You have some great stuff on your blog. Your insight and expertise would be a welcome addition to our new community, i hope you will consider joining :-) and thanks for sharing!

Great story about your great grandfather. Nice to see you had some moments with him in Russia ( #1 ) and in America. Dont ever forget them. Another score for Washington state! YEA!! *gloats* That Pomum sounds delicious, I swear Ive seen them around and I know I've heard of them. Have to check them out someday. QOTD: Im going down the music avenue and saying Naked City. Wild jazz band that was part jazz, part avant garde, part rock, part speed metal, all insanity. John Zorn honking on his sax and Bill Frisell ripping the guitar to name a few. Great band but hard to digest. You've been warned.

True friends are those who really know you but love you anyway.

QOTD. In recent memory, the wine that most impressed me was 2005 Bunnell Family Cellars Syrah, Boushey-McPherson Vineyard, from Yakima Valley. I recommend that.

I recommend Yehuda brand light matzah. It's flavorful, whole wheat, branny, and delicious. Nice texture too.
What, you meant wine?
Follow your nose.

Great show, we still recommend you do a Moscato d'Asti episode now that summer is almost here. Thanks for everything you do Gary!

hey viniacs

I am really only new to this wine thing and been watching for about a month now. I was recently in the Barrosa Valley in Australia (OTT STUFF)... after doing 2 days of tasting i came across a red i really enjoyed from

Chateau Tanunda (reasonably small boutique winery) the 2005 SHIRAZ named the Chateau. is apparently from 100-year old vines (I had a look at the VINES.. they looked bloody old) only probably 30 actual plants. it has an extremely good sniffy sniff. at about 50 bones australian its not cheap thats about 70 US. I really havnt tasted a lot of great wine but for me it was way way better than anything else i have tasted..

now GARY.. what is with the continual (over the top "FAKE") tast you keep refering to with Australian wine.. anyhow love the show keep it up!

Dewayne !~

What do you need? You need to come to Atlanta (the dirty-dirty) for a book signing.

Sorry I have been so long in responding, work has been a killer.

Nice episode.

QOTD - I want you to begin recommending basic wines for beginners, (and I think you will address this in your book)

For me starting out I want something along a wine 101 for the different varieties. I am doing that to a large degree on my own but would like a more structured framework to work with.

I also want you to have a guest spit bucket when you have a guest on the show. I think you could be very creative with this bucket and would add a new feature to the programs.

As always I so enjoy this program. Keep on keeping on good sir.

GV - a recommendation for you of a good wine:

- Elyse Petit Sirah - Rutherford, CA

It rocks!

Qotd: I recommend that everyone go to Europe at least once; BLT's with ripe summer tomatoes and good crusty bread; foie gras; standing on the beach and letting your toes sink into the sand with each wave; star gazing in the midwest where there's no light pollution; riding a horse at a full tilt gallop; eating BBQ in Lockhart, Texas; and snorkeling in the south pacific.

I could go on ;-)

wow.. ;) kudos

QOTD: I reccommend the following. I had this at an Irish restaurant in Washington, DC last week. It sounds so wrong, but it tastes so right!!!

FRIED BRIE!!!!! (RECIPE FOLLOWS)

Make a simple beer batter:
1 cup Bisquick
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Egg
Mix these together and add 1/2 cup of beer, Mix thoroughly.

Heat oil (deep fryer, saucepot, etc BE CAREFUL with open flame) to 300-350.

Dip a wedge of Brie cheese or similiar soft cheese in the beer batter.

Fry that bad boy up, then serve with fruit preserves of your choice(raspberry, passion fruit, etc) on sliced, soft, baguette bread.

Add you choice of beverage (works with wine or Guiness-the beer that drinks like a meal), and some friends and family, and you're good to go!

Bon Apetit!!!
Bigsigar

I gotta recommend this great wine I tried the other day. Keep in mind that I normally don't like white wines, they're usually either too acidic or too fruity for my tastes but the 2006 Peltier Station Viognier blew my socks off. Not only is it the best white wine I've ever had but it very well have given me the best wine experience of any wine I've ever tried.

QOTD: I've never tried one.

QOTD: 2006 Garretson Viognier "The Saothar" which, to me, tastes an awful lot like a pretty decent Condrieu. Nice stuff.

I recommend a Scurati or a Cerasuolo from Italy. Cerasuolo are dark Rose and Scurati is a dark red.

QOTD: Jessup Cellars 2005 Table for Four. Another one of those wines you can only get at the winery or select restaurants, but it totally blew me away last time I was there. Lots of cherry, chocolate, and dark fruit on the front and midpalate with a huge silky vanilla/butterscotch finish. Incredibly smooth and well balanced killer wine.

I love your show. How about Orin Swift Prisoner?

still playing catch-up...glad Laura G got a shout out for her b-day!

I recommend to you Gary, to tell me if you have ever had a Lembeck, and if you agree it has one of the weirdest noses ever!!

Catching up on shows! QOTD - Grew up in Green Bay - you should really go to Lambeau - esp. Packers/Jets...

Completely agree with Gary on the Pomum Shaya. We were lucky enough to try/buy this wine at the winery (they're in the "Garage" area of Woodinville,WA) a few months back and were BLOWN away. Almost to the point of wondering if this is a fluke. Javier set the bar high for himself when he made this. Let's hope he isn't the Don McLean of the WA wine scene :)

I've been to the last 6 spring release weekends in both Walla Walla and Woodinville, and I can't remember a more impressive bottle of juice then the Shaya. Seriously, we're talking Spring Valley Uriah, Cougar Crest Syrah, K Vintners single vineyard, early 2000's Delille D2, older Woodward Canyon, type quality here. But this really takes it to a new level, I think Gary said Bordeaux-ish and I have to agree. Reminds me of the early 2000 Lynch-Bages but with a more interesting fruit profile.

It has all the structure to age well but it's VERY drinkable now. I'd love to blind taste this against other world class blends and see what happens.

I've got a 1/2 case and plan on staggering my tastings over the next 2-8 years, should be fun.

Also, check out Sparkman Wines. Another "Garage" winery (and a protege of Mark Ryan). Really good stuff as well.

qodd = come to Veneto and get a booze of prosecco with me

Of course I'm watching this a after the draft but you clearly found the camera - or the camera found you - on Saturday. My wife, who is not a regular WLTV viewer, actually recognized you first.

QOTD I like the Las Rocas Garnacha.

I think we should do a secret pack tasting on a third thirtsy thursday! That would be awesome!!!!!!

QOTD: Attend the New Orleans Jazz Festival at least once in your life.

seem to always miss out on the cheaper, great wines!! Good show!
I really enjoy Forefathers Shiraz 2004 after a couple hours of air and drinking it somewhere in the wild (or semi-wild) outdoors!! Or anywhere but inside!

I highly recommend you seek out and try a 2004
Alluviale Gimblett Road , Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Red Wine- Cabernet Sauvignon 30% Merlot 65% Cabernet Franc 5%
14% alcohol
Very inexpensive, very good

I really can't recommend anything. I'm a wine newbie who still is fighting to get his palate to talk to him.

Gary: I am a big fan of the 2004 Napa Valley "Fourteen" Meritage. It is a monster of a wine, and damn delicious. I was fortunate enough to get to taste it through the restaraunt I work for - great stuff! Thats what I would recommend for you!

I'm going to have to say The Bridgeview 2006 “Blue Moon” Pinot Noir. I had two bottles of this at dinner one night and loved it.

Gary I easily reccomend the Seguin Gevrey Chambertin Signature 2005. Priced @ 40 bones, and really bringing the elegant thunder. Tell me if you pick up on the venison marrow, as that's what interested me about the wine.

QOTD: There's a lot of interesting stuff going on in VA wine. I remember the show you did on VA wines, and I didn't recognize any of them.

A few things around here I find interesting you might reconsider in VA wine are:
--Veritas Kenmar: a powerfully floral dessert wine
--Any vineyards Cab Franc and Viognier: grapes that have done well in this climate/geography and are staples of the area
--Barboursville Octagon: top notch bordeaux style blend
--Barboursville Nebbiolo: powerful varietal that was great with Christmas dinner last year

I'm really liking anything from Runquist in CA right now. Yeah, baby Oak Monster lives there but this stuff is the king of all things "well integrated".

QOTD: Take a vacation...

GV wow I get to recomend a wine for you!!! AWESOME... Ok Souverain Merlot from the Alexander Valley... Butterscotch for days...

Dude, only 366 comments and a free book is on the line. Seriously. Anyway maybe that means my chances are better, even if I am too late for the drawing, LOL.

QOTD - We drink and enjoy BR Cohn Silver Label Cab all the time. Although I have to give you props for Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda - at 5 bones that wine is a steal, and I have been stealing a lot.

QOTD - I recommend 2007 Gazela Vinho Verde, Portuguese "green" wine. Very crisp, light and fruity, great spring wine with fresh greens or fish.

(First time watching, apologies if it's been suggested before)

I recommend the 2006 Chateau Grand Cassagne Rose. $5 makes this a simple, well balanced Rhone rose that is a great QPR--I went back and bought 2 more bottles (and I never do that)!

Cheers