Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Are You Afraid of the Dark? – Episode #571

November 5, 2008

The video came out a little darker than usual, but we had a fabulous time tasting wines during Bacchanalia at the Napa Valley Grille in Paramus, NJ.

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Comments on this episode(135) Leave a comment ›

“Just found the show! Yea! Good stuff! And, lo and behold, another PV h…” by Kell Brigan
“QOTD: By far its Cafe Juanita in the Seattle area. Ive typed about t…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2007 Round Hill Oak Free Chardonnay
2006 Flora Spings Napa Chardonnay
2006 Trinchero Family Pinot Noir
2004 Twomey Cellars Merlot

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

The Napa Valley Grille in Paramus NJ

135 Responses

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November 7, 2008

Mike P
Glad to see you liked the 2004 Twomey Merlot! Not a merlot that’s trying to be a cab, or a “lighter style merlot”, it brings the thunder and it’s definitely one of my favorite napa merlots.
QOTD- Go into the city and hit up Anthony Bourdain’s Les Halles. The hanger steak is perfect, and everything about the place rocks. And let me know if you like it!
November 7, 2008

Make It Cool
QOTD: Napa Rose. Anaheim, CA
November 6, 2008

David T
QOTD: Lola in Cleveland.
November 6, 2008

JeffH
QOTD: Jaleo and Central Michel Richard in D.C., Arpa and Customshop here in Charlotte.
November 6, 2008

CR Tisdale
Love the look of this episode, it’s like you’re in the back room of a speakeasy or something.

QOTD: My wife and I really love a place here in Calgary called The Cattle Baron. The wine list is pretty basic, but the steaks are phenomenal.
November 6, 2008

Andrew D
Thanks Gary

Good to see a decent Merlot getting a bit of air time.
QOTD: Favourite restaurants in HONG KONG include:
New York Cafe, Yuen Long – my local where don’t just know your name, but what type of beer you drink
Olive – great value Middle Eastern food that truly offers something different for HK.
M on the Fringe – porbably my favourite restaurant in Hong Kong. Awesome food in an awesome setting.

Andrew
November 6, 2008

Rowland
yo this video is gangsta

you would have been better off if you had pulled the chair back a little so you would have been behind the light, not under it.

i like the guy in the corner lol

qotd: http://www.gildedotter.com/splash.htm
November 6, 2008

Phil G
QOTD – this is a hard one, but I am going to answer with places that I like to go to often, because they have good food at good value. The Blue Dolphin in Katonah NY and Ponte Vecchio in Fairfield CT. Both good Italian standards.
November 6, 2008

Dan-o
Cool show – like the live aspect. I had a few bottles of Twomey at a business dinner a few months back and it was stunning! Loved it!

QOTD – My favorite restaurants of all time are Restaurant Georges Blanc in Lyons, Restaurant Jules Verne in Paris (Eiffel Tower), and in the US I would have to say The Rattlesnake Cafe in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. For a more reasonably priced experience – The Zeveley House in Winston-Salem and Grill 23 in Boston!
November 6, 2008

Murso
For Oak Lovers only. While Silver Oak (Cab) was heroic, and delicious, I found Twomey to be outlandishly unbalanced. S.O. (and Justin Meyer’s) philosophy was to do ONE thing , and do it best. Back in the day, every bottle of S.O., regardless of bottling designation, spent 30 – THIRTY!!! months in NEW, AMERICAN Oak. This concept alone was prohibitively expensive, but with the best care, vineyard practices, and attention to details, they created the number one Cabernet in America. And it was worth it. The subsequent commercialization of wine, Napa, success, and everything else has led us to this point, when I’m not so sure the end justifies the means anymore, e.g., QPR (as in cult wines)is out of balance, to say the least. GV, for such an oakaphobe, I’m surprised at you. I say that every true wine lover , still, must experience Silver Oak Cab (and 1st Growth Bordeaux).
November 6, 2008

KyBoy
QOTD: Jeff Ruby’s in Louisville, KY. It’s a killer steak house w/ a great wine list. Ordered my first bottle of petit verdot there. Shout out to PV It was awesome.
November 6, 2008

Murso
P.N. in this price range is just “wine”, Napa Valley, or not. Pass.

You Didn’t mention that Trinchero’s are the dynamo family of Sutter Home, since the 1940’s.
November 6, 2008

Murso
A little further back, to around 1990, or thereabouts, Flora’s Chard was one of the highest rated in America. The still make delicious wines, fairly priced, across the board. And Sean Garvey always did a remarkable job repping his, and the Komes’ familie’s product. I LOVE their Merlot!
November 6, 2008

Murso
Never had Roundhill?!!! Since the 1970’s, they were one of the movers in production that spurred growth of a California Style of Chard. which was spearheaded by Jed Steele at K-J. Though the Van Asperens have by now retired, I’m sure the successors hold up to their history as a more than dependable producer in the fighting varietals market.

I used to keep extra cases of mags in stock for walk-ins with parties to supply.
November 6, 2008

Derek F.
I love the Dark…this would have been a good EP for Halloween??

QOTD: Capital Grille in Providence RI. The wine list blows my mind!!
November 6, 2008

Tom
QOTD — I currently have two favorite restaurants: Zingermans Roadhouse in Ann Arbor, MI and Rutherford Grill in Napa, CA.
November 6, 2008

disziplin
QOTD: Dream Dance, Milwaukee WI – Retail prices on wine FTW!
November 6, 2008

Chippewamike
GV–feel better!

QOTD– Novi Chophouse, Novi Michigan. Great food. Great wine.
November 6, 2008

J Dubb
QOTD: Bayport Cookery, Meritage St. Paul, Vincent A Restaurant, Manny’s Steakhouse, Murray’s, Oceanaire Seafood Room, Zelo… all Twin Cities restaurants.
November 6, 2008

fatherthechair
Hope you feel better, I am down with whatever’s going around too. Top of mind, Fritzy’s in Howell NJ– no frills, cheap, excellent german food. Get the potato pancakes, the house vinaigrette salad dressing and the bauernschmaus!!
November 6, 2008

Andy
Hope you get to feeling better G…… Get some of Mom’s chicken soup.
QOTD——- Del Frisco’s ….. what a wine list and great food
November 6, 2008

Harry
I’m missing my old favorite sushi joint in Brooklyn, Geido, but loving the food here in Sonoma. So far I’d go for Girl & the Fig. Feel better GV – I’m all stuffed up as well. Maybe we caught a little Obama fever.
November 6, 2008

wayno da wino
Yo G, Hope Ya Get Well Soon!!!

qotd1: I’m on me way!!

qotd2: Great Chinese Food at Chu Dynasty in San Diego !
November 6, 2008

ex-lurkdawg
qotd: Fore Street in Portland, Maine
Gary, I hope you feel well again soon.
Also … Madeira? Huh? With a vintage Madeira? I’ll keep bugging you about it.
Good show. Thanks.
November 6, 2008

KTF
Favorite restaurants:

1- Tiburon – Salt Lake City, Utah

2- Rosemary’s – Las Vegas, nv