Napa Cabernet and Chocolate

Napa Cabernet and Chocolate – Episode #579

November 17, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk welcomes Suzanne Phifer Pavitt to the Thunder Show for some Cabernet and chocolate.

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Comments on this episode(125) Leave a comment ›

“Seemed like you didn’t really like the 05 at first but then later, you…” by looper
“Puppet Master…that was funny. It would have been a lot better to ha…” by Justin L. Ove
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Phifer Pavitt Date Night
2006 Phifer Pavitt Date Night

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

Thanksgiving Secret Pack
Phifer Pavitt Wines
Vayniac Party at Fort Mason
If you’re interested in the Vere Chocolates please Email Justin. ($6.99 / package)

125 Responses

November 17, 2008

Withnail
AWESOME TOPIC!
November 17, 2008

Susan
Gary & Chris, Chocolate??????? WHAT????? I LOVE chocolate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 17, 2008

Susan
Chris, WOW!!! We haven’t heard you laugh in a while!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!
November 17, 2008

Glenn P
QOTD: yeah baby! And better than Cabernet and chocolate?… it was.
November 17, 2008

wayno da wino
Top 5 WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOA!!!!!!!
November 17, 2008

Omallley
Chocolate?

Nice.
November 17, 2008

crank
I’m in.
November 17, 2008

manonthemoon
this should be intresting
November 17, 2008

wayno da wino
da TITANS are goin’ DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWNNNNNN!!!!!
November 17, 2008

Dominus
You are good G-Man. It’s not 100% new French oak. Their website shows 65%.

Pleasant guest though seems a tad pretentious which one can understand coming from ‘Bama (I’m guessing due to her accent and her high-tech background, maybe Huntsville?) and moving to the high rent district of Napa.

If you offered this wine, I would buy some but don’t want to go out of my way to join their wine list etc to spend 75 bones on a Napa cab.

Go Colts!

Cheers!
November 17, 2008

Harry Gabrielson
My fiancee and i had a bottle of ‘99 baberesco on saturday night with spaghetti and meatballs that i cooked for us, and then went to see the symphony
November 17, 2008

JJ
PRE-TEN-TIOUS. You got that right Dominus. Way to keep it real Gary, you have some heuvoes to keep your integrity and be so honest with the wine “proprietor” sitting next to you. Great show!
November 17, 2008

Little jonny H
Nice show. TBH, I’m not a big fan of the cult wine scene, but I know there are many that love it. I enjoyed the interesting results, and loved Suzanne’s drawl. Gorgeous!

QOTD: Last Friday was our 8 yr anni, and we rocked the house, big time
November 17, 2008

Pete G
Good show. I like the way Suzanne thinks. Cab and omlets – the new break-
fast of champions!

QOTD: Negative. “She” is history.
November 17, 2008

catherine
this episode was great!
November 17, 2008

MattieJ
Well Gary, I think you need to loosen her up… Maybe she’s just nervous knowing this will be seen by so many people… Really, the first guess I felt fits the typical “wine person” mold. Even Jancis Robinson seemed like everyday folk, and she has been in the industry forever and a day. I’m with Dominus, I’d buy it if you stocked it, but I’m not going to go out of my way to find it. Also, if their website clearly states 65% french oak and she was “pretty sure” it was 100% it makes you wonder how involved she really was in the process. Oh well, like I said, I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt due to nerves… I’d like her to come back when they launch their 06…
November 17, 2008

Chippewamike
Great show. GV keepin it real. . .nice.

QOTD: Have not done a date night in a while. One of the best we have done is gone to a bookstore, got some reading material and went to a quiet coffee shop. . . the time together away from our three kids was great.
November 17, 2008

ex-lurkdawg
good episode. I don’t like the way chocolate makes any dry wine taste.
qotd: my birthday on the 10th
I love that the guests have their own spit bucket now.
November 17, 2008

KenP
Good ep.

Thanks for the shout out for the Fort Mason Event Dec. 6th. Go Niners!
November 17, 2008

ev
She says 18 months 100% new french oak. Their website says “17 months, 65% new french oak” for this vintage. So she’s the spokesman and she’s the owner? Hhmmm. And for $75? I’ll pass
November 17, 2008

sam
Great show! Fun guest, nice concept. Good bottles don’t make good dates. However, they are a nice addition to great company.

QOTD: Romance is never outta style. Love and wine can only make you feel good, so combine the two and you get a cocktail of sensorial bliss!

TO LOVE!
November 17, 2008

ellenkf
can you say DILETTANTE?
November 17, 2008

Ray Barnes
I agree with others’ comments that the guest was not a very persuasive advocate for her own wines. The chocolate was a nice and appropriate touch.

As an aside, Gary, I got my copy of your book in the mail this afternoon. Must say after a very cursory preliminary review, that your remarks about Chenin Blanc, with respect to a Savennieres (I think it was #19 off the top of my head), are absolutely spot-on. I intend to study this in its entirety.

QOTD – Not applicable, we take our 11 year-old daughter everywhere – including the opera. (yes she likes it)
November 17, 2008

John C
Thanks for the shout out! I belated November 14th Birthday to you too Gary!
November 17, 2008

Slushpuppy
Way too much banal banter, and not enough tasting.
Smell it first.
November 17, 2008

Neil
QOTD: We saw ACT’s “The Quality of Life,” then went to dinner at Clementine in SF. Regarding the Fort Mason Vayniac Party, we’re in – se you on the 6th!
November 17, 2008

labslave
The love and family theme is nice, but I’d like to see this woman do a punch down.

Yeah, take a Napa Valley Cab pound it with a bunch of new French Oak and a $75 price tag…predictable. Not for me.

Props to Gary for being honest.
November 17, 2008

Andy
She seems really snobby and not a real wine person

Did not like her with Gary. At all
November 17, 2008

Bill wrollcia
yo gv,
nice show, you brought it!!!
hey, as far as the QOTD DINNER 2 weeks ago at bouley, i know, im a baller, lol, it was grwat had the tasting menu and the wine piarings, super cool, ‘Lets hook up 4 the cooking seminars, I know im a pain in the ass, but I gotta keep driving, sort of like jacobs for the g men, oooohhhh!!!
November 17, 2008

Jay
I read through some of the comments above and I can’t believe no one mentioned how hot this lady is. True, I am a sucker for an accent, but man, so good. Yeah, a little stuck up, but I could deal with that. Made it a little tough to care about her wine once she started talking about her husband.
November 17, 2008

manonthemoon
Napa cab doesn’t really do it for me, plus for 75 you can get something great from elsewhere.

QOTD: October on vaca, nice dinner after a long day of wine tasting, priceless
November 17, 2008

kaybee
Nice, show she loved the wine and the process, it showed.
QoTe
Yes, our anniversary! We stayed at a casino, and had a fantastic dinner with a moscato port! at the end and went bowling!
November 17, 2008

Sammy S
Hey G,

I tend to agree with the other comments – your guest is HOT….but her knowledge of her own product seemed to lack…… ok nerves may have had something to do with it but, there are alot of people who work in the corporate world, earn big bucks and then decide to splash their cash on a vineyard, wine label and then flood the market with an over priced wine that somebody else made for them…..wheres her passion….!!!! It just seemed to lack!! just an opinion.
November 17, 2008

Danilo
Yeah! Definitely HOT! Wow!
November 17, 2008

WineWoman
QOTD: My birthday—we went to Alessio’s in Metuchen, NJ (a BYO) and enjoyed a wonderful dinner paired with an excellent wine. Great Sushi Italiano Menu.
November 17, 2008

sharon
Very nice guest. I like that she is making her wine with organic fruit and
wild yeast (did she say that?). So date night…we have one or two a week.
The nest is empty so we are reliving our wild youth with good food and good wine. Well, not that wild…
Fun! Love the QEH, too, and it’s whole lot cheaper.
November 17, 2008

Dr T in NC
QOTD Separated by nearly 800 miles, we don’t get too many dates!
November 17, 2008

Rani Haykal
Great Show!!!

I’m lookin forward to March now, will definitely pick a bottle or two of the ‘06.

QOTD: nope….school and work eat up all of my time…haha

-RH
November 17, 2008

A dumb Rhine king
I’d have to agree with the majority. But what are you gonna do? iiwii.

QOTD: My wife and I went to the Minneapolis Chocolate Extravaganza yesterday, which had a crap load more wine then chocolate, which was a plus for me Then we followed it up with some Sashimi and Sake at Mt Fugi. Home afterwords was really the best part though One of the longest and funnest d8s we’ve been on in a while.
November 17, 2008

rick redekop
every night is date night
November 17, 2008

Paul Stonier
Awesome show, I had a blast watching it.

Our date night is watching football on Sundays.
November 17, 2008

sam
Organic ftl.
November 17, 2008

Richard Ritter
New term: Puppet Master = Wine Contractor. $75 bones seems a little steep, but then again I haven’t tasted the wine yet.

I thought your energy level would have been much higher after a monumental win by our JETS. Dude, the Titans are going to have their hands full. I feel Thomas Jones will have a breakout day!

QOTD: Date night? Haven’t had one in quite a while. Kids are the center of our universe right now.
November 17, 2008

Leonard
Your guest was more or less just there for the show. She was good at that (A Babe. But really did not add to the wine part, but did good as far as the romantic stuff goes. Her husband is a lucky guy.

QOTD: we have date weekends!!! our kids are grown.
November 17, 2008

DAve A
Good show. I didn’t realize Cab and Chocolate would work, can’t wait to try. I’ve always done Port or Zin with dark Chocolate.

I’m not sure she agreed with your assessment. hahahahaha. She is the evil puppet master – she had a whip on her lap, didn’t she? snicker. At one point I thought I saw strings above your head. haha. just kidding. good show.

QOTD: last date night – Saturday night – I cooked for wife – Chicken breast w/parsley, white pepper, paprika. Naked green beans, snazzy potatoes, and cherry/pineapple dessert. Riesling. Then home made port w/dark chocolate in the backyard. (earlier in day we biked off road 18 miles, but you said date NIGHT).
November 17, 2008

RANDI
Gary!!! Love you…
I sssooooo want to live “under the tuscan sun”
Awesome romantic story Suzanne!
Chocolate and wine!!! …add love, money & music and I would lose my mind!!!
QOTD: sadly…no.. & trying to get over him! But I do have some crazy date stories from the past!!! LOL
November 17, 2008

David Scott
Hats off to Gary for being honest about the wines and not embellishing for the sake of the wine maker on the set. I was afraid the review would get clouded, but as usual Gary came through with world class professionalism.

That said, I agree with Gary that there are plenty of $75 contenders out there that could probably bring the thunder against this all day – but that’s not what this wine is about. It has a story, it has a purpose, and it has meaning to the creators, and that’s what you’re paying for – to be a part of this wine’s story. Although I won’t be buying it, I can appreciate it.

QOTD: The last date night I had with my wife was sushi and champagne at a joint within walking distance of our condo in downtown San Diego. Not a flashy, expensive restaurant but a place with ambiance, warmth, and best of all, memories – kind of like what this wine was all about.
November 17, 2008

Carly
hi! haven’t watched in a while (school is getting crraaaazy). What a great show. I’m going to try to catch more WLTV more regularly. But man did this make me want some cab: I just made a choc. ganache cake that would be freakin’ amazing with a glass of cab!

QOTD: My fiancé and I had a date on Saturday at the jewelry store! We finally ordered my engagement ring after 2 months of shopping around. Yay Afterwards, we shared a $5 footlong Subway sandwich: big spender, hehe!!!
November 17, 2008

Kevin K
QOTD: Yes.
November 17, 2008

pawncop
Very good episode, good guest and good information. I really appreciate your honesty with your guests. To me you build your credibility each time and that speaks volumes about you.

QOTD – It has been a little while, work this time of year is crazy.
November 17, 2008

suikagirl1
First thing that comes to mind… I love that(on camera)Gary’s shirt totally matches the labels.

QOTD: using Suzanne’s definition of date night as “finding a little bit of time somewhere to connect”… then, after nearly 22 years, I can honestly say that just about every night is a date night for us. Remember, your spouse is the one you said ‘yes to Forever’ with…
November 17, 2008

amgryger
Maybe I’m a “wine heretic” here, but I don’t think I will ever spend $75 on a Napa cab when I can buy barolo, which hits my palate in a way that transcends mere taste. I’m just saying…
November 17, 2008

Herm
I liked the show but I couldn’t bring myself to spend that much for a bottle of wine…..two bottles of wine, the chocolate and a Jets spit bucket maybe forty bucks…..
November 17, 2008

Jimmy T
Wow! I love what they are doing. Date Night has a great cause and a great business. Props. Great job by the guest but it was very funny watching her devious look as she waited on your response to the tastes. Anyway, awesome show.

QOTD: For sure, my wife and I try hard to honor that commitment. Challenging with young ones though.
November 17, 2008

Maahcuzz
Could this be the eagerly awaited VanerNation’s SP?
November 17, 2008

Alain
Congratulation on the buckets. The flow is better, more relaxed.

The wine is made with organic grapes but is not organic.In order to be called “organic wine” the winery has to be certified organic and no sulfides added to the wine.Interesting show. Alain
November 17, 2008

PaulW
I dont want to be rude to the guest, im sure she’s a very nice (and very rich) person…maybe im just spoiled with all the great guests that have been on lately…but this is the first episode i havent watched all the way thru in a long long time.
November 18, 2008

David T
QOTD: We don’t get out nearly enough being busy with college, but our most recent great night was a nice homecooked Italian dinner & a movie relaxing at home.

The weekly date night is a great idea for when we have a tad more time, though!
November 18, 2008

josh lauritch
Great episode! Too bad the Jets are going down this week. Just sayin’…

QOTD: We have a date night every week. Last weekend…dinner out and a movie at home. This weekend…I’m enduring Twilight. My wife loves the story. I’m glad it’s not real…I could never compete with a dreamy vampire.
November 18, 2008

Brad Mac
I was pulling for the Jets against the Pats, but I gotta go with the Titans being from the South. Jets have a good shot, though. The Jags put up a helluva against Tennessee on Sunday. They’re not invincible.
November 18, 2008

Phil G
QOTD – not having kids, my girlfriend and I get to go our to eat once or twice a week, which is nice. Throw in an occasional movie, museum, or long walk and I think we have the date scene covered.
November 18, 2008

neutron212
QOTD: date me for me is picking a place and running with and talking about what ever. last night went out for burgers and fries and a local chain life is good
November 18, 2008

my2cents
I missed something here I think. What made this guest’s wine worth talking about?
I thought at first given the name of the wine that perhaps they donate a percentage of each “date” to a charity or local schools. (Might be worth thinking about?) I might consider spending that much if some was for a good cause.
You forgot to try some chocolate with the second wine.

Gary it’s time you learn how to wash your own clothes!

I take my girlfriend out once or twice a week. We’ve been into Indian food lately. I usually have beer because I like the food spicy. Other nights we eat in and drink wine from a small “cellar”. Mostly reds from all over.

We live in Sonoma County California, next door to Napa. Plenty of good wines this side of the county line made by real people who work hard with a real passion for the process. Like a date, making wine is more about connection with the process not just having all the “rockstar” ingredients.
November 18, 2008

Adrian
Mixed thoughts on this episode.

Firstly, great project – props for ditching the rat race and pursuing a passion. Always have to respect that.

Obviously there’s plenty of pride tied to such a project but I still felt the guest was too biased and was wanting to hear only what she wanted to. She would nod to every positive comment and was basically straight-faced for any comments that leaned more towards the cons of the product. I would think for a first project that you would want to be a little more open minded and take every piece of constructive criticism as a blessing. Wanting to describe the 06 as more sophisticated sounded like a lame attempt to add a cosmopolitan edge to the wine – which probably already does itself justice thanks to the winemaker. Trying to then promote the less sophisticated 05 as an approachable wine – I don’t know if I agreed with either. I’m sure it’s easy to drink but I completely agree with Gary that there’s probably plenty of cabs at $30 which would work equally well for people wanting to try some good cabs/red wines.

Lastly, love cabernet and chocolate (dark specifically). Celebrated my birthday one day before Gary’s (happy belated btw). Started the evening’s journey with burgundy, bordeaux, and priorat with cheese, and ended with a malbec and a cabernet with dark chocolate – complimented with stogies and friends. Couldn’t ask for more …
November 18, 2008

Robin C
QOTD: I don’t think I’ve had a date since 1996. However my husband and I do enjoy movies (dollar theatre) and eating out with a friend or two.
November 18, 2008

lawschooldrunk
I’ve been doing chocolate and single malt for the longest time…

…And, go 49ers.
November 18, 2008

Weston
QOTD: Every couple months me and my dad go out for dinner, usually with my brother and his fiance sometimes friends of his but always with my dad we both enjoy food and wine. works for us
November 18, 2008

cellar rat
You better start praying GaryV. I don’t think your old man quarterback can handle the Titans defense because it’s like the Pythagorean Theorem. There is no answer(ShaquilleONeal-twitter).
November 18, 2008

T. Bone
Seems like you could take a page out of Suzanne’s book when it comes to making your own wine. You’ve got so much passion, family, friends, and life story – seems like you could make some damn good wine. Why not go for a quality wine instead of the QPR?
November 18, 2008

Oklahoma Michael
qotd= had one tonite. of course I am a bartender after all
November 18, 2008

Hawaiian Vayniac
QOTD: Dinner and a movie while grandma and grandpa watched our 2 year old and newborn. Anything, anywhere is great in those circumstances.

$75/bottle is never a bargain…and if it is then everything has gotten way too overpriced.
November 18, 2008

YoungDave
GREAT episode.

QOTD: NO not yet… BUT I have a date TOMORROW with a very special lady and hopefully that will go well.
November 18, 2008

Tom G
Good episode. I actually prefer when the guest plays a bit more of a role in the wine “talking” but it was apparent that Suzanne was coming from the business side more than the wine-tasting/nerd side. So that was cool, too.

QOTD: Not for a few weeks. Unacceptable. I’ll try to get on that this weekend!
November 18, 2008

theemptyglass
QOTD: In a sense every night is date night because we make a point to make dinner time special, we always eat dinner together, and often make it together. We’ve been going out less, mostly because our schedules have allowed us too, I used to have late classes and get out at 7 or 8, so it was easier to just go out to eat. Now, both of us our usually home around 5 or 6. I wish I had a story with the last time we actually went out to eat, but not really. I guess the important part is that we enjoy each other.

btw I really liked the story behind the name of the wine, I thought that it was just a marketing thing, but its nice to hear that some of those romance stories are really true.
November 18, 2008

hugh
Definitely the “sexiest” guest buy far!!!
But, does the world need another $75 Napa Cab??
Gary, are you in the mode of “I’m not gonna shave until the Jets lose?”
November 18, 2008

italianwinelover
Good job GV that you gave your true opinion even with the puppet master sitting next to you. I don’t mean to be critical but she didn’t seem very excited about her wine?? It’s a great idea I think all marriages/relationships should take time to reconnect with each other, my parents did it and it made the families life much more pleasant not to mention how romantic it is, but I feel that simple touches mean much more than extravagent $75 wines. I’m sure it is a very nice wine but I would rather have hours with my lover and a wine we both can enjoy. This I think would be a nice “SPECIAL” date night if you both enjoyed that kind of wine and had the extra money.

I just spent $90 at a local wine warehouse (cause I live in IL and the laws suck) bought 5 different bottles from 5 different regions of France and almost had a heart attack by the bill…so spending $75 on one bottle just isn’t in my budget right now…maybe someday.

Wish you good luck with your wine…nice idea, nice concept and great story!

QOTD: Last two dates have been train wrecks so can’t really answer the question…maybe if he bought me a bottle of your wine they wouldn’t have crashed and burned!!!
November 18, 2008

Rob
LOL…GV…did you *seriously* just bust out a Gossip Girl reference? Here I thought I was the only guy who watches that with his wife
November 18, 2008

J3rome
LaLaLori and I have a date night every Thursday. We had a streak of 155 Thursdays in a row and then she went on a trip to Seattle and ruined it. Oh well.
November 18, 2008

SteveF
Just an OK show…… felt a little thunderless.
Gary it felt like you held back on your critique.
QOTD: Chicago Concert Chateau Ste. Michelle winery.
November 18, 2008

DF
This was fascinating to watch, quite apart from the wine itself, which I will most likely never have the pleasure of drinking.

For those who are wondering about Suzanne’s “nervous” affect or whatever: I’m a 30-year resident of the South– yes, she sounds like she’s from Alabama– and have learned that a patrician Southern woman is absolutely 100% brought up to be polite, courteous, and *reserved*. For a well brought up Southern woman, Suzanne was giddy and borderline delirious. GV has a way with women, clearly.

Loads of fun. Love your guests. I went to the knitting blog and had a great time with that, even though I don’t knit.

QOTD: Am currently available for a date night. You bring the wine, I’ll cook.
November 18, 2008

Scott EJ
As much as I like having the wine proprietors on the show, I think it holds you back. I understand having to be a diplomat, but you gotta stay true. 75 bucks, G….really?
November 18, 2008

Garry M.
I gotta be honest.
I figure that $75 cabs is what we are trying to change
the wine world FROM.

She is pretty cute though.
November 18, 2008

M
XOXO Chuck Bass vs Dan Humphrey

QOTD: Went out for my birthday date night this weekend. We had good food at a nice BYOB restaurant.

$75 is out of my league but I enjoyed the episode.
November 18, 2008

Phil M'Glassup
No question, this guest is only rivaled for pure hotness by the magnificent Jennifer Pipes. And I have never rewinded to watch a guess spit in slow-mo as many times as I did this one
However, I guess I’m with the consensus here that such is more marketing than oenophilic substance. Especially at that price point. Althought the ‘06 is something I might consider.
If you want to pear chocolate and cabernet (which does work by the way), grab a bottle of that ConnV Valley Prologue y’all were flogging a while back. A mid-palate of pure chocolate cherries and about $25. It won’t save the world but it will save your wallet.
November 18, 2008

David Dadekian
QOTD: Yes I have, just last week my wife and I went to dinner and the philharmonic.

Great episode, not sure I’m sold on $75 cab but who knows.
November 18, 2008

Hido53
QOTD: It’s been way too long. Will do so soon. We’re both really worn down from the day to day work-life (both work) plus child-rearing (two boys – 5 & 9).

Gary -

To be candid, and with all due respect to your guest, but this was a REALLY tough show to get through . . . It was painfully obvious (to me at least) that you found it very very difficult to give us your honest and thorough breakdown of the wines with the proprietor sitting next to you. Very, very, disappointing. Not what this Vayniac has come to expect from WLTV. As I’ve stated before, not a fan of the guest episodes, unless they’re actual winemakers who bring some actual winemaking knowledge/information to the table (or in the case of Everett, cheesemaking knowledge/information!).
I’d rather see some episodes with your Wine Library staff tasting and discussing some of their favorites. Maybe a series of episodes going over what they plan on drinking with their friends and families during the coming holiday season?
November 18, 2008

DaveyDonut
Gary, I gotta give you props for letting your guest speak. It always bugs me and I think it’s quite rude when you were constantly interrupting your guests and not letting them finish thoughts. I can tell you’re trying to be better about this and it really shows. I know you only do that because you’re so excited, but it does come across as a bit rude… so thanks for calming down a bit and letting the guest speak. I’ve noticed it in the last couple episodes, and the shows are much better for it (and your guest doesn’t look like they’re getting hostile like some of the other ones ).

QOTD: The special lady just got her Visa yesterday, so she’s not being booted out of the country! So just last night we went on a date night, and we will be having a more formal one this weekend.

David
November 18, 2008

Deano
Gary Great episode….I will be on the lookout for the 2006 when it is released

QOTD:
-Of course we go on dates all the time (we dont have kids yet) haha
November 18, 2008

JudeMurphy
QOTD- : (
November 18, 2008

Timinspokane
Ahhhhhhhhhh Gary,

You were quite the diplomat on this show! I really thought you wanted to rip the guest, after trying the first wine, on yet another $75 Napa cab that has gobs of fruit, some oak, and a hefty price tag. It actually sounds like you liked the 2006, which is great. I have no problem spending $75 on a bottle of wine if it delivers something that I already haven’t had pounded through my grill piece a thousand times. Napa cabs? Boring……… at least, most of them. For $75, I can get any of a number of Washington cabs or blends (Walla Walla, Red Mountain, Horse Heaven Hills, etc) that bring a lot more to the palate, or a few different killer merlots, or a couple of monster syrahs, or a whole host of other wines that will make me smile. But what the heck….. She is an entrepeneur, and if she can sell her 300 cases at $75 a pop, more power to her! And, we all must admit, Napa Valley fruit, new French Oak barrels, and a top winemaker don’t come cheap, especially on a small scale. That price, compared to production costs, may very well be realistic. The question is, do we want to pay that much for it???

QOTD – date night!!! My wife and I love those, and, with 6 kids between us, we NEED those! Our nights without kids are rare. Last two – great dinner and wine (2003 Grande Ronde Pepper Bridge Vineyard cab sav) at the Whitehouse Grill in Post Falls, Idaho, and some grilled ribeyes and caprese’ here at home with a Robert Biale 2004 Grande Vineyard zinfandel, followed by….
November 18, 2008

late-start
QOTD: last saturday, Hamersley’s Bistro with a nice bottle of WA Cab

Not that bad of an episode, but some important information for those who love the CA/WA mailing lists
November 18, 2008

lawschooldrunk
yeah, it seemed like Gary wanted to give the 2005 a major PAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ at 75 ridiculous bones.
November 18, 2008

Matt R
Long time lurker, but this episode is forcing me to speak up… I have to take issue with this one, although not for the same reason as a lot of the other comments here.

There’s WAY too much focus on the price point of these two wines.

Running a small winery is tough work (I would have to assume, I’ve not gotten around to trying it yet.) Economies of scale aren’t there, so the price points are going to have to be higher than the factory down the street that can knock out a thousand cases before lunch. Trying to live the life of a small wine maker requires a serious commitment and a lot of passion, and almost without fail, at least from what I’ve experienced, ALWAYS has a story attached to it. I respect the quality/price ratio, but for some (myself included,) the story is a big part of the experience of drinking the wine. I can buy X National Brand if I just want the wine, but if I have a bottle from a small passionate producer, it makes it special.

It’s like when I cook dinner for someone I love. The food is excellent (duh!) but I would be insulted if it were compared to a similar dish from a fine restaurant. When I cook it, it’s my time, my effort, my passion, and ultimately, my love on the plate, and it’s every bit as tangible as the food. This is my gift to those who have given me the honor of sharing a meal with them.

If we’re talking about a French or Italian wine, from a wine maker whose vineyards have been in the family for generations, I pop a cork and I’m tasting that family’s good name and reputation. In the case of this wine, it comes with this lady and her hopes, dreams, passions, and values (no focus in this episode at all, but she did mention the word “organic” at least a billion times. Might be worth exploring.) For me, at least, these factors are part of the value proposition, and as such, I would pay a premium over the latest Yellow Tail or Mondavi.

To me, it’s more than just a “from the vine to the bottle” situation. There’s an added “from your family to mine.”

I understand that the Napa Cab is almost a commodity product, but this would have been a *much* more interesting episode if the distraction of the price point hadn’t been as prominent.
November 19, 2008

AB
Why do you spit the wine? Do you not like drinking wine or you can’t bear that much of wine? I have started watching recently but try not to miss any episode. I don’t like the spitting part on the shows. any specific reason of it?
November 19, 2008

Sarah
Gary.. I can’t believe you made a Gossip Girl reference! I actually paused the video and got my roommate so she could see! Chuck Bass vs. Dan Humphrey indeed.

Anyway this episode was fun, although it must have been tough to say what you REALLY wanted to say with the proprietor sitting right next to you. As a college kid, it is definitely not within any sort of feasible price range, but the story was interesting and your guest was very cute. Just IMO, but maybe you shouldn’t have the winemakers sitting next to you if you are tasting? Maybe have another guest who isn’t tied to the wine? Maybe then you could give your honest opinion, because it felt like you were holding back.
November 19, 2008

apj_bobswineguy
Don’t get too caught up in the fact she didn’t get the % of oak right. Matter of fact, maybe the website is wrong. 2005 was 3 yrs ago.
I get to meet & speak w/ many winemakers (the actual winemakers) and they don’t remember exact % of oak or the % of Cab, Merlot, CF, PV in the blend from yrs ago. They are working on current vintages and and thinking forward. Several have flat out told me they don’t remember exact specs but could check if I really “needed’ the info. Trust your palate I guess.
I see differences in tech sheets, website prose, and winemaker speak on almost every wine. Plus, she is relatively new to the business.
November 19, 2008

AMM3RD
I love the Gossip Girl ref., I like Dan’s charachter better than Chuck’s. I will never admit in public that my wife and I watch that show. XOXO AMM
November 19, 2008

Andy
QOTD——— Date night is at least once of a month ,,,, dinner , maybe a movie or just ride up to the mountains to see the beautiful country.
November 19, 2008

BobbyTiger
An “”88″ for the ‘05? Ouch! I could buy, (and actually have bought), a case of 88 pointers for the price of that one bottle. However, looking beyond the price point, I enjoyed the video, and had no problem with the fact that your guest did not have a wine background, (ie, the “Rocketboom” guest several months ago).
QOTD? Ummm.
November 19, 2008

Sharon
Interesting show! Comments here are interesting too. I would never spend $75 on a Napa Cabernet.
QOTD: Don’t have any recent salacious date night stories. They all happened in my wild youth.
November 19, 2008

Ilse
I agree with quite a number of comments here, and I do refer to other comments I made about winemakers in different countries and how “serious” they take the wine business (a couple of weeks ago I made this comment) :
1/ yes, it’s not easy to start as a winemaker, and yes, loads of investments are made, but this is (according to me) NO reason to charge the people who buy your wine 75$…another thing is whether people want to pay these prices (reminds me of Japanese buying the Beaujolais nouveau for $$$ and so, the quality of the wine went to 2nd order)
2/ my (limited) experience of winemakers in different countries is that far the least “serious” are the ones starting in US (must say I’ve only visited wineries in California), almost beginning a winery because “they fell in love with a chateau in France”, or “it’s a great place to have parties taking place”…but these are (according to me again) the wrong reasons to start a winery. If you want to be a winemaker, learn about it, make investments and the objective is to make a great wine. Not the rest.

In my opinion, loads of people step into the wine trade for business purposes…OK, go ahead, but something is missing then…and don’t accuse me then of not wanting to spend 75$ on a bottle of their wine, in order for them to make a nice living and pay for their little “caprice”…then I prefer to pay that amount of money on a wine that is made in a famous winery (which has been busy winemaking since ages).

You can tell I didn’t really like the episode…this was an illustration of why I prefer visiting wineries in Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa (in a week Australia as well) and Europe : the most extravagant thing there were the visits, but wine was always the most important thing. In California often this is not the case, and although the label is nice, the lady is friendly, the winery looks great, the wine can be a fraude…and this may be mentioned.

QOTD : well, off to Australia tomorrow with my partner…Date Night? no, 3.5 weeks of dating!!! )
November 19, 2008

Dan-o
Enjoyed the show. Was your guest from Texas?
QOTD – 20th anniversary last month, limo picked us up at home, dropped us off at the Boston Public Gardens, we toured the city. Had a great lunch on Charles St – Enoteca 32 where I had a Gruener Veltliner and she had a very nice Italian wine from Umbria.
Then we capped it off with dinner at Grill 23 and had a Lewis Cellars Alec’s Blend, which was fabulous.
A limo picked us up after our meal and we headed home!
November 20, 2008

Elliot K
This woman represents everything wrong with the wine industry. What a joke.

– Elliot (SEA KAY SEA)
November 20, 2008

Achilleas in Cyprus
I didn’t like this episode at all.
There was no real thunder and Gary was holding back.
I have to agree with others that buying grapes, hiring people, renting equipment, etc., is not what winemaking is all about – that’s just realising that calling yourself “boutique” and charging $75 x 12 means a possible $900 per box of 12.
There is no heart in the wine – it’s like getting an all-in-one cake recipe, putting the ingredients in a mixer to blend them all together and then after putting it in the over waiting to see what comes out.
November 20, 2008

MattUD
I agree with most below. If you kept it real, then props to you.

QOTD: Looking forward to a date night this weekened.
November 20, 2008

Christo
After sending her website an email and getting a very nice reply from the Suzanne I feel that being on a show Nerves do play a role and that people should give her the benfit of the doubt! Many will regret not picking it up when the item turns hott and the wine is hard to find! Kudos to her for having the juevos to do it! Many people talk about leaving there corporate jobs and following there dreams but few ever do it!
November 21, 2008

Andrew D
Nice show,

Thanks

QOTD: Date night??? I really think ‘dating’ is a North American phenomenon. The rest of the world doesn’t really get into it like you guys … maybe we should?

Andrew
November 21, 2008

Greg
QOTD: Nope. We haven’t made time because of school. But once the semester ends!
November 21, 2008

Paco
Good Lord Gary,

I got a bottle of the 2006 last night. I paid 85 bones at my local store… HIGHLY HIGHLY DISAPOINTED !!!!!!!!!!!!

I understand that u couldnt say much with the lady sitting next to you.. but good lord, there are $30 Napa wines that will put this one to shame..

My take: I think that obviously they are just trying to make money here, and trying to get some kind of buzz going like the “Sea Smoke”…. good luck with that. for now… and for this price, U have to be nuts to waste your money this way.
November 21, 2008

Christophe
I have one of my WSET Diploma classes on the 6th. I’ll try to ride down to SF after. Sounds fun.
November 21, 2008

Craig G
Went to TGI Fridays last Friday with the wife. That was the last date. Otherwise, we have been relaxing at home with the Bouscat 2005. Great pick GV! Great cooking wine too!
November 21, 2008

Tejash
Chuck bass over dan humphrey … all day long. Rock the scarf gary!
November 23, 2008

Matthew L
Hey Gary. I share many of the thoughts expressed already, so I won’t pile on. I will say, though, that I thought it was a good show. It’s always interesting to see the people behind the wine. It’s much different to talk to a winemaker than a vineyard owner. What struck me about Suzanne was her “marketing speak.” It oscillated between subtle and in-your-face. I bring this up because I’m very sensitive to people who speak with pride and confidence about their products, versus those who over use buzz words and seem to be hawking their products. I got much more of the latter for Suzanne. Even the QOTD, which I refuse to answer, was a marketing stunt. Hey…there’s nothing wrong with plugs and marketing, but given that she just had nearly 30 minutes on your show, I think she could have resisted drawing people to her site. I didn’t like that.

Kudos to you, Gary, for being honest about the price point. $75 is way outside my normal price range. This is even pushing the envelope for special wines (gifts, special occasion). Watching your shows all this time reveals that there are scores of wines that can rival or beat the Date Night Cab for $50 or less. Personally, I feel like this $75 is a bit gimmicky. I’m not going to join the calls by some that Suzanne and her husband trying to strike it rich. If you do the math, 300 cases will bring a gross, GROSS, of $270k. That’s not high rolling by any stretch–considering the cost of labor, leases, equipment, MARKETING, etc.

In the end, this show represents why I love WLTV so much. You talk about what you like and don’t like, and are willing to say it to Suzanne’s face. That’s integrity to me. In my best Chris Rock voice, “You’re keeping real!”
November 23, 2008

Matthew L
Oops! “You’re keeping IT real.”
November 23, 2008

JayZee
Interesting show. You really didn’t talk about the cabernet and chocolate combination that much which I agree is phenomenal. Also, you scored the wines – I thought you didn’t score a guest’s wines in their presence. Well, anyway, there was something about your guest that was…
November 25, 2008

Nik
This was a very weird episode – the guest seemed to have no interesting insight.. more a chance for her to sell ‘her’ product.
November 26, 2008

Lawrence Leichtman
Agree with Paco. Bought the 2005 and did not like it at all so I’m somewhat loathe to spend $75-85 for the 2006. I actually have not been thrilled with many of the boutique wineries. Have tasted a lot of them and most are just too over-the top for me. This one fits that description. I would have given the 2005 a major PAZZZZZZZZ
December 1, 2008

Kristen
After watching WLTV for a looong time, I have to say that this was the first episode to disappoint. I agree with a lot of the other Vayniacs on the boards- I think that the guest was pretentious and had no real love of wine (but lots of money with her husband spend on “rockstar” ingredients). I just felt as though the marketing for this product was too much….and not only that, but she couldn’t get all the info right. I mean, sure, she might’ve been nervous, but really, you should know before going on a *wine program* that the host will ask you questions about *your* wine. And even if she couldn’t remember, there’s a website that could’ve been consulted beforehand.

I have to give credit to GV for keeping it real and saying what he thought of the wines, but I think even he held back. When you’ve just started out a winery, getting constructive criticism can ameliorate the product so it’s not just another $75 Napa Cab. I’d rather spend $75 on a nice Bordeaux or Barolo and not a “textbook”, just a hair shy of a fruit bomb. That I can get for a lot cheaper.

It’s too bad the chocolate and cab pairing wasn’t focused on as much. Now that by itself would’ve been a great 28 minutes!
December 2, 2008

Ryan from WV
you all have no fucking clue what you’re tasting here…its obvious. Dont sell out on us! Love you guys but this is transparent.
January 3, 2009

yowens
QOTD: Tomorrow.
January 3, 2009

Eagleputt
I’m obviously behind in my viewing, and in this case read the majority of the comments prior to watching the show. I think the guest and Gary are getting a bit of a bad rap here. I heard all I needed to hear from Gary – I actually think he is quite good at making a negative point in front of a guest without slamming them or the product. What I heard from Gary is there are a number 30 – 40 dollar wines from Australia and even Napa that are as good as the ‘05. Based on that I would not run out to try it. However, I heard that he enjoyed the ‘06 alot and that it rivaled a number of the better Napa cabs. Based on that, I would probably give the ‘06 a go if I run across it. As far as the guest, whether it was nerves or just her personality I agree her mannerisms and expressions conveyed a certain pretentiousness and unfortunately that came through. My guess though is she is a likeable individual in person (she seems warm enough), and I didn’t get the same sense of over selling or money grubbing that I read in the comments on the board. I congratulate her and her husband for following their dream and I wish them continued success.
January 13, 2009

Mari
God, it is almost embarrassing to watch this lady…. Please, if you want to escape the corporate world, go be a teacher, and do some good for the world, rather than create blah blah wines.
January 28, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
QOTD: Havent been on a date in a while. *shrug* You have to roll with the punches.
February 13, 2009

Justin L. Ove
Puppet Master…that was funny. It would have been a lot better to have the actual wine maker on the show. I’m sure you realize that, but I just have to mention it. Rough show, bad guest, what are you gonna do? Rock on. 75 bones? That’s what’s so irritating about Napa wines. Finding real value in Napa is like searching for lost treasure in the ocean. You know it’s out there, but how many bunk dives and dollars do you have to blow before you find the booty?
QOTD: Lady, you bug.
May 27, 2009

looper
Seemed like you didn’t really like the 05 at first but then later, you were liking it more? Why would anyone spend $75 for a wine that is merely “delicious”