QOTD: Lately I’ve really been enjoying Torres Vina Brava 2007 Tempranillo, which my local grocery store carries for less than $8. I also really like Twin Vines 2007 Vinho Verde for $6, mainly because it’s got bubbles. I’m cheap that way.

QOTD: Trinitas 2005 Old Vine Cuvee, Contra Costa CA.

Ahhhhhhh! The Oak Monster!!!!!! He’s one scary dude- I had a scary experience just recently too…I feel your pain.

QOTD: I’ve had a lot since being in France, even with the euro- dollar exchange. Wine is so inexpensive here that it’s even cheaper than Coke!

Hey Gary cool show, keep up the value stint!

QOTD: Being in Japan it’s tough to find good wines for cheap- it often seems like you need to start around 1600-2000 yen (~$15-$19) to get anything serious; however I was pleasantly surprised by the 2006 Montes Alpha Chardonnay from the Casablanca Valley in Chile, which set me back only 880 yen; my girlfriend loved the acidity and spiciness- definitely not your run-of-the-mill Chardonnay- and the substantial weight and heat on the back end slayed me (unlike you I’m a sucker for the heat!).

Felt the same way about the Pillar Box red, not amazing, but at least it didn’t break the bank.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan!!!! One of the best analogies I’ve heard in a really long time! Braves were everyone’s team in the early 90’s because of the worst to first years. I had those holograms on everything!

QOTD: Under $13 steal! Antis Malbec from Mendoza! I had a bottle of 02 Neal the night before I tried the Antis and it really had many of the qualities the Neal was showing. I did allow the Antis to open up for about 6 hours before drinking it. Dark Fruit wrapped in the smell of a forest after a hard summer rain, really well integrate oak, and long chained silky tannin. The Neal was much more balanced and complete but its still hard to justify the 500% price difference.

Keep up the good work Gary!

Another excellent episode. First of all having seen Episode 552 I was very intrigued to see Gary’s remarks about the Anne-Francoise Gros Pommard and that he liked it – since I have purchased a 2002 Vosne-Romanee Aux Reas by the same producer, and that wasn’t cheap either.

I am definitely going to look out for that first Spanish wine – sounded great.

QOTD – the 2005 Chateau Pech-Latt from Corbieres and (I hope this is right) 2005 Chateau St. Eulalie La Liviniere from Minvervois. Both wines were blends of syrah, grenache, mourvedre, and carignan, and priced at $12.50 since southern French wines are a tough sell (both 50% off). Too bad, they were both worth their original price. Nice and warming, lots of structure and fruit, complexity, and great with hearty food (in this case minestrone soup). When it gets cooler outside, it’s hard not to love a nice full-bodied red wine.

Solid

Trying the 2006 Pillar Box Red now. It is ok. For less money, I might go with a 2007 Anakena Carmenere from Chile. I’m still searching for a good full-bodied red that is under $10.

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Thanks for trying to bring some value once again to the show. I know its something I need to look into even though I dont mind dropping $50 on a bottle. Too bad it was a 1-4 day. We’ll call the one hit a walk-off home run so everyone is happy. QOTD: Dont recall drinking too many wines under $13 recently. I still need to start catalouging the wines I drink.

I had a Chateau Bonnet (Entre-Deux-Mers blanc) the other day for $10.59: 50% SB, 40% Semillon, 10% Muscadelle. It brought a little thunder, just a flash? not too complex but solid and easy-drinking like the Martin Codax Albarino is.

Still working my way through old episodes! When are you coming out to Sonoma next?

GV – just tried the Godello and agree, it is delicious! Thanks for the recommendation…

BRING MOT BACKKKKK

You can get pretty decent Rieslings for under seven dollars in Seattle and Tacoma. They’re all from the Columbia Valley. The better ones you have to actually go East to get in Chelan AVA and other smaller craft oriented vineyards. Its a shame more people don’t grow them in Puget Sound AVA, though the few efforts are promising. Check it out!

protocolo red- although I don't like vintage we're seeing now as much as the 2005 or thereabouts which I was drinking like st. augustus back in 2006 and 2007. But it's still a wicked value play @ 5 bones WL.

Have had the Pilar Box..was ok QOTD-Boxhead and Layer Cake are solid values. http://www.winelx.com

90/100

line of the day – ‘the oak monster makes an appearance and he’s wearing lipstick and a dress’

QOTD – we all love the Mottster but is he the biggest yes man of all time?