyze them and then reveal what they are? The t-shirt thing was a little awkward. Gary, how about some food/wine pairing shows? I was drinking a Malbec last night with some sashimi Tuna (I switched to it while eating) and loved it. I had another glass later, without food, and thought the wine was suddenly lame. It’s amazing how much food changes wine. QOTD: I actually haven’t had any wine in the last 14 days that I thought was bad. Just different levels of mediocre to great.
July 8, 2007

MrTC
Very interesting episode with the blind tasting – see, you *can* improve it still!

QOTD: It’s been just 14 days, but it has to be the 2005 Woodthorpe Merlot Cabernet which I had two weekends ago. I brought it out to go with a nice steak too, such a shame. In one word: boring. Dull colour, dull nose, completely unremarkable taste with the oak monster as the only recognizable component.

Friday evening made up for it though, had a marvelous 2000 Lalande de Pomerol Clos de l’Eglise (not to be confused with Pomerol’s Clos l’Eglise). Beautiful cassis, black fruit, coffee and a finish that just lasted forever – and that for a wine which 99% wouldn’t know or confuse with its Pomerol namesake. Reminded me that I should spend some less time with all these new world wines…
July 8, 2007

haz008
Great ep as always GV. QOTD: Moncao Danaide Vinho Verde Red 2005 but I don’t think it was the wine’s fault. It wasn’t corked but I think the cork had been comprimised; it came out way too easily and there were striations all down one side of it. Too bad because it was my first foray into Portugese wines but no matter, just an excuse to buy more wine.
July 8, 2007

Carlitos
I’m back, and catching up!

QOTD: Man, we’ve been to the Pinot Days in SF and then to Napa-Sonoma for three days, so there was a lot of wine, good and some bad. I’m going to stick with the one I had yesterday 2004 Domaine des Causses Lirac Syrah Reserve that I got from WL.
July 8, 2007

Kraemer
Great show, Gary! You have inspired me to grill out tonight!

QOTD: 2004 Kangaroo Ridge Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. One shallow, one dimensional, and completely artifical tasting. Thankfully, it’s still drinkable.
July 8, 2007

Colin Nicol
This is an awesome episode, this is in my top 5. Way to bring the Thunder on a Friday.
July 8, 2007

Jim in Atlanta
Thanks for doing pinot, including one I can afford. Creative blind tasting format. QOTD – Had two corked wines in the past week at good restaurants. Otherwise no bad wine in past 2 weeks.
July 8, 2007

wolfie
qotd: had a lindeman’s chard that was pretty much a suckfest.
July 9, 2007

KW
Kool on the Kosta Browne tasting. Tried to find a bottle last year but haven’t yet. But at $150 bones – I can skip it.
July 9, 2007

YoungDave
FANTASTIC blind tasting, BIG G.- you basically nailed it.

QOTD: In line with my comment from the other day, the worst wine(s) that I’ve had in the last week were definintely the teo Portuguese reds that my friend’s Dad offered us on the 4th of July. I hate to seem like wine snob with my non-wine-drinking friends, but they quickly agreed with me when I had to label these wines as nothing more than… “bad.” Call me crazy, but when you give ANY wine a sniffy sniff and get NOTHING, then taste it to get a thin, chemically, alcoholic flavor profile, it’s not exactly something to write home about…unless you want to tell your folks at home that you’ve just had an absolutely aweful wine.
July 9, 2007

wildebeest
Alright! Kosta Brown in the SF Vaynerglass!

Thank you for the Paris Hilton comment.

QOTD: The worst wine I’ve had in the last 14 days was the 2004 Grant Burge “Kraft” Sauvignon Blanc. I bought four of these at a deep discount in the hopes that they’d at least be decent everyday wines for the summer, BUT… no such luck. Oddly, I’m not too upset about it. It’s actually kind of nice to have a wine around that doesn’t disappear as soon as I open the bottle. This stuff is so out of balance that my girlfriend (and most of our friends) can’t handle it. But it doesn’t apologize for its faults, and I like that. If it tried to smooth over its faults with sugar, I’d probably just give the stuff away. But, as it is, I’ve got three somewhat enjoyable bottles entirely to myself.
July 9, 2007

Jayhitek
Has every show the past 2 weeks been the Thunder show?
July 9, 2007

EricB
I like the “blind” format, makes it more interesting.
Did anyone else notice the shirt blindfold looked like a “superhero” mask – like Robin (i.e. Batman) – funny. “Wineman” anyone?
I’ve noticed a lot of PLUS “+” scores lately…. just give it a score. There may be a few instances where it is justified (like 89+) but lately it’s been given for way to many wines.
July 9, 2007

Daniel
Nice Episode. I like blins tastings and would like to see then with different wine varietals…

(lurker no more I’m from Brazil and I did not read Time Magazine
July 9, 2007

wayno da wino
QOTD: Domaine Wachau – Gruner Veltliner
Terrassen/Federspiel 2005 – This wine
cost me $10 & it ain’t worth 10 cents !!
YUK !! YUK !! QUADRUPLE QUK !!!!!!
July 9, 2007

ed w
You, you, you…you’re good! Calif pinots are getting like other grapes…too much alcohol. losing their uniqueness BUT maybe that’s what they are. Kosta is still a great bottle of wine.
July 9, 2007

waibeans
hey yo GV!

great show from friday. I’m back from a trip to ATL so i’m watching the show late. In answer to your QOD, we visited Chateau Elan while we were in GA and we went through their tasting. The WORST wine I had was their American Pinot Noir which IMO tasted like rotton fruit. It really was pretty gross. They make alot of flavored wines as well but one true wine that I liked was their Viogner. Picked up some to bring home as a souvenier!

also off topic i saw you on a tv show yesterday: Uncorked! Not sure if its an oldie, but you were doing a guess the price gimmic. Pretty impressive, how you called a wine listed as 9.99 as too high was unblieveable.. the real price was 8.99.

Lata GV can’t wait to see the new announcements!
July 9, 2007

Lurkerdog
QOTD: Hands down, 2002 Rockledge Napa Zinfandel, very tanic, worst finish of any wine I have tasted. Tried it two times with the same result.
July 9, 2007

KenP
Wmole asks, “How can you overextract a grape that has thin skins”? Two observations: the skins do not add a whit to the syrupy, glycerin ‘quality’, but could provide structure, tannins, etc. in a more restrained style. Seems this is what is precisely missing from fat, fruity Cal. Pinots. It is, infact, that the fruit has been left too long on the vine so as to reduce, perhaps eliminate, structure altogether. Secondly, manipulation remains the one great factor in the wine biz about which the consumer knows next to nothing. Does Uri Geller bend spoons? Of course he does, provided no viewer is alert to how the trick is done. A little mega purple here, a little micro-oxigenation there, new pump-over technologies, along with oak barrels, staves, pellets, powders toasted to the winemaker’s exact specification, zin or cab or syrah used for blending or the ‘topping-off’ (up to 25%), added sugar during fermentation, GM yeast strains out of the U. of Fresno and U.C. Davis, so many techniques are available to the hypermodern winemaker it is no surprise you end up with so much ‘magic’ in a bottle of Cali. Pinot.
Truth to tell, I’ve not had a KB. Further, I cannot say what technologies, if any, they use, But I can assure you the Cali wine market is flooded with manipulated examples of Pinot, and every other variety.
The skins? A quaint artifact.
July 9, 2007

eatapc
Loved the blind tasting. Do more of that! But try double-blind or at least throw in a couple more ringers.

Gary, I think you’re a very honest and accurate critic, but you gifted the Amisfield with a few too many points given your tasting notes: “dirty & vegetal on the finish … little stinky sock meets green pepper meets dirt w/ chocolate bar on top @ a Camp fire … overall a young wine … little more disjointed….”

That sounds like a wine that should have been rated at least 4 points lower that the lesser of the Kosta Browns, which sounded delicious.

I’ve also learned to automatically deduct 2 or 3 points from any pinot noir score because of the hype factor. Maybe it’s just a matter of taste and my taste buds don’t like pinot noir, but I believe that people are more willing to overlook obvious flaws in pinot noirs because of the hype.

So, by my calculations, the Amisfield would be an 86 – 87 pointer if it were judged by the usual standards. None for me, thanks!
July 9, 2007

msb2ncsu
Great show… the blind tastings are a nice change of pace.

QOTD: Well, the wife is out of town so I hate taking anything from our stash that she doesn’t have a chance to taste. I’ve only had a few bottles the last two weeks and they are grocery store budget buys that are our dependable choices when we are in a pinch. The worst of the bunch that I have had is the Masciarelli 2003 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo that I grabbed at Costco to have with some pasta. It wasn’t awful or anything, just not good.
July 9, 2007

Adrian Tamblin
Worst wine I have had recently was Pillar Box Red. It was a screw cap with a red label…What crap! It tasted like dirt mixed with crushed up grape stems…I took it back to the store at which I purchased it at and told them I thought the bottle was corked…They quickly said it is a screw cap…I guess it goes to show that screw caps can be pretty bad as well. They didn’t hassle me much past that point, due to the fact that I buy some serious wine at thier warehouse.

As far as really good pinots go, I would recommend Paul Hobbs Pinot. I mean I think it rates right up there at the top…I am going to seek out that Kosta Brown stuff it sounds really yummy… Thanks for the find….I would have never known..
July 9, 2007

Sangio
QOTD – A Sur De Los Andes Torrontes 2006 bought from Wine Library. Tasted at wine fridge temperature, upper 50’s, very disjointed. Popped in a regular refrigerator and chilled down to swilling temperature. Acceptable at that point. Even though it was not a great wine, I would never have tried a torrontes without WL. (Not sure I will try another)
July 9, 2007

Garret Nagle
QOTD: Las Rocas Garnacha…. it tasted and smelled like horse poop mixed with mint or eucalyptus
July 9, 2007

winejedi
missed this last week was on vacation…GREAT EPISODE GARY!!! glad to see a blind tasting episode especially with kosta browne.
July 9, 2007

Rick W.
Worst wine was a Cameron Hughes Cab
July 9, 2007

dadobs
Hey GV–nice ep! Still, your claims of minimal talent don’t quite fit with what we all see or what you said in the Times article about charisma and hosting SportsCenter. Don’t mean to bust your nuts here; false modesty and cockiness can be a charming combo.

QOTD: 2005 Schild shiraz. Not a bad wine at all, but I was hoping for a little more given the highly regarded Aussie vintage and previous WineSpectator reviews.

For those who want to know about 2005 “Prisoner,” you can go to corkd.com to read reviews. We had it a couple weeks ago and it fit in well with 4-5 other 90+ wines from Spain, Australia, Cali. Not particularly complex, which was the main criticism given that it’s a blend. However, it’s easy to drink with good fruit and no hard edges.
July 9, 2007

Dave
After two years on the wait list I got two each of the 2005 KB’s (Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast). I don’t want to open either of them yet. Heard bad things about the 2005 (on this list and elsewhere), always in the back of my mind – waiting for that day. Hope I’m not disappointed. Live and learn from YOU Gary!
Great show, fun times.
Worst wine of the last several days – a home made. It was a gift so I can’t be too mean. All of us who received some made it into a sort of Sangria to dilute the huge fruit and kill the burn.
July 9, 2007

Sully
KB is the route of all evil!! Devils Elixar to make you believe you have died and gone to heaven only to realize there is a burning hole in your wallet!! umm worst wine this week – homemade wine from a work buddy – down the drain – at least he likes it. I told him it was really good at work the next day.LOL@me
July 9, 2007

Mr. Cabernet
Been getting KB pinot since the 2003 vintage. My rating for the 2003 was 92 and for the 2004 94. Great minds do thing almost alike!
July 9, 2007

TommyBoBo of WI
2004 Clos des Papes CduP,,, VERY disappointed, tart, one dimensional, grenache, faky tasting. Not any better 2 hours in the glass,, HUGGGGE disappointment. Have to hide the remaining Mag and 2 750s for 20 years from now and flip em’?
July 9, 2007

Neurodoc
I missed this last week and over the weekend, since I was at WL/ New Jersey trying to visit you! Only you were vacationing – I did pick up wine and some schwag, though. Thanks for checking these wines out, but how about some variety in the blind choices? (any KB is a ringer though!)

qotd: I’d rather drink beer over bad wine, so the worst wasn’t that bad – a barbera from Sebastiani.
July 9, 2007

OrionSlayer
Blind tasting is fun. It was almost as fun as that episode where you didn’t know the variatals and had to guess them!

QOTD: Had a white zinfandel. Not that there’s anything wrong with that style, but this one didn’t really taste like wine.
July 9, 2007

SoCal
QTOD: the worst wine I have had was a cooked bottle of 1982 cakebread merlot…but that is unfair cause it was cooked…..
July 9, 2007

Jer
Nice show — will have to pick up a bottle of each.

QOTD: Visited four wineries in Northern Virginia; all of the red’s from all four wineries were very bad–close to sugared sewer water.
July 10, 2007

Anthony
Favorite Pinot? Man, tough question. Kosta Brown is certainly up there but quality for value is something else. How about Witness Tree, Belle Glos, Oreana, and Seasmoke. However, for the pinnacle of my pinot experience, I have but two words for you: “The Shop.” Oh, and Sonnenuhr, I agree with wanting to see a review of “The Prisoner” but as long as we’re on Orin Swift, how about “Mercury Head” as well. I’m a newbie to Wine Library but so far, I like what I see. Keep it fun!
July 10, 2007

boyd
great episode, gv.
July 10, 2007

vibemore
cool…blind tastings…next up, the double blind tasting

qotd: what I’m hoping was a corked bottle of Sharpshooter Cab. If it wasn’t corked (which I’m almost sure it was) then this wine sucks.
July 10, 2007

Lynne
Gary, Great job! I love blind tastings. I’ve had very few pinots, but the ones I’ve had have seemed a little on the thin side. I was expecting more after all the hoopla and haven’t really dived into the realm of pinot noirs.

QOD: My name is Lynne and I’m a Vayniac. It has been more than 14 days since my last bottle of wine. I, therefore, have no answer for your question.
July 10, 2007

SethID
Gary, you didn’t get any fresh t-shirt on the nose of these wines?
July 10, 2007

wannaBconnoisseur
Blind tastings rock!!

QOTD: Marquis Phillips Sarah’s Blend (probably an ‘05) – I love a good fruit bomb, but this was bad, tasted like alcoholic Welch’s Grape juice with an extra shot of high fructose corn syrup.
July 10, 2007

Jason Coleman
I like the shirt-over-the-face look. Reminds me of Tri-Klops from the (incredible) He-Man cartoons.

http://www.he-man.org/cartoon/cmotu-pop/universe/tri-klops.shtml
July 10, 2007

Clifford James
Thanks Gary for the single-blind tasting … most interesting!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do another double-blind episode soon! Please.

Please!

QOTD: 2003 Convento Oreja, Roble, Ribera del Duero … I LOVE Spanish wines, but this wine gets a 51. It could have been a bad bottle, perhaps heat-damaged? It was cloudy, acidic, and totally bad. The sign at the local store said regularly $23, no $9.99 … I think I know why it was so drastically reduced!
July 11, 2007

Jim H.
QOTD: The latest Concannon Merlot and Petite Sirah. Bleh!!
July 14, 2007

Chris
Just watched the show after being on vacation away from broadband last week.

I picked up two bottles each of 2005 KB RRV and SC after a couple years on the waiting list. I haven’t opened any of them yet. I also bought two bottles of the KB 2005 Rose. The one that I opened was very nice.

QOTD: 2005 Five Rivers pinot. A dumper that embarrassed me in front of a houseguest.
July 17, 2007

Jeff
QOTD: Knew it would be bad but ordered a glass of “dry red wine” at Niagara Falls while sitting with my daughter waiting for the rest of the family to finish the Maid of the Mist boat ride. It was horrible – but I loved sitting and talking with my daughter.
August 3, 2007

dOtis
QOTD: “Three Buck Chuck” Chilean Merlot
February 21, 2008

thefanjestic
If only the computer would let us taste the Kosta Browne!!!! Catch up technology!
July 23, 2008

Dessert Wine Nerd
I love these types of episodes, please do more of them. I also want more episodes with your nemisis, Darth Vayner in them. QOTD: Once again, the Charles Shaw Chardonnay. It tasted like water mixed with alcohol and fake lemon flavor. Completely unaccaptable.
December 15, 2008

nnothing
qotd: firehose riesling… pretty terrible even with spicy food, super oaky and sugary not quite totally undrinkable.
June 26, 2009

Adrian aka AnGkEr
Nice episode..love the single blind tasting. Should do it more often.
August 16, 2009

richardvinifera
QOTD: Ravenswood Lodi Old Vines Zinfandel, 2007 I think. It was one dimensional, thin. First Zinfandel i’ve had, it was well balanced, just little flavour.
September 11, 2009

Tooch
QOTD: Had a Jordan Chardonnay tonight…yeah, not too good.