The Thunder Show has opened up new vistas in a lot of ways. The most notable specific wine, though, was the 2007 Cult Vines Roussane you sent out back in July, 2009, with Wine Club B. Wow! That was a white variental I'd never had before that made me sit up and take notice. Serious Thunder, baby!

QOTD: Trying dry rieslings after the under the radar tip off from WLTV. E.g. Leitz Rudesheimer Kabinett.

QOTD: This is the same answer ( as far as the wine ) for another question, but it fits. The first time you mentioned Tokaji wines back in I think the first dessert wine episode I was hooked. Then I bought and tasted one and BAM! It was a Royal TOkaji 2001 5 Puttonyos. Wow. it actually smelled like meat on the nose, and that was the first time I had ever smelled that in a wine. Wonderfully rich and complex, it was well worth the 40 or so bones.

Are you familiar with a Ribera del Duero wine called El Arte de Vivir, 2004?

I just had my first Ribera Del Duero while rewatching this episode. It was 2004 Cosecha Valdubon Ribera Del Duero. It wasn’t bad. A little oak. Some heat. A bit acidic.

I'm a late-comer to the Thunder Show, still archive-diving! This is easily my favorite episode so far. Jockstrap, sweaty socks, parrot poop. HEY, I just watched #148 and didn't see you taste either the parrot poop or the jockstrap!! Keep rolling out the Thunder.

The one wine that really rocked me in 2007 was the 1998 Finca Valpiedra Reserva from Rioja in Spain. Dark colour, great nose, very well structured, creamy and balanced. About 28 Dollars I think.

QOTD: Huia Sav Blanc- made me realize how complex sav blanc can be

Never had a Ribera. Need to go out and get one fo sho.

QOTD -- It was really a QPR wine -- the Berco Do Infante that you reviewed a while back. I had tried at least 5-7 other $5 - $10 wines (some that you reviewed) on a quest for a good QPR, everyday drinking wine. Finally, that one brought the thunder; and at $4.99!!! It actually had complexity, nice tannin structure, and zero fakey fake fruit. Portugal rocks in my opinion... Happy Holidays and thanks for WLTV again and again!

Four Vines Naked Chardonnay!
It was one of the first wines I sought out after an episode and really enjoyed.

Good call on the Emilio Moro - I bought a case of the 2000 and it rocks!

I bought a 2004 recently and did not drink it yet. I will have to do so soon!

QOTD: I was in Barcelona at a wine bar and we tried the 2004 Alvaro Palacios Las Terrasses Priorato and it rocked! What does this have to do with the Thunder Show? I dunno, but it was good so perhaps you should try it on the Thunder Show. Seriously, you have influenced me to try some great Languedoc wines as well as Albarino, Arneis, Cahors, Chinon, Chenin Blanc and many other wines that I have come to love because of WLTV. Thanks Gary and Happy New Year!

2003 Cave de Tain Hermitage - I called it Christmas in a glass - awesome spice notes

RIBERA!!

QOTD: I wish I were at my computer in L.A. because I could find the name of the specific wine on it, but as I'm with my family in R.I. for the holidays, I'll just tell you that it was an '03 Merlot, Cab. & Cab. Franc Tuscan IGT (I know- the kangaroo vintage, but the fruit and alcohol were under control!) that I tasted at the BYO table at Crushpad for the Vayniac Cab. barrel tasting... f-ing rocked my palate. Thanks GV, and the thunder show (again).

Tintoralba Crianza. YUM.

Elderton Command & E.Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde

Tried both wines off a restaurant list. Each one was wonderful.

QOTD: Nino Franco Prosecco.

Great show. Always like exploring the wines from Spain. Now how about an episode on the Tempranillo grape?

QOTD -- Innocent Bystander. One of the first episodes I watched, and my wife and I both LOVE the wine.

Gary - good show. To answer the QOTD, I am not a huge white drinker, but I have been listening to you consistently challenging people to "try new things" and this along with your talking about Loire valley wines made me pick up some of the Pas Saint Martin Saumur 2006 from Garagiste (sorry - you don't stock it!). This is spectacular and a complete revelation. Bone dry and acidic, but with a core of flavour so focussed and pure that it really is quite stunning. So thanks for encouraging a broader perspective, as I would never have bought this before THE THUNDER SHOW!! If you could get this wine - even the next vintage maybe, I think you would LOVE it!

QOTD: It was the Mollydooker Two Left Feet!!! I was inversely influenced by your reviews of the whole Mollydooker line, so I sought them out. And I really loved it!! So, thanks ;)

Thanks for featuring Ribera, "one of the most exciting wine regions in the world" and my home away from home. :) (My husband picked grapes for Vega Sicilia in his younger days and my father-in-law was in wine sales in Valladolid). And big ups to Emilio Moro. Really great producer. I'd love to see a review of Cepa 21 (by the sons of EM) on WLTV. Is that available in the US?

Keep bringing the thunder! I love it!

Good show! I have found some good values recently from Ribera.

Q: White wine!!! I used to ignore it, but because of the thunder show forcing me to be more open-minded, white now probably makes up 30% of our wine consumption.

2003 Rubicon Estate "Cask" Beautiful Nappa Cab

QOTD: The Altesino Rosso, hands down! Whatta winner!

QOTD: I hate to not give a specific answer but, ALL. I wasn't drinking wine or even know what wine I was drinking when I was drinking wine until this year. So they have all brought thunder whether I liked them or not.

Great show. I had a ribera recently and it was good, very veggie ish. (black pig).

As a wine noob, WLTV has given me courage to sample wines I would have never considered. Keep up the great work!

I just had a wine at our company Christmas party, which I had not tasted previously, that totally blew me away (aka. lot's of thunder!). It was Domaine Serene 2004 Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir. Wow, that was a goot Pinot! I'm sorry to say though that this had absolutely nothing to do with the Thunder Show. But regardless, it's always nice to discover a great new wine!

Always enjoy your education and your encouragement to pay attention to the tasting notes. Am still very much a rookie when it comes to being able to distinguish the subtle flavors and aromas. Will stay with it, am having a ball.

The 2006 Mahi Sauvignon Blanc blew my mind. Not only one of the best white wines I've ever had, but also an outrageous value at 14 bones!

qotd pavie

Innocent Bystander Shiraz Viognier. I picked it up while at their cellar door in the Yarra. Pretty cool place: it has a cafe feel, they bake thier own bread, you can see the wine being made through a glass window AND it is in the town NOT next the vineyard. I think it is the first in Australia of its kind.

Gary was off his rocker today.

QOTD: Would have to be Altesino 2004 Rosso di Montalcino. I always kind of glossed over Rosso di Montalcino in the store, but when you raved about this specific wine, I gave it a shot & it was great. I actually bought 4 bottles including one for my good friend who was expecting a baby and told him & his wife that we could all have it together when they had the baby. They had a baby girl last week which is great news X2- cute baby & great wine!

I have been much more willing to just seek out new and different wine of varietals that I like but different vintners...

I have purchased the Justin Cab and the Francisan Cab but have yet to try them.

QOTD- Bricco Roche Barolo "Riapo" 1998. Awsome!

QOD: The Clio

QOTD: so far it is the Noblaie Chinon Rouge '04 from episode #200.
This wine was so good, I'd buy a case.

almost every wine that I try now is is because of your show....I used to get stuck in a rut with a particular variety or winery....I now seek out different varietals as well growing regions all over the world.....I owe it all to you Gary

QOTD: I can't answer because almost all of the wines that I would have liked to done out and find after watching the "Thunder show", are unavailable here in this small cover of B.C., Canada.

Also: for some reason this episode downloaded as the steak episode from the previous day through iTunes. So I had to come watch here on the website.

QOTD - I just tried the Domaine Le Galantin Bandol. I hadn't tasted a Bandol before, and this one was a big wine. Thanks!