qotd: the fact that i can’t go to a wine bar or steakhouse and get a decent wine from across the atlantic since the lists are full of california wines….

Also enjoy the new format, chill at the end very nice.

QOTD – what shocks me – there does seem to be a spike in pricing but not a shock as opposed to an understanding of the monetary dynamics.

I had a bottle of the 2005 Montes Alpha last night and while it was oakie, the monster must have taken the night off.

Great show.

QOTD: I’m shocked by how many restaurants take the time to put together a thoughtful wine list and then don’t bother to serve their wines in a decent glass. Get a clue! Us wine nerds care about that stuff. On a positive note, I’m shocked by how European wines still give (in my opinion) the best bang for the buck even with the euro thoroughly trouncing the dollar. Wake up California!

what shocks me about the wine world is how many wine shops are owned and operated by people who know even less about wine than I do and who seem like they don’t even drink it. They might as well own a 99 Cent store, which is not to say that there aren’t any 99 Cent store owners out there who have a passion for selling bargain socks/underwear/trinkets/food stuffs and toxic cleaning products.

Although, I’m also happy to see all the small shops that have opened in the last decade in New York that reflect the owners’ personal commitment to and passion for wine.

Ice cream Snickers are so good, so much better than regular Snickers.

I thought I was going to be a big fan of the shoutouts at the end format, but I wasn’t. Really I think you just can’t do that many shoutouts, it doesn’t come off as sincere, you’re just reading off a list. I’m sure you are sincere, but it didn’t seem to work. I think I like the shoutouts in the middle format the best.

I hope you end up coming to NC this year, that should be fun.

QOTD: The biggest thing that’s surprised me with wine lately is how much I’ve enjoyed some of the Chardonnays I’ve had. I was never anti-Chardonnay, but I could take it or leave it. Lately I’ve had a few Chardonnays that I’ve really enjoyed. Mostly from Burgundy, which is great because last year I really didn’t explore French wine that much.

Good show GV. I watched it yesterday on the ipod, and happened to see the Casa Lapostolle at the store. Your TN were right on, but I liked the oak. Nice bottle of wine for the price (I paid $13). That’s the 1st time I’ve bought a wine you’ve tasted just after I watched the show. Please keep doing more “widely available” selections.

QOTD: I am really surprised by the difference in available or advertised wines from the local store, web, and then in the Restaurants. I am expanding my palate but it would be nice to be able to find something familiar in the Restaurants beyond the popular namesakes.

First time to watch the show. I’m a wine lover and in the businesss. Love your enthusiasm and incredible descriptions!

I never cease to be amazed by how much extremely bad wine is consumed in this country. People must have no taste requirements whatsoever to be quaffing the gallo and carlo rossi and franzia wines that are sold by the train car load. There has to be a point when folks realize the quality they can get if they just spend a little more.

My folks, God love ’em put an ice cube in their carlo rossi red and think they are living the life. I finally got them to try a $12 bottle of washington merlot – and this was a big step – no ice! and they were shocked to find how much they liked it.

That is the wine world that needs the most changing!

I am a fan of Casa Lapostelle wines – particularly the Clos Apalta.
QOTD – This may not be new in the last month, but I remain astonished at how close-minded the shipping laws are in the US. As a consumer in this new economy, I should be able to purchase any wine from any state and have it delivered to the comforts of my home.

love that you are doing more widely available and budget wines. it’s a lot more fun when i actually can try the things you review!

Diggin the format Mr. Vaynerchuck

After traveling to Korea, looking at China and Taiwan, living in Japan and regularly visiting the US it’s really interesting to see how one bottle of wine can have such staggeringly different prices in different countries.

I am a little late geting to this episode (catching up today). Casa LaPostelle – The same family that does Gran Marinier. I have not tried this yet but look forward to. Like the new format.

Chili is very popular at the moment and I am quite a fan so thanks for this show, keep it up,

NADINE –

QOTD: The biggest thing that has shocked me is the increase of older vintages of Bordeaux…something about pricing inventory based on replacement cost….was the excuse I got…..I think it is more of a $$$ grab……

QOTD — How little time some nice restaurants dedicate to a decent wine list. I am tired of seeing the same old crap on wine lists. Give me something different, boutique, smaller…

Finally got around to trying the Casa Lapostolle (which by the way, is the only wine that i have been able to track down in my city, that is, of the wines that i have noted from your last 50 shows that i think i should try. there are about 30 of them). Also, by the way, this wine is $21 CAD up here, which goes to show that we really are paying a (very unecessary) premium for wine here in Canada.

Decanted for 2 hours.

Nose: the plum comes out right away, very strong. a can smell a hint of vick’s inhaler, not too strong, just like the freshness that the inhaler brings to the nose. Finally, after some rigorous spinning, some strawberries came to play, but not in full uniform, just like as a backup player.

Taste: definitely dirty and a little dry, not just wood chips, but kind of a mulchy flavor like those brown wood chips that come with other stuff like bark and what not. I can also taste some sort of berry on the back end, hard to put my finger on it, i have tasted blackberries recently and i don’t see them in here. the berry is tart, but not quite as much as blackberries. or maybe i just don’t remember my berries, maybe its time to get some berries from the market.

All in all, i would rate this an 89. it has good flavors, a little more old world than i think some people would enjoy, but on the other side, maybe a good introduction to the old world. definitely a good balance, the alcohol is not out of control, and the flavors each pull their weight evenly.

QOTD: the thing that has surprised me the most in the last month has to be that I am really starting to enjoy drinking it more and that I am picking up some of these flavors.

Thanks for reviewing these wines… I picked up the Montes Alpha Cab at Costco quite a while back, and I am glad I waited to pop – I don’t like oak monsters either. Maybe he will run away.

This is my third watch, but the enthusiasm and approchability got me. Addicted to podcasts now! Great show.

Go Jets.

QOTD: The pricing difference between Costco and stores/wine shops. I mean I know Costco buys in bulk but still some of the wines they sell are $100 less than in a wine shop. Crazy good deals ( of course its only a deal if you dont mind spending $200 on a bottle of wine).

I guess I am one of those lurkers. I enjoy your show and watch often. I think it would be cool if you did an episode on Chilean Carmenere. Thanks!

Hola Gary, seria genial que en tu videoblog fueran con subtitulos en español, ojala algun dia visites Chile

QOTD: I’m surprised by how many $25+ wines are just bad and gross. I equate it to companies that make ugly cars. They must know they’re ugly while they’re designing them, yet they end up on the road.