As a red wine drinker, I had all but lost faith in the products of The U.S. Domestic wine just didn't appeal to me all that much; however, I just want to send out my thanks to Gary for restoring my faith in American producers. This episode made me more excited than any other, and I cannot wait to start exploring the Washington wine scene.

Being from Washington Im really glad the wines overall brought the thunder today. I dont think Ive ever seen you this excited overall on a show following a Jets loss. I when I saw they were going to be Washington wines following a Jets loss I was growning thinking you were going to rip them. Glad some wines from the area could cheep you up somewhat after that game. Cheers to you, Gary. QOTD: A Tokaji. I have had wine lots of times in the past, but until about a year ago hadnt started to collect them or taste them on a regular basis. Tasting my first Tokaji blew my doors off to how good wine could really be.

This was the episode that hooked me on Gary's show. I googled Boudreaux and what do you know, when I emailed Rob Newsome, the winemaker, he emailed me right back, and I picked up three of the 04 cab and three of the 04 merlot. For any of you Napa Cab fans, save your money and get two or three to one at the same or better quality (if you can even get any allocation from Napa of the "good stuff") and contact Rob. In two to three years, you will be glad that you are already on his list. Don't worry about the price or a bargain--this is a bargain at the winery price.

After watching this episode I tried to find the 2003 Boudreaux Cab. with no luck. I then found a comment posted by Rebecca - "We have the 2004 Boudreaux Cab. and 2004 Merlot (also excellent) available at lovewashingtonwine.com We have plenty of the Cab. in stock and ready for shipment!"

I ordered 3 bottles of the 2004 Cab and it was one of the finest bottles of wine I've ever had and it was $40 US at lovewashingtonwine.com. The web site was easy to use and the shipment arrived promptly. I recommend this site. I just ordered a case from them of the 2004 Boudreaux Cab. It's great.

Gary - I love the show keep up the good work.

Since this episode was about Washington wines, I though that I would give you my transition wine for that state. I tried a wine called Matthews in 2003, this was ther high-end wine (not the "Claret"). It was the 2000 and is a Bordeaux blend. It convinced me that WA state had some great wines. I have not had a bottle since because this wine is going to last and definitely change with age.

gary, or mott, or (insert name here),

i,like that millions of other vayniacs, could not view this episode, because it would not load.
surely, there must be somebody there with the technical ability to correct this problem, because i really want to see it. (and stop calling me Shirley)

Can't get it to load!

I really, really, really want to see this episode! I've been trying for a week. It just says "Waiting for images.viddler.com". I know it's not me. I've watched all the other episodes I missed while I was in Italy.

trying to catch up on previous shows, can't seem to start this one up....dang :(

Gary, Eric, etc. maybe the comments have been down because it's been difficult to get the videos. I'm catching up after traveling and it's taken me 2 hours to get 3 and a half episodes. I'm still working on Oct 1. Got messages like video no longer available. etc. welcome back.

I would love to go visit Boudreaux, its too bad that it is so remote; accessibility is definitely one advantage that Napa and Sonoma have over Washington's wine regions.

QOTD: Drinking the Pierre Sparr Gewurztraminer Reserve was the first time that I had a new varietal and totally loved it. It has definitely made me feel more comfortable with trying wines I haven't heard of before.

Dude...you've been pushing Washington state for some time. You have finally officially proven your point, in the best possible way.

Dan

We have the 2004 Boudreaux Cab. and 2004 Merlot (also excellent) available at lovewashingtonwine.com We have plenty of the Cab. in stock and ready for shipment! I am going up to chat with Rob tonight to congratulate him on his well-deserved publicity. Another great wine from Washington State, which also happens to be a Cab. is the 2004 Horan Estates Cab. I am glad Washington Wines are starting to get some recognition!

Gary,

Unfortunately, I couldn't find the 2003 Boudreaux but have ordered the 04 given the strong endorsement. The winery said that they are having to delay shipping because they ran out of wine boxes after the huge surge in orders after your endorsement.

I'm a first time commenter and just started watching the podcasts a few weeks ago. I'm hooked. So much for my resolution to buy less wine...

Karen

I'm really excited that you had the opportunity to sample some of the Mark Ryan and Boudreaux wines. I've sampled the "Dead Horse" (I understand that it's a French interpretation of the "Horse Heaven" region from which these grapes are sourced); I have yet to try the "Long Haul". I was really taken with the Boudreaux and purchased several bottles for the wine-rack after I first sampled it a year ago (one of the benefits of living here in Washington State)! When I first discovered the Boudreaux I was shopping for some of the sought-after Leonetti wines and after sampling the Boudreaux I can attest that it's a much better value for the price; when the merchants here do carry the Leonetti it's about $85.00 per bottle (Cabernet or Merlot, not the reserve), whereas the Boudreaux is half that and packs a comparable punch. As with most of these culty-wines, generally a better deal if you can source directly from the winery so I'm patiently waiting for my name to pop-up on the allocation lists...

If you're looking to sample a nice value-priced wine from Washington the "Whitestone" Winery is producing some intriguing reds; again, rather limited release but a great value. Hopefully you'll get the chance to sample some soon!

Hey GV-

I feel for you and the Jets. I know you're no fan of the fantasy football thing, but your #87 has been treating me right the past couple of weeks.

I feel like a rock star now. I have the Rob Newsom's business card sitting in my car right now. I feel so special. And again...go WA state! It makes me proud to be a Seahawks fan all over again.

Love & Peace.

I'm a huge fan of Boudreaux and the winery itself is only 40 minutes or so from my house (it's actually a pretty remote location for a winery). There are quite a few other wineries from our region that are making incredible wines like the Boudreaux Cab. And Rob Newsom's other releases are great as well. He's got one of the best Merlots I've had in some time. I think the biggest struggle the wineries around here have is getting their great products to the people who want them, outside of Washington State that is :) In my humble opinion, we have some of the best wine in the world around these parts! Not a bad place for a wine tour, if you're looking to get away from high prices and crowds.

Disclaimer: I work for a company that builds software for a local outfit trying to brand and sell great Washington Wines like the Boudreaux Cab (so I'm a little biased).

Never mind...WLTV was holding 17 lurkers in the wings.

Still, kind of a weak comment volume.

Are you kidding me...An episode with that kind of review and GV can't even get 100 comments over a three day period.

Just goes to show you that most of the wine drinking public are just a bunch of lemmings waiting in line to jump off the California/France cliff.

SAD!

As depressing as you looked, still a good show. I can't help but be excited for wines that you rant about like that. I'm headin out to Washington soon for wine, gonna try to find that winery. QOTD: I had a Rosemount Hills of Gold shiraz that has totally got me smitten on shiraz. Enjoy the tailgate. wish i could be there.

Wow Gary! this was a great show. Great look, lighting's back, iTunes link working. Sorry about the Jets but great work tasting/describing the wines. I'm fascinated by Washington State.

GV - Rewound this one a number of times - good stuff. QOTD - I've been getting into following particular importers recently - and Lesec has changed how I look at Rhone (esp. on the value end).

Haven't posted in a while, but this epi made me smile. Have fun in London.

Washington bringing it nice.QOTD I had a Gwertztraminer about 4 months ago that changed my whole perception on white wines.Prior to the Hook & Ladder Gwertz I realy didn't drink or purchase or even give many white wines a chance. But ever since I would say I've purchased as many,if not more whites than reds. Gwertz, P.G., Chards, Albarino, Sancere etc. etc. I'm buying ,drinking, and enjoying them. So my transition wine wasn't opening my eyes to a different region it openend my eyes to whites. Thanks Gary and WLTV crew.

QOTD: A wine that I had at work recently: good balance of new and old world, as Spain is doing so well in many cases these days: Orsus Orcella (Tempranillo / Garnacha).

Walla Walla is that bridge connecting Napa and Bordeaux. You have red twizzler on one side of the bridge; you have sweat and funk on the other side, and then you have that wonderful bridge that brings them all together, seamlessly. It's a beautiful bridge, lots of structure, lots of grace. Don't fear the 100 points, come on, Reagan and Gorby, that's a 100 point match up if I ever saw one.

That's a pretty fancy shirt your wearing. How does your metro style go over with all your football buds?

So sorry about the Jets loss, Gary. As you know, I have no team as "my team" in the NFL, so I pull for your Jets, and I am sad for you. Anyway, why are Washington State wines so dang hard to get? My favorite shop around town only carries a few different producers in that state in the higher end. Anyway, I want some of that Boudreaux, man!

QOTD: I imagine that the only wine I've had that blew me away, or got me to delve more heavily into a region was Graham's Six Grapes Reserve Port. I really found my winner there in the Douro valley.

I'm so interested in the last wine now! I'm glad you could enjoy something, even in the face of the Jets loss!

QOTD: I had my transition wine last Friday at a wine tasting at work. It was a 2005 Finca Sandoval from Spain. Everyone was raving about it that night, and by the time I tasted it, I was amazed at the silkiness and the flavor. So I ended up buying a bottle.

QOTD: 2004 Charamba: best $10 wine

I agree, I have been looking for two days now to figure out where to buy the 2003 and no one has it. I'd LOVE to know if the 2004 is at equal standing to the 2003. Hint Hint. Don't you just hate when a great one is gone?

A note to WLTV fans posting comments:

If you click "add comment", and then notice you have a typo, trying to stop the submission by stopping the webpage from advancing does NOT (apparently) prevent the post from going through.

Hi Gary,
Long-time Lurker here...I really enjoy you're show and think you're doing a great service by getting people talking about wines in new and different ways.

Getting into the mix on the QOTD-I'd been primarily a red wine drinker until I had a bottle of Zilliken's 2005 Butterfly Riesling. It was the first white wine I'd had that delivered really good complexity, acidity, and interesting flavors, without getting too full-bodied on me. So that's my 2 cents there.

As for the Jets loss, I 100% feel your pain, as I'm stuck watching the downward spiral of the Chicago Bears.

Keep up the good work!

Phillies in 4 baby!!! -- Bring on the Cubs. Gary -- Let's here some playoff predictions...

Phillies in 4 baby!!! -- Bring on the Cubs.

Rob was kind enough to return my call earlier today as well - stated that the '03 has been gone for roughly 6 months....so I'm interested in the post stating there are 75 cases left. '04 perhaps? His review of the '04 is nearly identical to MagnumGourmet's. I'd like to pick some up but would prefer giving the order to WL (hint).

I called roughly 2 dozen stores in WA today and all only had the '04. He still hadn't watched the video but stated it was next on his list - something about 'trying to make wine but the phone won't stop ringing for the last two days' :)

I mentioned a poster suggested GV trying the '04 and hinted he should send Gary a bottle to try.

Treegs,

I have had the 2004 Cab about seven times now. The '04 is definitely a different beast than the '03. The '04 is a bit bigger of a wine. I have preferred the '03 so far, but I also think that the '04 is still a bit young. I like the '04 with about a two hour decant, it really opens it up. Both vintages are worthy of a purchase, but I would suggest letting the '04 sit in the bottle for another 6 months to a year before you start diving in.

Gary,

Great show even though you really need to cheer up! I will definitely start trying more wines from Washington State.

Ken

After your rave reviews about the 2003 BOUDREAUX CABERNET SAUVIGNON,
contacted Rob Newsom and he said they sold out of the 2003 6 months ago, but have the 2004.... I wonder if it's as good?

Hey! My mom use to make us slip bags over over feet before we put our winter boots on too!!! Although I don't think it's a Russian thing, I think it's a snow thing. You see..(dare I admit this) I'm originally from Buffalo, NY and winters there can be pretty fierce.

Enough on that subject; nice show and it's good to have solid suggestions when sampling smaller wine producers within the US. If it wasn't for this show I wouldn't have attempted to try some of these wines. I just order some and I'm looking foward to when they arrive at my door step. Thx Gary & JayZee

QOTD: Most recent transition wine has been a Malbec in the Spring of '07.