I love these episodes but kick myself because you cant ship the packs to the state of Washington. Id love to be tasting them along with you. Still a good show and hope the fellow Vayniacs enjoyed the wines. QOTD: Not much. Kind of drifting right now. Working some heavy days and when it comes to my days off I just feel like being lazy around the house. I am going to the Mariners fan fest this Saturday ( first time ive been able to go to one ) so Im excited about that. Hopefully I'll be able to touch the grass!.... something Ive wanted to do since I was a kid. Thank God we have grass and not turf.

Hi Gary! I'm just catching this episode (Jan '09) and wanted to post some big ups to you on the selections. I was especially jazzed to see the Goretti Sagrantino. I had the opportunity to visit the Goretti winery last May while on a trip celebrating the big 5-0 with friends and my daughter.
The Sagrantino wowed me. Like you say, very complex nose and palate.
The Goretti winery also participated in a dinner here in Cleveland put on in conjunction with LPSC where I picked up a couple more bottles.
I served my 2003 over the holidays with a grilled lamb chops with wine reduction. Nice pairing and my bottle didn't seem to need as much air.
The star of the my holiday dinner though was their L'Arringatore (80% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, 10% Cigliegiolo). In Umbria, the bottle we took back to the hotel was really tight, but two subsequent bottles were great. I also enjoy their Il Moggio (100% Grechetto). Cheers!

I finally got to tasting the pack today (12/30/08). I wanted to have some of my good friends around to try it but ended up trying it all by myself. I am glad I did. I enjoyed the all but must admit the third one of the bunch was my favorit. I can't wait to share the rest with everyone tommorrow. Thanks for putting together a great pack.

QOTD: Looking for a job that involves the futhering of my wine education.

That Sagrantino is something I'vee gotta find. QOTD: Trying to stay awake! Thanks for all the shows, Greg

Have watched but not tried the secret pack yet from episode #548. Trying to set up a tasting with friends and want to pair with food. As another comment I saw asked, do you have any recommendations for the Syrah and Sagratino?

Also, been wanting to thank you for turning me onto Rieslings; incredible, ripping stuff.

Just drank the Sagrantino. I opened it up last night and had one glass with a manicotti. The tannins ripped my face off. Only after 3 hrs of decanting it was still too tight. I did get the sour cherries and the floral component. I left it out on the counter overnight and now the tannins are more manageable. The sour cherries are now just cherries and the bacon fat has come to the forefront on the nose. A little bit of smokiness and pepperiness is also present. I would love to see where this is in 2-3 ys. A great, complex wine. What can I say, I'm a fan of sagrantino now.

Still working through my Secret Pack. Just finished the Syrah and started the Sagrantino. Gary, good picks! Loved the Albarino the most so far, but really like the Syrah (some coca cola fizz action in my cheeks! My mouth that is!). I'm also a sucker for dry, sour Italian wines, and the Sagrantino is awesome, I probably never would have tried on my own. Looking forward to the next pack...I like the 'recommendation' approach to the packs.

QOTD: BUSY trying to revamp our winelist! So behind on episodes, but I'll catch up soon!

Wish I could've tasted along!

QOTD: Been chilling in Bordeaux and working the harvest! It's been sweet!

victor

Couldn’t resist peaking- Will have to wait to taste secret pack in Florida
tomorrow when I go on holidays and have these wines and others waiting for
me at my hotel! Yes Canada! You can order delivery of these wines to your
American hotels you visit while on vacation &/or business!

Just had the Syrah. I thought it had a little funkiness at first sniff. I do however get the pomegranate and blackberry jam mixed in with the dirty socks. This is definitely going to be a staple in my cellar. This is not your Australian Syrah.

The Copain syrah is amazing for the price-point. I just had a Chapoutier from 1996 (lermite) and I'd put this in ALMOST the same league...but $100 cheaper.

Would love to try that Sagrantino!

Gary:

Thanks for the shout-out on the birth of our new son Zeke Henry.

He really amazes me!

Richard Shaffer

Keep it up Gary! I haven't missed an episode in over a year. Big ups from Denmark.

Love it so much! Take care

Gary,

I finally sat down on my BDay to taste the secret pack with Mom, Dad, sister, and a cousin. We always love doing these together.

All wines were in general a hit.

The albarino was the most interesting I've ever had.
The sagrantino and rivesaltes tied for the overall winners. Popular among everyone.
We are still not sure about the syrah. The nose was a little odd.

My sister, who is not yet a big wine drinker loved the rivesaltes. Maybe this will be her bridge wine!

Been on the road for the last 2.5 weeks and still not back home yet. For me, the Sangratino is a killer wine. Not big on any of the others. Still waiting to see the VIP package for the cruise. Have missed seeing any news about the cruise lately though we may have been one of the first to sign up.

QOTD: I've missed you too, G-man! I was away in France and Italy for 2 weeks and have been trying to catch up on my life here in LA. Im almost caught up with WLTV episodes, and I have som e good new for you soon...

Great episode Gary! As for the QOTD: My last few months have been spent preping for my trip. I leave in 5 days of India! I'm gonna be there for about 2 months and I'm very very excited!

QOTD: Tasting lots of 2005 Bordeauxs for the first time (having a hard time with the tannins with my young palette), besides wine I'm having fun with our website yayart.com where we are pushing digital art to the physical world.

Once again I did not participate in the Secret Pack, but I very much enjoyed the show.

QOTD: Spent about ten days in Quebec City on business and had a wonderful time as well - great city, good restaurants, decent wine selection despite the Canadian distribution system. Now catching up on WLTV episodes while on business in Geneva, Switzerland for about ten days.

Gary,

Just had the Albarino for dinner with the family. Steamed clams and broiled scallops. It was excellent. However, when mom pulled out her super family famous double chocolate cake for dessert we popped the Le Gourmand Rivesaltes - you were the star of the show! EVERYONE loved it. It really brought the thunder with the chocolate. Thanks for some great secret pack picks.

I did not participate in the Secret Pack due to my travel schedule. Do like Albarinos and certain CA Syrahs.
QOTD - Prepping for my 20th anniversary!

Unfortunately, am 5500 miles away so can't get the secret pack :-(
Turned 40 a month or so ago, thanks for the shout-out.
Had about 10 episodes stacked up and so watching them all.
Been enjoying some new friends and some new wines. Met a relative that's a Veyniak too.
Basically enjoying life.

Geez, I wish we could get the secret pack here in Hawaii. Is there a way? There doesn't seem to be, but I would sure like to taste wines with the the rest of the lucky Vaniacs. Sometimes, the island "paradise" isn't all that.

Been away for a while, about two months. Sold the house, now renting and looking for a new place while watching the housing market......not good. I just happened to log on and saw this ep, which had a wine i recently purchased, the Syrah. Loved it and went back to my LWS to get more. Good to be back.

Hey Gary, we are right in the middle of crush. The winery is full of fermenters and the quality looks great for we've brought in, so far.

I know you get wines from people all the time, but I got to ask you what you thought, if you have already popped them, of our three 04 Syrah's? I would love to send you the 06's, from a very smoky, wild fire year. These Syrahs bring some serious Slim Jim action, bacon fat, and cured meat/venison notes, I know you will love. Everything is good here. Hope you and Lizzy are well out there in NJ.
John Cabot
Cabot Vineyards

Cards should have beat the Skins? You're overrating the Cardinals. Their secondary was nonexistent against the Jets.

The Redskins played terrible against the Giants and Campbell was still learning the offense. Then we have Saints, Cards, and Dallas fans saying they're gonna crush us. Skins never get any respect.

Chris Horton, Defensive Rookie of the Month. How about your old pal Santana Moss? Watch out if he stays healthy. HTTR


Congrats to the Jets and a great performance by Favre.
Keep up the awesome work on the show Gary. (sorry for not talking about wine haha)

This was my first secret pack and I am just thrilled. So much fun tasting along with you. Had to do it in a couple of days segments due to constraints.

Loved the Albarino, never had one before, the Syrah was great (your comment of the marshmellow, cotton candy component was right on). The Sagrantino was most interesting, will enjoy it over the next few days, and the Le Goumand was out of this world. Looking fowward to the next opportunity to try wine with you.

QOTD - Working, both jobs, never a dull moment. Hospital work has been way too busy, and the cop thing is my version of the neverending story. Way too many stupid people making my way too busy.

Glad you are back, looking forward to the next episodes.

Gary,
I ordered the secret pack (didn't get the free cruise ticket inside - SO upset about that since that was partially why I bought this one in particular - oh well) and am planning to do a wine tasting party with these 4 wines and about 5 other friends. I read through all the posts hoping others might say what foods they liked with these wines. Gary, you mentioned light salads, fish, shrimp with the Albarino and chocolate, cheese, cheesecakes with the Rivesaltes, but was hoping for ideas of what to pair the Syrah and Sagrantino with (never had a Sagrantino).

Might I suggest that you definitely mention what foods to pair with the secret pack wines (and if you ever post on here, what you suggest with this particular pack before I have my wine party)?

Hoping I can get to the cruise somehow!! Thanks! : )

Fun show...
QOTD ~ What am I up to? HMMM - Well, I am researching wines for a blind price-point tasting for my wine group. Trying to find the highest point reviews for the lowest buck, and then comparing an $8 90 pt. wine against a $12 90 pt wine, and then against an $18-20 90 pt wine. So - lots of research going on today at my place.
Salud`

QOTD= Love me the Montefalco!! I had a date over to taste along with the show and, she loved the last wine. Thanks Gary. Damn I wish I had bought some chocolate.

QOTD: Working hard, playing hard. Been preparing to play tenor saxophone in our community theaters production of "The Buddy Holly Story". Should be a blast.

I will have to get back on here and post what I think about these wines.

Excellent show Gary

Why goes a screw-cap symbolise poor quaility???? For me I look at wine sealed with stelvin as being better. I'd think obviously the producers care enough about the wine to seal it with something that's going to get it in better condition to the consumer and keep it that way. I buy a fair bit of wine to cellar and if something's got a cork I see it as a reason not to buy that wine. You talk about changing the wine world, why are you encouraging outdated myths of the superiority of cork?????

Cheers
Andrew

OW ya, also been learning how to use my twitter, now I cant stop, so much fun...so many great people.....@Derek7877

Wish I could have joined the fun with the secret pack, man I hate MA.

QOTD: I have been really busy with work, working about 56 hours a week, catching up to you Gary..LOL!!
Also been building my wine collection with some 05 Bordeaux that I have been ordering from wine library...having it shipped to a friend in RI.
3 bottles of Chateau Larrivet Haut Brion Rouge "futures", and 2 bottles of Chateau Vieux Pourret.

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode even though, being Canadian, I could not taste (and smell) along with you. I am excited that you are going to be part of the web conference. It will be my first web design conference because I don't have to travel.

What I have been up to? Not much. Although I thing I am going to buy Iron Man today on Blu-ray, even though I won't have a Blu-ray player for another week.

Have been working hard on my own website and building that personal brand that we all strive for - PP so true GV so true !

Loved your Web 2.0 speech

Any chance of you shipping secret packs to ireland ??

Would be killer

Been going to school. It is nice that I still have been having wine even though I am on my own now. Love the show.