Remirez De Ganuza Mini-Vertical

Remirez De Ganuza Mini-Vertical – Episode #525

August 22, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk tastes two vintages of this high end Rioja and observes how big a difference a year can make!

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Comments on this episode(155) Leave a comment ›

“QOTD: Tried the 01 and 02 Campo Viejo Rioja Gran Reserva this year, th…” by richardvinifera
“QOTD: I have done this twice.
1st – At Silver Oak, we did a vertical …” by looper
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Wines tasted in this episode:

Remirez De Ganuza Rioja 2002
2003 Remirez De Ganuza RiojaRioja

Links mentioned in todays episode.

155 Responses

August 22, 2008

Toke-Dawg
1!!!
August 22, 2008

The Doc
#2
August 22, 2008

rebew
2!!! not bad for a “lurker”
August 22, 2008

rebew
i guess it’s really #3
August 22, 2008

Toke-Dawg
mini-QOTD: I saw Bottle Shock at Lincoln Center last week. Not great, but entertaining nonetheless.
August 22, 2008

Trav
Love the couch episodes dude!
August 22, 2008

RichG
Giddy up Gary!!! Go Noles!!
August 22, 2008

NY Pete
top 10 …
August 22, 2008

wine-ot
ho hum.
August 22, 2008

Dr T from N. Carolina
side-question — nope, not yet

QOTD — don’t have access to my records right now!
August 22, 2008

NY Pete
I got your sniffy sniff…
August 22, 2008

EP27
Gary – You look the guy from “blues clues” sitting in that huge A#$# chair.

QOTD: Mollydooker 2005 vs. 2006. Liked the 2005 much better.
August 22, 2008

BruceP
QOTD; 02 vs. 03 August Clape Cornas. 02 needs another 5-6 years at least. 03 can be drunk now.
August 22, 2008

David Dadekian
QOTD: Good question and if I had my notes around here I would answer more accurately. Best recollection is two different Darting Spatlese Rieslings, 2002 and 2003–liked the 2002 better.
August 22, 2008

TeeKay
Gary, interesting show. I should do vertical tasting, never done that before.
August 22, 2008

Corinthiano
I loved your bird T-shirt.
I’ve never tried two different vintages of the same wine yet.

Cheers
August 22, 2008

pauly
Bottle Shock was a good movie. I never knew that Chat Montelena put Napa on the map. Odd enough as it sounds, I visited Napa about three weeks ago and Montelena was the first winery we hit up. The story line was cool and to see how excellent, world-renowned wine can be made by the average Joe American was interesting.

QOTD: I find that many Bordeaux wines that I have had over the years show the most variations in taste from year to year. France seems to let their wines really strut their own stuff, so to speak. I find that these wines are less manipulated. While my palate loves to be coated with the Australian shiraz fruit bombs, they seem to be consistently created with many of the same flavors masked by oak, year after year. I guess drinkers prefer to be able to expect what is to come next year. As I finish typing this sentence I will be clicking in another window to place my order for some more Aussie fruit bombs to arrive in September.
August 22, 2008

Tony & Lisa
Gotem Bru – Spanish Temparanillo, 2004 & 2005 ( I think). One was a fruit bomb next year very earthy. older of the two fell apart very quickly.
August 22, 2008

Jaybird
One that most recently sticks with me is ‘00 and ‘03 La Fleur Bouard both were also rated the same by WS. But the 2000 really shined the next day, the real difference was tasting after decanting over night.
August 22, 2008

Yvette W
QOTD: Nope, haven’t tried two wines side by side. This has always been a concept that I’ve wanted to see, so thank you for doing a video on it!
August 22, 2008

VinoVixen
QOTD: Going to see Bottle Shock tonight. I have not had a vertical tasting but would like too!
August 22, 2008

David M Roberts
QOTD: I had a 2005 Pine Ridge chenin blanc / viognier blend that was amazingly crisp, with mineral and citrus components. The 2006, by contrast, was still very good, but more viscous and heavy on the tropical fruits, and lacking the edge of the 2005.

Looking forward to catching “Bottle Shock,” it’s playing in limited release in Milwaukee area.
August 22, 2008

Derek F.
I liked watching this show on Monday…”ustream time machine”!!

Great show bud!!

I want to ask you GaryVee the question of the day…how do you know what sheep butt smells like????? What kind of place are you running over there Vaynerchuk.
August 22, 2008

jason
good little ditty for the end of the week. i like the the mini vertical. … more more more. i do wish you talked about why the 2 vintages are so different. i am not so up on my spanish vintages but 03 was HOT while i believe 02 was really cold and rainy. you need sun to make good wine.
QOTD: i think it is almost evident with all wines, but the one that comes to mind is the 00 and the 05 chat st gemme, haut medoc. both are great vintages but the 00 was so open with tons of nice fruit where the 05 is blocked with a wall of tannins. maybe the 05 is more structured than the 00? the 05 will be great in 8 to 10 + at 17 bones… wooo hoo
August 22, 2008

Neil
QOTD: Opus One Vertical at La Toque in Napa.

Haven’t seen bottle shock, although I have heard bad reviews – might just wait for it to be released on DVD.
August 22, 2008

Eli2Tyree
Drank an 2001 and a 2002 ZD Cabernet side by side at a wine bar in cali… we had drank the last 01 and they subed it with the 2002 without telling us. The difference was night and day. the 01 rocked and was one of my favorite all time wines, the 02 was weak at best… the wine bar mistake turned into a great learning experience for me and my friends.
August 22, 2008

Pete G
I’ll be seeing “shock” tomorrow with a bunch of wine peeps. Raiding
friend’s cellar beforehand to taste some of the wines that will be
featured in the movie.

QOTD: ? have to think about that one. . .
August 22, 2008

John Farrin
QOTD: The most recent major variation was probably the 2001 vs 2002 Murphy Goode Wild Card Claret. The 2001 was very good and the 2002, not so much.

side Q: Haven’t seen it.
August 22, 2008

Brad
QOTD: 2005 vs. 2006 Hayman & Hill Pinot Noir. 2005=Total flower shop. 2006=Boring.
Other QOTD: Saw Bottle Shock and was very entertained by it. Everyone that is b*tching about the acting or writing should appreciate that we have a movie about wine to watch in the first place, let alone the fact that Alan Rickman is in it.
August 22, 2008

Susan
Gary & Mott, A vertical???? WOW!!! Great stuff!!!!!
August 22, 2008

KVolk
like the vintage battle format…
August 22, 2008

Lawrence Leichtman
Can’t see Bottle Shock here in Virginia Beach as it isn’t playing and probably won’t be. How about a list wine like Qulecida Creek head to head.
August 22, 2008

Sean McCann
I saw Bottle Shock this week and thought is was great! It was especially great to watch it right in Northern California.
August 22, 2008

Paryb
QOTD: I mentioned this the other day for the letdown QOTD but Cloudline Pinot Noir 2006, though highly praised by lots of folks, came across too sweet and almost not middle, and a really short one dimentional finish…where I remember the 2005 being supple, complex, and refreshing.

Good luck to your Jets tomorrow, I’m going to go home and have some hebrew national chili dogs, and watch my Cowboys whoop up on the Texans tonight at home!
August 22, 2008

SS Chris
You tasted the ‘01 Remirez de Ganuza on Episode #19 (not #16)…JERK!!!

(btw, you loved the ‘01, although you didn’t provide a score)
August 22, 2008

AshmanE
Man… I still think you need a smoking jacket and a pipe for these Fridays on the couch…

QOTD: havent’ done a vertical yet, but rest assured it’s in my plan…
August 22, 2008

Marshall
QOTD: 2003 Le Ragose Valpolicella Superiorie and the 2004. 2003 is more red fruit and 2004 is more bell peppers and black currants,etc. I prefered the 2003 because it just had more charm.
August 22, 2008

thecobalt9
SQOTD: Bottle Shock was MEH – great book, great story, poorly made film rife with cliches and far too many repetitive helicopter shots of Napa. I LOVE Napa and for me not to be rocked by this movie truly says something. I will say every time Rickman was on screen, I was engaged – but other than him, it was LAMEZOR.
August 22, 2008

Kevin K
QOTD: Ravenswood old vine Lodi. 2004 > 2005
August 22, 2008

Jay
Laid back…
August 22, 2008

Andy
Love the Rioja G … Great juice
QOTD— Oregon Pinot Noir really changes from vintage to vintage.
like….. Penner-Ash & Domaine Serene
August 22, 2008

WineWoman
Love the t-shirt. As of last week, Bottle Shock wasn’t playing in Jersey. It was the only movie I wanted to see all Summer. I’ll have to check my local listings again, but it’s probably going to video very soon.

QOTD: O’Reilly pinot was a disappointment from one vintage to the next. I didn’t drink them side by side, but the newer vintage was very dull fruit–I wasn’t expecting a complex wine, but the first vintage of this wine was excellent and no comparison to the next.
August 22, 2008

CindyW
Side QOTD: nope, haven’t seen it yet. It hasn’t played in a theatre near me.

Official QOTD: Hmmmmmm, it’s happened quite often, but the one I remember most is the difference between the 2003 & 2005 Reininger syrah (Washington). Loved the 2003, tons of depth and interesting flavors, but the 2005 was really bad. . . really, really bad. I’m starting to wonder if perhaps it was even an off bottle, and I’ll probably try another 2005 just in case.
August 22, 2008

manonthemoon
Nice show as always with the spanish.

QOTD: 2006 Tikal Patriota and the 2004. Granted the difference might of been the bottle age and the wine settling down a little bit, but not even close in quality for my money.
August 22, 2008

wannaBconnoisseur
Q-One that comes to mind is Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot, this was a good value at about $10 that you could find anywhere. The 2004 was quite good and the 2005 was terrible. I was blown away by the difference.
August 22, 2008

KW
Many California Reds 02 was good and 03 was terrible.
August 22, 2008

Dale Cruse
There was enormous variation in the Chateau Brane-Cantenac Bordeaux vertical I tasted and wrote about at: http://drinksareonme.net/?p=276
August 22, 2008

Anthony L.
Watched this episode on UStream live. Pretty cool.
August 22, 2008

purplejuicebruce
QOTD… One I found was Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel I fell in love with the 2005 had a couple of bottles went back to buy more and all that was available was 2006 bought some and was really dissapointed with the vintage.
August 22, 2008

Rossodio
I noticed a fairly big variation between the 3 Sauternes of Chateau Caillou 1964, 1971, and 1973; I also noticed big time variation between the 2003 and 2004 Guigal Cotes du Rhone. Of course, the 1995 Guigal Cotes du Rhone was very different from both, but you’d expect that from an aged wine over a less mature vintage (who’d think you could age a CdR 13 years? It’s actually phenomenal). Interesting how these wines change over time.
August 22, 2008

SpoiledinCalbyPinot
Bottle Shock Was very light, fun entertaining somethin’ you might
tell your French friends about this movie. Was fun becuase I have been
to Chateau Montellano recently and sampled the wine.

QOTD: 2005 Malbec Gascon brought the Thunder at $13.00, the 2006
was kinda meh.

Get on ustream and yap with gary.
August 22, 2008

Deano
Gary Great episode. I have been watching a lot on Ustream and i love that.

QOTD:
-Cant really recall one.
August 22, 2008

Evan R.
I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I plan to.
QOTD- I haven’t done a side by side comparison, but I have noticed differences between different years of the same wines. I hope that makes sense.
August 22, 2008

Phil G
QOTD – haven’t really done that much side-by-side tasting. I have done some of this during winery visits and remember during a Chianti flight the 2002 was at a much lower quality level… Otherwise, I have been buying a few wines on a yearly basis to do some of my own verticals…
August 22, 2008

Medo
QOTD: 2004 & 2005 Schild Estate Shiraz – the 2004 was much better then the 2005! 94 vs 89/90 pts.
August 22, 2008

Steve
Yes, I’ve seen Bottle Shock, and I liked it. But I’m a pretty easy movie critic and like most movies I see (two exceptions: China Town and Lost in Translation – HATED both). Bottle Shock, to me, was very evocative of the mood and spirit of the 1970s in California, when the wine “industry” there was very new and “wild west” in spirit. This was a film made by folks who really love wine. It certainly put me in the mood to drink some Cali chard, and I popped the cork on a bottle as soon as I got home. But my enthusiasm was dampened a bit when I read Eric Asimov’s slam of the film in the NY Times: I respect Eric’s wine writing greatly.
August 22, 2008

SoCal
QOTD: Have not seen it yet.
QOTD2: 1994 vs 1995 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon BoschÃ©……94 was awesome…..95 was one dimensional…..same night…..same wines…..different quality…..
August 22, 2008

Robin C
Bottle Shock has not yet made it to Albuquerque, NM. I did read Eric Asimov’s critique and it was very funny.
QOTD: last vertical we tried was a year ago: Ridge Montebello ‘84,’94,’04. They all tasted pretty much the same though. I just had the’02 and I didn’t like it as much as last year, but I don’t remember the vintage I had last year. I’m keeping notes now on Cork’d, so I’ll be more organized.
We should do a vertical of Gary’s from when he first started the show and observe and comment on the changes.
August 22, 2008

Jim in Atlanta
QOTD – I don’t drink a lot of the same wines two years in a row and very rarely side by side. I have taken your advice and try lots of different wines to expand my pal.
August 22, 2008

theemptyglass
I love Fridays on the couch, how come you don’t answer questions anymore? I think Laid back fridays could be a little more info heavy, I think bringing up different vintages is a good point, would have liked a little more on that, like was 2002 especially rainy or cold or what? and specifically what effects does it have? Sunny seasons make the grapes sweeter, but how do seasons produce one bottle of awkward bourdeau style to a dark fruit shiraz style?

QOTD: A while ago, I had a La Boca Malbec that I really liked but I don’t remember what vintage it was. I bought another bottle (2007 I think) expecting it to be if not the bottle I remembered, at least similar in style and I was so disappointed.
August 22, 2008

Dr. Horowitz
Bottleshock was lame but still entertaining because of the wine country shots and story about wine. The movie had 10 minutes of plot filled with 90 mintes of cheesy drama. Not bad for an independent flick. It was the only movie I’ve been to see in a theater since Sicko.

But, it did make me read Taber’s book to get a different perspective.
August 22, 2008

RichE
QOTD:
The (2) vertical wines that I drank back to back that were
oh sooooooooo different were:
(2) Sullivan Vineyard Cabernets from Napa.

The 2002 was so much more rich and full versus a slightly lighter less explosive 2003. Oh well I should have bought more of the 2002’s.

Rich
Upstate NY
August 22, 2008

Jeremy J
I’m a lurker and finally felt the need to post. I love the show and I am getting back into wine after a brief dry spell due to being a poor college kid. Love the show Gary and hope, though I know it will happen one sad day, that you never stop. I’m looking foreword to the 20 year anniversary of the Thunder Show.

QOTD: Though I know its a cheap Finger Lakes wine, the 2001 Lucas Tug Boat Red was so much better than the 2002. 2001 still had some good strawberry and fresh cut grass flavors where 2002 seemed to go all to fruit and sugar.

Awesome show Gary!
August 22, 2008

Oakmon's BF
I took my wife to see Bottle Shock. She had no idea what we were going to see. I got the impression it wasnâ€™t challenging Batman for box office receipts. We had to travel over 15 miles to get to a theater that was showing it. The woman at the box office never heard of it. I had to convince her that not only was â€œBottle Shockâ€ the name of a movie, but it was a movie being shown in the very theater for which she was selling tickets. So she checked again and eventually confirmed that I was right and she sold me two tickets. No one was in the theater when we entered. Before the move started two other people arrived separately. After the movie my wife said she wasnâ€™t surprised there were so few people. I interpreted this to mean she didnâ€™t enjoy it. I did enjoy it. This may have little to do with cinematic art. It was meaningful to me. It (the story not the movie) affected my life. In the late 70â€™s and early 80â€™s I didnâ€™t know the details, but I knew California wines had beaten French wines in some contest. This was a factor in motivating me to introduce myself and my father to vintage California wines. Once I started on this road there was no turning back. Today, everybody who drinks vintage new world wines has been impacted by this story.
August 22, 2008

Shawn_944
Love the Laid back Friday! Good Show!
August 22, 2008

Dominus
“Sheep’s butt . . .”!!!! Good show since I adore the Spanish wines, esp the good ones.

I have yet to see Bottle Shock but plan on seeing it soon.

QOTD: I have to agree with Andy regarding OPN (Oregon Peenots) that vary from year to year. For me, Archery Summit comes to mind with different wines from one year to the next.

I’m hoping to join you for the festivities tomorrow. We have tickets but the Dominette’s mom is not doing well. We need a fun evening.

Cheers!
August 22, 2008

Susan
Gary & Mott, LIGHTS !!! LOVE the fluorescent lights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 22, 2008

Chaz
I’m from Virginia, actually not very far from where you are filming your podcast. I was thinking about coming out to see it in person. The only problem I had was just to get in it cost like 75 bux a little steep if you ask me. But anyway hope you enjoy the Old Dominion.
August 22, 2008

senator
QOTD: Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm…. I dunno.

I think to get verticals that are dramatically different you have to go old world and I haven’t done that many old world verticals.
August 22, 2008

neutron212
QOTD: cant say that ive done the 2 diff vintages back to back but to say hockey is getting soft I can see youve never watched your Buffalo Sabers play and its like when they get into the play offs!!! Its going to be a good your for the Sabers and the Bills well there the Bills
August 22, 2008

Tyler Walker
Well…I havent done any vintage tastings…but i remember a while ago when i had two 2001 Solaia’s 6 months apart, and they were totally different…probably just bottle variation, but who knows
August 22, 2008

cpd
qotd: Justin Cabernet 2005 good. Justin Cabernet 2006 not as good (and age wasn’t the issue).
August 22, 2008

gottagodrink
QOTD- 2001 Artazuri Garnacha ($8) was about a 93, the 2002 was poured out into the sink. Cheers!
August 22, 2008

Hido53
Haven’t see Bottle Shock yet, but looking forward to it!
Love the laid back Fridays on the couch! Especially when combined with the head to head tastings.
QOTD: Attended some Ridge Monte Bello tastings in recent years thanks to a buddy of mine. Able to taste older vintages of Monte Bello next to the vintage that Ridge just finished blending or is currently blending along with the components by themselves Itypically Cab, Cab Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot) Very interesting tastings. Clearly demonstrates how each element contributes to the final blended wine. Also a good opportunity to see the benefits of aging as well as, sometimes, how there can clearly be bottle variation even within the same vintage (many people attend, so many bottles of the same vintage are being poured).
August 22, 2008

Brad Coelho
QOD
August 22, 2008

Brad Coelho
QOD- ANY 01 CDP and their 02 CDP counterpart….want vintage variation in a relatively steadfast region, rock that paralell baby!
August 22, 2008

DAve A
watching this being taped from UsTREAM was so cool. Dang, I’m sorry I have you a bogus # since I heard you say you were going to call me. dang. smile.

Rioja is a new fav of mine. Ya can get some real thunder for $10-$14. I like that you used two different glasses. why waste wine rinsing? ugh?

Ever look into the future. Wonder what episode 2000 will be like? You will look like more like Mott, he will have his mid-life crisis and be driving a vet with two blondes on his arms, since he will be a recognized director of Hollywood. Winelibrary will be a world wide chain with 1000 locations. 276 million folks will be trying wines influenced by you…. could it happen?

Great show. Good!

oh. QOTD: yawn. Sorry, no answer.
August 22, 2008

drift
I would have to say the biggest variation was between the 03 and the 04 paul hobbs russian river pinot noir. The 03 wan outstanding! Complex with flavor playing a symphony in your mouth as to the 04 being boring and standard……Weird
August 23, 2008

Emily & James H.
I do like seeing the side-by-side examination of vintages for wines from good producers. However, coming from the wine retail business as well, there is nothing more frustrating than some yutz requesting a specific vintage (usually three or four releases ago!) of some mass-produced, mediocre wine. Americans put entirely too much stock in vintages for their domestic $10-15 bottles of wine. I also agree with an earlier poster: answer more questions or give some love to your posters on your laid-back Fridays. Maybe that will encourage more lurkers to post and come out of their closets!

P.S. I will probably continue to harp on the Lizzie issue until you address it!
August 23, 2008

Bob
How about doing an episode on those “boxed” wines you find at the grocery store?
August 23, 2008

David
2004 & 2005 Robert Mondavi Cabernet “Oakville.” Very different, 2004 Napa cab style, 2005…almost Shiraz-ish
August 23, 2008

John Cabot
I had a four year virtical of Rafanelli Cabernet from 97- 2001 and the vintage variation was incredible- with 99 and 01 taking the cake, they were obviously, true expressions of a single vineyard, in different years. Very interseting.
August 23, 2008

Peter J Wood
I tried 98 and 99 Pol Roger recently, with the 98 being far better than the 99 which was austere, bitter and far too young. The 98 was much rounder and biscuity.

Not seen Bottle Shock yet – hope it is better than Sideways!
August 23, 2008

jayjay
yo yo lurker jay here still watching the show every day and many older episodes not so many at the moment as my external speekers are playing up and the built are very quiet ear to the screen lol .keep it up man never stop the show,id love to see an old port show some 34s 55s and earlier please please,cheers jay uk
August 23, 2008

IÃºri ALmeida
The biggest vintage variation I’ve ever had was with a brazilian wine “Lote 43″, a cab. sauv./merlot blend, the flagship of the Miolo producer, from “Vale dos Vinhedos”. The 2002 was very herbal, with lots of olive, bell peper and some flower and fruit and strong acidity. The 2004, the first made with the consulting of Michel Roland, was much rounder, fruitier, alcolic, bigger, well, more of a “international style”. I found this change to be to the better though.
August 23, 2008

OzJeff
I love setting two vintages side by side in a tasting. You know how sometimes you’ll be looking for a bottle in a shop and you notice that there’s a wine with some leftover stock from the last vintage alongside the new vintage. I always grab them, just can’t resist. Here’s a comparison I made a while back.

Wirrega Heartland Shiraz (Australia – Limestone Coast) 2003 & 2004 (7,90 EUR)

2003
Dark red purple becoming quite deep in the center. spicy rich black berries with licorice. Bitter toasted ripe dark berries. Good tangy acid, but subdued tannins. Short to medium. Unbalanced with acid dominating roasted fruits and the tannins falling flat. It’s still a nice wine, but the balance is bad. The 2004 is much better. Score:88

2004
The fruit is ripe but not overripe. The balance is right. Good aging potental. Deep red purple darkening in the middle. Noticeably deeper than the 2003. quite closed. Ripe dark berries with pepper. Wood. A tic dusty. Rich ripe dark berries. Good tannin and acid complexity. Long with good balance. Rich fruit hanging on to the end. Much better than the 2003. Score:90

I went to an organised vertical tasting once of ChÃ¢teau Fontesteau Cru Bourgeois where we tried every vintage from 1995 to 2004. Very educational, although the wines were fairly meh.
August 23, 2008

Wine Not?
Yes, I saw Bottle Shock…..and as you say about Opus One, OVER-RATED!!!! I had already read Taber’s book and was totally disappointed that Mike Grgich was completely left out of the movie line….he made the wine!!!!! The setting was cool and all but there were too many artistic licenses taken. Besides, I think the tasting happened in a Paris hotel, not in an open air, very French looking crumbly building. Thumbs down in my opinion. I’ll hold out for the next movie on this topic…

OK, enough of my soapbox on that!

I went to a Shafer tasting once where we tried 13 vintages of their cab. Very interesting! Even more interesting, the other night I had two 2005 Cameron Hughes meritages from different vineyards….HUGE difference between them although one just needed some air, I think!

Keep bringing the thunder!!!!!
August 23, 2008

Murso
QOTD – That’s a GREAT question, and one that will easily show an infinitum of possibilities from lurkers and Vayniacs alike. Bordeaux and Burgundian annual variance, as well as top Rhone bottles immediately spring to mind as obvious in their evidences,(Simply think vintage charts) but among the countless thousands of wines I’ve tasted, what popped into mind was the general weakness of the ‘98 Napa Cabs and even Meritages. I’m ,of course, talking of the big name blue chips, and not of ten , or $20 everyday stuff, where it didn’t matter… man, we couldn’t get people to pay for ’98s, so, at every opportunity to pour for public events, we poured them off…And despite the general profile of too much red fruit flavors and scents for cab, a few really surprised me with their integrity , and overall performance. And the guys who surprised me in weak ‘98 were Merryvale Profile, whose wines I, previously, just couldn’t take to, and St. Clement Orropas. after finding these ‘diamonds in the rough’, or more like, in the weeds of a bad year, I’ve become a much closer watcher of their annual performance, and yes, a fan.
August 23, 2008

Slushpuppy
Spanish wine is my favorite qpr wine. Can you do some more in the lower price range? Thanks
Smell it first!
August 23, 2008

ChezJim
Rioja was always my go to wine in the 90’s. You could always find a great wine with some age for a great price. Now, like everything else, the great Riojas are greating out of reach for my everyday drinking. I still love them.

QOTD: I bought some 2003 E Guigal Cotes Du Rhone and was blown away by its qpr. So I was excited to buy the 2004. Sad, very sad. But the 2005 made a good come back.
August 23, 2008

Leif erik Sundstrom
QOTD: I think it definitely has to go to the side by side of Lopez de Heredia Tondonia 1968 and 1985. Both awesome. but showed huge differences in structure and flavor profiles. I knwo these vintages are 17 years apart, so not quite as close a comparison as 2 adjacent vintages…sooo:
Beaux Freres ‘93 and ‘94. The ‘93 was softer, showing hints of age but still nice. The ‘94 was just coming around, youthful and integrated.

Ta DA!
August 23, 2008

TeeKay
Hi Gary, now I noticed a nice sticker on your T-shirt ! Can I have one too ?
August 23, 2008

Harry
Recently I was surprised at the variation between the Goosebay Pinot Noir 06 & 07 from NZ. 06 was nice, with subtle berries, good minerality, and a slightly sour berry finish. 07 was much sweeter, starting off with sweet red raspberries which transitioned to pickled beets & a pickled tongue component, and then finished much smoother, with meaty sweet fruits.
August 23, 2008

BobbyTiger
Whats a jetsngiant?
I don’t go to the movies, so I’ll take a pass on Bottle Shock. However, if I did go see movies, I probably wouldn’t see that one.
August 23, 2008

italianwinelover
nice short one!
Love the flurescent lighting technique!! Would like to see a whole show like that…What is on your tshirt I love it and I WANT ONE!!!

Go Sox!
August 23, 2008

BW
QOTD: I remember having a early 90’s vintage Silver Oak & being blown away – it is really the bottle that turned me into a wine drinker – & having a 2002 vintage & being very disappointed. Very forgetable, especially at the price point.

Haven’t see Bottle Shock yet. Going to be out of town for a while so going to try catching it with the wife in a couple weeks
August 23, 2008

Kirk (AKA: slave2thevine)
I have to say I was excited to see this producer back on your show…I’ve had the 2001 a couple times now and I’ve always loved it. I was highly dissapointed with the 2002 last summer when I tasted it…and with your notes it sounds like not much has changed since then.

QOTD: The largest change in a 1 year vintage span I’ve ever experienced was the 2004 & 2005 Caduceus Cellars Nagual de la Naga. It was a very large drop in quality for my personal taste. The production also went from 75 cases to 300…so that might have something to do with it too…
August 23, 2008

Richard Ritter
Bottle Shock is aboslutely on the “Things to do List”.

QOTD: Coincidence? Maybe? I just got done doing a photo shoot for a wine producer here on Long Island. As part of the payment he included some bottles of his wine. Two different vintages, Medolla Merlot 2002 and 2003. The 02 was pure Old World but nicely balanced. The 03 was high tannins, fruit bombish, something to definately keep under wraps for a while. What a difference a year makes!
August 23, 2008

tarheel17
Great show.
Short, to the point, and educational.
* I learned that Brett Farve went to the Jets!*

JUST KIDDING.

OK, last severe vintage variation I remember was Trinchero merlot. Tasted an ‘03 that sucked. Apparently you enjoyed a different vintage(2004) in show #171. Well, for grocery store wine. And there you have it.

I’ve had less severe variations with Loring pinots and Boudreaux cabs, but those still can’t compete with a 10-pt difference. Trinchero takes the cake!
August 23, 2008

J Crazy
I recently had the 2005 Clerc Milon and I’ve had the 02 and 03 before and was pretty surprised how different the 03 and 05 were. To be honest, I liked the 02 best.
August 24, 2008

ChiroGuyDC
Poor Osi, great player, hope the injury isn’t too bad for your sake MOTT!!! QOTD: Haven’t had the opportunity to try a wine in two different years, by the time a year passes, I’m already onto something new…this should be something to try though.

Great episode though (as always), and I’m waiting for the first time we hear

“Mayo slices through the middle and takes Favre down like a RAG DOLL!!”
August 24, 2008

YoungDave
QOTD 1: Tomorrow, matinÃ©e; Bottleshock… VERY overdue.
QOTD 2: Here are a few: 2005 and 2006 Dark Horse Zinfandel, Dry Creek. 2006 and 2007 El Felino Malbec, Mendoza (Paul Hobbs). 2007 and 2008 Montes Cherub Syrah Rose. I could go on… bottom line is that vintage can make a TON of difference.
August 24, 2008

Sharon
Hey Gary congrats, your Jets beat the Giants in final pre-season game! Nice. Our Pats have looked horrible in pre-season games. That Jets shirt your Mom made you is so adorable.

QOTD1: Haven’t seen Bottle Shock yet, but definitely will, even if the story is Hollywood-ized.
QOTD2: Only wines I’ve had opportunity to taste vertically are whites of i Clivi from Friuli. They only changed subtly over the 4 vintages I tasted.
August 24, 2008

RANDI
Gary!
Was fun to watch this episode being taped. Is there a schedule of when you “ustream”?
QOTD: SeaSmoke! Very dissappointing from one vintage to the next.
August 24, 2008

Bernie Bearnaise
I don’t have a temperature controlled cellar so I rarely collect wines but age them days or weeks at most. One of my goto wines last year was the 2006 Alamos Cabernet Sauvignon (RP 88) from Mendoza, Argentina. The 2007’s arrived and I perceived a surprising 4-5 point drop in quality. The Malbecs didn’t change as radically. Alamos Seleccion is a step up from the standard label. Also added to the vast Catena Zapata stable is the very quaffable Tilia line which comes in lower in price than the Alamos. The ‘07 Malbec/Syrah was an interesting change from Cab/Syrah. These are great QPR wines and reliable. Many times when selecting a new wine I will be swayed by the shelf talker that raves about the wine and a score it received from some obscure source. Many times the vintage is incorrect and the information out of date. As you said the only constant is change. There’s always next year….

Our Braves of Washington were mauled by the Carolina Panthers last night while I downed a whole bottle of ‘07 Calina Reserva Carmenere (BB 88) from Valle Del Maule, Chile. How ironic. I will be drinking to forget this week. 10 days from now and we visit the Meadowlands against the NY football Giants. I hope my liver will be able to withstand the onslaught.
August 24, 2008

Tommy Vernieri
I’ll probably wait to rent Bottle Shock, haven’t heard great things about it.

QOTD: I only have done two vintages of a wine twice. Mondavi Private Selection Central Coast Pinot Noir ‘05 and ‘06 and the Glatzer GrÃ¼ner Veltliner ‘04 and ‘06. For both pairs my notes were pretty similar to the previous time I tasted them.
August 24, 2008

terroirist
The E. Guigal Chateauneauf-du Pape 2001 and 2003. I did not taste that at the same time, but looking at my notes I remember enjoying the 01′ a lot more than the 03′ in a big way.

aka Mike in nebraska

I am going to try and 05 and 06 Castano Monstrell this weekend though. uh monday tuesday are my “weekend.”
August 24, 2008

David M Roberts
Caught “Bottle Shock” this weekend at Milwaukee’s historic Oriental movie palace. Sure, it was a sugar coated affair with the underdog formula (the yin to “Sideways”‘ yang), but it was a very pleasant film regardless, with some good performances, and better, a good bit of history. Talk about changing the wine world, this film highlights that notion. It was nice to see a smaller budget film sans the special effects and cartoon characters. I give this new world fruit bomb 89 points.

On a related side note, while “Sideways” put a dent in merlot and championed pinot noir, I wonder if this film will impact the now much maligned chardonnay and bring it back in fashion?….
August 24, 2008

ColoradoRick
RE: Bottle Shock

Fun flick. Good, not great. A good date night movie.

Regarding the history? D- at best. Yes, there was a tasting in Paris in 1976. Yes, the Americans won. Yes, the Chateau Montelena’s Chard won.

Other than that – the movie is complete fiction.
August 24, 2008

Louisiana George
Couple of years ago did a staggered vertical with 7 friends: 89 Mondavi Napa Cab, followed by 93 Mondavi Reserve Cab, followed by 86 Mondavi Reserve Cab. Fun showing how age and the soft 89 growing season effected the wines, particularly since most of my friends did not have much wine experience at the time.
August 24, 2008

sam
Good show. Good idea to compare different vintages. Fom my own experience, I used to enjoy the Finca Flinchman from Argentina 2006, a very well priced Malbec with good dark fruits and a medium body. I found that the 2007 was so much lighter…maybe because it was younger. Good stuff!
August 24, 2008

Jezebel
Loved Bottle Shock. It was nice, light, summery entertainment, a nice antidote after the blockbusters. Hey, how many true wine movies get made anyways?
August 24, 2008

dpe111
QOTD: Santa Julia Malbec 2006 and Santa Julia Malbec 2007 tasted both the same week and they were worlds apart. A perfect example to show the 2006 was much better than 2007 in mendoza argentina.
August 24, 2008

Kevin
QOTD: 2001 and 1995 Poggio Antico Brunellos. Different enough in age that it was more of an ‘aging’ comparison more than a vintage comparison, I’d say.

Another: Domain Nalys in CDP – did verticals of about 4 vintages of both their reds and their white. VERY interesting, and taught me that I like CDP MUCH more after it’s got a few years behind it.
August 24, 2008

Jimmy T
QOTD: ‘03 Peachy Canon Zin Incredible Red v. ‘05 was drastically different. However, I wonder if the ‘05 will change a lot in the next 2 yrs to be more represenative of the ‘03 which I thought was one of the best bottles I’ve ever had.
August 24, 2008

RickM
Only wine I have tasted from subsequent years were the 1976 and 1977 Riuniti Lambrusco, I was underaged and they both sucked equally.
August 24, 2008

Dannypo
Interesting show. I love doing vertical tastings. But if you think beer is the same from year to year either you haven’t done a side by side tasting or you seriously need to improve your palate. There are about a dozen beers that I buy 12 of every year to age and to verticals.

QOTD: Being pretty new to wine I haven’t done a side by side yet.
August 24, 2008

espressokev
from personal experience, i’ve had super radool bottles of Jack Daniel’s, then had “meh” bottles the next time i’ve bought it.
August 24, 2008

Bobo36
Have not seen Bottle Shock yet.

QOTD: Schlid Barossa Shiraz 2006 vs. 2005. 2005 better, 2006 is flat, harder tannins, a bit hot. Probably pass on the ‘06 ‘in toto’ this year. Drank a case of the ‘05.
August 24, 2008

Oklahoma Michael
QOTD= funny you would ask that question. I am drinking 2007 Casa Marin SB at this moment and am STUNNED by how much better the 2006 was that I had a few days ago. 2007 still good. 2006 massive thunder soooo much better
August 25, 2008

Paul V
QOTD: The biggest difference between different vintages for me is the 2004 RH Phillips EXP Syrah and it’s 2004 counterpart. The 2003 was incredible (for the price point) and really turned me on to drinking wine.

The 2004 on the other hand just wasn’t as good. My palate wasn’t like it is today (not saying it’s refined yet at all), I just didn’t like it as much and was really disappointed.

Great Show Gary.
August 25, 2008

Oscar Falcon Lara
A wine that I always buy and have seen tremendous differences throughout is “Marqués De Riscal”, 1995 being my absolute favorite followed by the 2001 vintage. There is a bit of a flaky shake on th flavors going from 1999 to the 2005, with the occasional OakMonster popping his head from time to time. Having said all that, I still buy any vintage of Riscal I can find, I like it.
Cuné is also another wine that has a very distinct body from year to year, maybe it’s a Spanish thing.

I have not seen the movie yet.
August 25, 2008

Smahlatz
QOTD : Had two vintage dark ales, one bottled 3 months after the other – the older one was so much better – rounder fuller darker, the younger one almost had pilsener type harsh edges to it.
August 25, 2008

Alfredhayes
Question OTD: Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon from Santa Carolina 2003 to 2004.
Quote OTD: “Giants are ahead of the Jets”
August 25, 2008

Jayhitek
QOTD: Tried like 15 different years of the Foppiano Petit Syrah.. Some of them were terrible and tasted nothing like the year before or after.
August 25, 2008

Rick W
One of the best wines I ever had was the 97 BV Tapestry & one of the worst wines is the 98 BV Tapestry! What a difference a year makes, it just goes to show you that mother nature is the maker of all wines!!
August 25, 2008

Ken F
Compared the 2001 Don Melchor against the 2004 Don Melchor. The 2001 was bland, nothing to it. In fact, I believe it has had heat problems somewhere in it past. The 2004 was a very nice wine. I would recommend it to everyone.
August 25, 2008

mark b
QOTD – Pesenti Vineyards Zin – I think it was in 2001 when Turley took over. Tasting the wine between 2000 and 2002 it was amazing to see what could be done with the exact same vines with Ehren Jordan’s viticulture practices implemented. Not that Pesenti’s 3 generations of winegrowing had been bad, but it was an amazing transformation – even in the first couple years after Turley took over.
August 25, 2008

Jason S.
QOTD: I would have to say a few of the pinots from Papapietro.

GV – I must respectfully disagree with your assessment of Scotch and once you’ve tasted it, you’ve tasted it. Each barrel tastes completely different from the next, so to get a consistent flavor from year to year different barrels must be selected for blending to get the “same” flavor every year. That said, it’s becoming more and more common to find single barrel bottlings. Depending on the size of the barrel there may be 150-400 bottles that taste alike, but otherwise, there is no other scotch in the world that tastes exactly like that barrel, even if the scotch was aged the same amount of time in the same warehouse, etc. So, you can taste differnt Laphroaig 10 yr old. or different Macallan 18 yr old., etc. or even find bottlings of different ages, different finishes.
August 25, 2008

wayno da wino
QOTD: Never really drank two different vintages of the Same Vino,
side by each……but me “pal” doesn’t seem ta like Dehlinger Chardonnay
as much as he once did……….
August 25, 2008

Scottie P
QOTD: Chaddsford (PA) 2006 Pinot Noir is mere shell of the 2005 vintage. The 06 just lacks the complexity and strength of flavor that was so good in the 05.

Fun show, I like the firday Head-to-Head’s.
August 25, 2008

barrelmonkey
‘04 Barrel Monkeys Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia: Beautiful fruit, silky tannnins, hints of blackberries and smoke. 95 points (what can I say, it was a good night )

‘05 Barrel Monkeys Shiraz: Alcohol bomb. WAY overripe. Disgusting amount of residual sugar. No structure. Reductive on the nose. I tasted this head on with a Yellow Tail cab-merlot, expecting it to destroy the YT… and it actually lost to it. The YT had acidity that this wine lacked. Heartbreaking. 49 pts.
August 25, 2008

Roberto
Hi Gary,

I agree with David Roberts in the comments section, reg. Bottle Shock, a very very good flick. I give it 94 points and indeed, talk about an event that changed the wine world as we know it… just for that reason, all the vayniacs and their friends should go see it… And I do think it’ll bring California Chardonnay back in fashion, especially if made like Chateau Montelena likes it, holding back on the oak and nice steely minerality and beautiful acid backbone. Very, very burgundian… and that style has always been like that… not suprised to see the french judges completely baffled there…

health!!

RR
August 25, 2008

Roberto
hey, boo birds and other negativites… bottle shock is a movie, not a documentary… just enjoy it, you’re not Roger Ebert…
August 26, 2008

Matt
QOTD: Probably 2004, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1989 Chateau La Nerthe Red C9dP where 02 weather in southern rhone was awful.
August 26, 2008

CB Lukens
GV – Good stuff. Bottle Shock – my wine club went to a viewing in Boston. Not so good. The female character was simply the worst – she had no impact or reason. The dialog wasn’t very well written either. Rickman saved it and when the movie dealt with the competition, it showed the most promise. QOTD – I had both the 1999 and 2000 of the marginal Ch. Martinet. The 1999 was solid for an off-year, but the 2000 far out-paced its price or reputation.
August 26, 2008

Derek
side question: Bottle Shock was great, particularly after traveling to Napa earlier this summer. I can see why some critics didn’t like it, but it entertaining and did capture something about wine – a passion that many feel and live.
August 26, 2008

Neilfromacrossthepond
Qotd. A saumur Cab Franc 05 and 06 (Les Niveres; i think it might be exclusive to the wholefood chain we shop at in the UK) . The 05 was big rich black fruits and had a wonderful terroir driven crumbly soil like character that i find hard to explain. It was (for our heavily taxed wine market at any rate!)a fantastic bargain at £5.49 (so about 9 bones as gary would say). I raved about this wine for weeks. Then the 06 came out and was a completely different beastie. Much lighter, pretty acidic, tight, but with pleasant refreshing red fruit characters. Not a bad wine but not one i would buy again. Such a HUGE difference! 2005 Loire reds! Amazing! 06… not so much!
August 27, 2008

DaveyDonut
Bottle Shock: Yup, saw it last weekend! I’ve been waiting for it for a while, so I was glad to see it… I wasn’t expecting it to be a stellar movie, but I was kind of hoping for that. So I was a bit disappointed, though it was definitely entertaining. I was just hoping it’d be a bit deeper than simple entertainment. I think if I wasn’t as into wine as I am I wouldn’t have enjoyed it nearly as much (similarly, the Transformers movie was probably a typical action flick that I hate, but since I played with Transformers my whole life growing up, the movie kicked ass!).

QOTD: I dunno… off the top of my head, perhaps the Selvapiana Chianti Rufina. I scored the 2004 91 points, and the 2005 86 points. Another is Armida Zinfandel PoiZin; 2004: 90 points, 2005: 84 points.

David
August 27, 2008

cgatesman
Wait…did you just insult us non-lurkers?
August 27, 2008

JayZee
QOTD: I’ve had some verticals but the one that really got me was the 1982, 1990, 1997, 2000, 2003 Cos D’Estournel. The 1982 was BY FAR the best wine of the bunch. The 1990 was second followed by the 2000 and then the 1997. The 2003 was larely unimpressive since it tasted nothing like the others.
August 27, 2008

pawncop
A big thankyou for your time and education.

QOTD – I have not yet tried this exercise. I am sure at some point I will, but I am still learning the different styles of the grapes.
August 28, 2008

Pardus
QOTD: Prince Michel LeDucq… I have had several “LOTS” of this and 88 was the best of the lot. I remember not liking the 94, we are turning the way back machine on now though, maybe it was the 96 I didn’t like. I didn’t take notes back then and it is hard to get these days. I don’t even think the winery has it anymore since Jean LeDucq died a few years back and the winery was sold.
August 29, 2008

LauraG
Mini QOTD: Haven’t seen Bottle Shock.

QOTD: Ordered a case of 2005 Ridge Three Valleys, shop accidentally got 2006. VERY different. 2006 was brighter, with a more red fruit character, less of the dard berry/sweet spice than the 2005. Both good, just different.
August 30, 2008

Dan-o
I am a big fan of the Riojas!
QOTD – I like to drink mini verticals from time-to-time. I guess the most recent that I did was a Buehler Cab mini-vertical and the 1997 was getting very tired while the 2002 was rocking.
September 1, 2008

JudeMurphy
Not sure about tasting experiences but I have noticed extremely big price differences in the space of just one vintage. We’ve all seen that of course in the 04-05 bordeaux vintages!
September 1, 2008

Karl Laczko
Short & sweet…the show, not you Gary! I like the mini-vertical concept, need more!

QOTD – Chateau Musar Rouge. The 1999 was earthy, dark & complex, while the 2000 was lighter, fruitier and a whole different beast.
September 2, 2008

Daniel Schlossberg
love riojas, wish i was a baller and could try these ones. but alas i am not, but i did go to the jet/giant game: go JETS!!!
September 2, 2008

M
I was thinking about that QOTD before asked. I was thinking about a couple of examples while I was watching (I’m still catching up after vacation).

QOTD: 2004 and 2005: Domaine Jaume Vinsobres Altitude 420 Cotes du Rhone. Really enjoyed the 2004. The 2005 is nice but I liked 2004 more.
September 23, 2008

Marc
We just got back from a trip to Rioja and the concierge at our hotel told us we should take a tour at Remirez De Ganuza. Nice place. EXTREMELY clean (which differs from a lot of Rioja wineries with their cobwebs all over the bottles). I think we tasted the 2003 and it was nice. They make a ‘Trasnocho’ that they aren’t exporting that is even better.

QOTD: We brought a bottle of 2003 Justin Isosceles to a restaurant we visit often and the sommelier (who we know well) told us they have the 2002 by the half bottle. We hesitated a little since we drove, but then I said – we can cork them and take them home so let’s try it. It was wonderful to experience the differences (they were vastly different) and the evening was just that much more memorable. We shared some of both with our server and the sommelier.
September 25, 2008

yowens
Its amazing how the same vineyard cna produce such different wines in different years. QOTD: too new to wine to comment.
January 20, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
Great concept! QOTD: Never tried it before, but im thinking about it now if I can find some moderate wines.
July 22, 2009

looper
QOTD: I have done this twice.
1st – At Silver Oak, we did a vertical tasting from 1997 – 2004. It was an awesome experience. The variation from year to year was astounding. 2001, and 2002 were the highlights for me. You might have thought that all of them were over oaked but hey, its in the name, you get what you pay for, and I happen to love some of their efforts.
2nd – In tuscany we went to a place called “Casa Emma” which you reviewed on your show, and loved. We had the 2000, 2001, 2002 Chiantis and they were totally different. I loved the 2001, but the 2000 got much better reviews and scores. Different strokes for different palates.
Vertical tasting is soo much fun
November 19, 2009

richardvinifera
QOTD: Tried the 01 and 02 Campo Viejo Rioja Gran Reserva this year, the 01 was a bit fresher but the 02 was still very good, not a massive difference.