QOTD: Marques De La Concordia 2005 Rioja Reserva, perfect new world fruit, but classic rioja flavour, explosive aroma, great grip and finish, it was £6 (probably retail for $9 in US?)

I haven't thought about Quick in a long long time. I haven't even had chocolate milk in years.

Gary - I think you should do a show regarding wine / cheese / food and well being. What is the difference between being happy and perhaps not as healthy as you could be, and being healthy and happy as a result of your healthiness.

QOTD: Hillside Select

These battle royals are fun and I hope you do more of them in the future. Even though I probably cant find them cause this show is nearly a year old, its fun to see you point out the gems for us. At least someone will be enjoying them. QOTD: Cant remember. I havent been drinking that much wine lately ( at least ones that made me go WOW!) because Ive been buying ones to cellar. That ends now. Next time I go to my wine shop Im dropping 80 bones or so and getting like 6 wines to drink now.

Qotd: The last earth shaking wine I tried was an oregon pinot from a small producer called Matello. Their Whistling Ridge North single vineyard is down right amazing, and at 30 bones I feel a steal. Only 70 cases, and I don't think they have a web presence as of yet, but WOW.

catching up, QOTD: Sequoia Grove Cabernet Reserve 04, awesome tasting it at the winery, then enjoyed last Christmas with Prime Rib, made A LOT of noise when I drank it!

Go Canada (sorry perpetually catching up---Gary, you are a machine!). I really dig radishes, I would love to have tasted that Amisfield.

Thanks for the tip. Just ordered 3 bottles from them and can't wait to try it. The 1982 Leoville La Cases 1982 that was opened this weekend. What a killer wine.

Gary - we ordered a few bottles of this based on your recommendation. We were not disappointed!

I don't want to say too much or else it will become too hard to get this wine.

I have to say that I 2 wines have done this to me recently.
1) Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir.
2) Chateau Quinault L'Enclos 2000 - like drinking chocolate covered berries.

One other wine that I had was from a friend of mine's brother in law. He lives in CA and makes wine on the side. He made an awesome Syrah that really blew me away. I am looking to get a case of that wine.

2000 Delas Freres Hermitage Marquis de Tourette. I was somehow even more amazed later when I learned that that is (in theory) at best halfway up the quality scale in the Northern Rhone. Wow.

QOTD: I don't think I've ever been that excited about a wine. Sounds good though, 100 cases seems crazy. I think the Jessup 2001 Cab. was the wine that I was most excited about it when I tasted it, but it was not really exciting at all when I had it with dinner rather than at the end of a day of tasting.

Loving the H2H competition!

The last wine that I went a bit crazy over was Zanzibar Winery's "Sandra" red blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah). The winery is located in Oregon (they use the Owen Roe facilities) and grapes are sourced from Horse Heaven Hills AVA in Washington. I also really love the Boudreaux reds from Walla Walla valley.

Toulouse is one of the most famous vineyards in the deep end of Anderson Valley. Look for other great wines from this site by MacPhail, Baxter, and Toulouse vineyards.

QOTD: The 2006 Cinghiale Pinot Noir from Del Dotto Vineyards in Napa. Like $EX in a glass... A little pricey at $75 bones, but that's how I roll.

-Paul in VA-
(had a fantastic day at the 2008 Napa Valley marathon too!)

QOTD: Oh god, I don't KNOW......... I NEED that!!!!! I'm starved for wines like that!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for depressing the HECK out of me. ;)
Oh, but I will let you know when I DO!

Good Bad a always react like that!

QOTD: New winery in Southern Oregon called Applegate Red, all three that I tasted (two bordeaux blends, one syrah based blend) were fantastic. Unirrigated, totally concentrated fruit. Bought a mixed case on the spot, blew me away.

QOTD: Chateau Margaux

There are 2 wines that made me react that way recently...the Rosso di Altesino and the Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. I was very excited when I drank both of these.

the best wine I have ever had... and am now buying as much as I can (which is not much due to finances lol) is a 2005 killer bee cabernet sauvignon. Killer bee is an exclusive to wine styles wine stores. I know I am new to the wine game, but this wine is honestly the best wine I have ever had so far.

GV - A little behind - but I'm glad I caught this show!

The last wine that made me go completely nuts (which is basically what you did), was the Mitolo Savitar Shiraz '05. I've never had a better shiraz, and I can almost still taste the aftertaste after two months. Brilliant.

What a great episode.

QOTD I have yet to find a wine that has thrilled me as you have demonstrated. I have really begun to enjoy my wines more but will continue to learn.

I just wanted to let everyone know I was able to find the 2005 Phillips Hill Toulouse Pinot Noir at a place called The Wine Shop in Healdsburg, CA. They only had 10 bottles, I bought 3 of them.

There number is (707) 433-0433.

Hi Gary

I'm like these head-to-haed match ups; an interesting and fun change.

QOTD: The last wine to probably knock me like that was Ca'del Bosco Franciacorta Brut, an absolute delight of a wine

Cheers
Andrew

QTOD: Most recent wine that blew me away - Majella Cab Sauv (2001) [Coonawarra].

Yo Gee !!
Thanx for exposin' da Phillips Hill Pinot Noir!! Never had heard
of it till it hit da Thunder Show !

QOTD: Kinda went gaa-gaa over a Kistler-Kistler Vyd-Chardonnay 2004
i had da odher day!! Yuuuuuuuuum !!!!!!!

Last night we went to a dinner party and brought the 2005 Chateau Les Secrets De Cardinale St Emilion that Gary recommended on a previous episode. Let me tell you, it was positively orgasmic and practically life-altering. Well, maybe I exaggerated a little about it changing my life, but I did order another half case as soon as I got home. It is absolutely incredible.

QOTD: 20046 Breggo Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. After Gary's discussion I got 1/2 a case and am loving it!

QOTD - 2004 Limited Release Pepper Tree Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia

Yes, Gary, Anderson Valley rocks! Always has-one of the better kept secrets in Cali. qotd-had the absolutely amazing Long Shadows 2004 Chester-Kidder Proprietary Red Blend from Walla Walla, Wa. Wanted to crawl into the bottle and live there!!

We've had that amisfield and really enjoyed it. QOTD: Huia savignon blanc

I don't think I have ever had Gary's reaction to anything, but I am a calm dude.

GV

Great show. Big ups to you!

We have been pimping the Anderson Valley to anyone who will listen (or not), and now we seem smart for a change...

QOTD: As we watched this episode we were sipping a 1997 chianti classico riserva that we snagged from a bargain bin for $5. Total fabulousness. Complete surprise.

Qtª do mosteirô grande escolha 2000 Douro(portugal)great wine

QOTD: another pinot, mainly because I really didn't expect to like it this much: 2001 Arcadian Gary's Vineyard in May '06.

QOTD: While I don't think I had quite your reaction, but for it's price point, the Little Penguin Pinot is quite remarkable in my opinion.

2003 piramimma petite verdot from australia!! very cool juice!!

QOTD - That's an easy one. A 2002 Kilikanoon Riesling from the Clare Valley. Mind blowing! :-)

Love the show.....an informative and structured tasting format without the formalitities.