George Taber Talks Wine and Drinks Some Too!

George Taber Talks Wine and Drinks Some Too! – Episode #591

December 5, 2008

George Taber stops by the Thunder Show and talks wine and other things.

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Comments on this episode(184) Leave a comment ›

“This is one of my favorite episodes. Im half way through “Judgment of …” by Pangaea
“What a fantsastic guest to have on the show. It must have been an ama…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
View all 184 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Chalone Chalone Vineyard ChardonnayOther California Chardonnay
2004 Freemark Abbey Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

184 Responses

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April 21, 2009

Pangaea
This is one of my favorite episodes. Im half way through “Judgment of Paris” and drinking Chalone Chardonnay tonight(albeit their Monterey County line). Good stuff and mite even be my favorite non-French value white wine so far.

Just waiting for To Cork or Not To Cork to come out on paperback!
January 30, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
What a fantsastic guest to have on the show. It must have been an amazing experience to be part of the judgement. I cant imagine the feeling and atmosphere that went on. QOTD: Cork. Theres something romantic about the pop of the bottle, but I dont care what kind of closure is used if they all protect the wine and all help wines age the same way. Also, a few years ago I wasnt evening drinking wine. Now I have a pretty nice collection in the making…. Gary can take some credit for that.
January 8, 2009

yowens
Really cool show and a nice guy. QOTD: I;m still down with the cork even though rationally I realize it’s not the best closure for wine.
January 5, 2009

Eagleputt
I have read and enjoyed both wine books by the guest. Good show Gary and for crap sake, it’s Gary’s show, so if he wants to interupt his guests, it’s his perogative. The guests don’t seem to mind. If his ADD interview style is bugging you feel free to tune in to Oprah.

QoTD: Some progressive wine makers are closing their bottles with both cork and steel closures so as to be able to be see how their better wines age over time with each closure. I have no problem with steel closures for wine meant to be consumed now. Until it’s proven that wine meant to be aged will still evolve with a steel closure as it does with cork I will continue to purchase my better wine with cork.
December 22, 2008

Russ J
Great show! Taber was able to keep up with Gary, and get his thoughts in, edgewise…..

QOTD: I just like good wine. I don’t have a favorite closure. I have had a few cork issues over the years, but very few. I have no problem with screw caps.
December 17, 2008

Ryan D
QotD: Favorite closure is probably still corks… though the most memorable wine I’ve had was an Austrian Zweigelt liter that had a poptop on it [like a beer bottle].
December 13, 2008

Andrew D
Cheers Gary

Interesting show

QOTD: screwtop without a doubt. I’m Australian and I often wont by wine to cellar if it’s sealed with a cork. It’s interesting that you mention the quaility of cork as I really feel the Portugese cork industry led to their own downfall by sending such rubbish quaility corks to Australia (and NZ) for so long. Diam is certainly a better than traditional corks, but from my own personal experiences and those of all the wine makers I’ve spoken to in Australia stelvin are the superior seal. The other thing I hate are those crap plastic corks, why do people bother, they are terrible and a stelvin is a much better option.

Cheers
Andrew
December 13, 2008

Ron Saikowski
Great to see both of you together after your stint at Wine & Food Week in The Woodlands. Opposites do well with George being the “perfect gentleman” and Gary with his ADHD, over expressive bundle of energy.
George’s research shows lots of passion in determining the best closure. For crisp wines intended to be drunk young, the screw cap is tops. For wines meant to age, cork seems to have the advantage with micro-oxygenation occuring via the porous cork as the wine ages. Synthetics work great also with every-day style wines.

You should have shown the closures on those two wines being tasted on an up-close basis to shown/comment on the cork closure quality.

Lastly, NASA technology has a “box to remove the cork taint (TCA)from wine
December 12, 2008

AaronB
QOTD: I used to prefer cork only, but lately I have been more accepting of screw caps, particularly with whites. For reds, I definitely prefer real cork. I really hate the plastic corks. Unfortunately one of my favorite local wineries is now using them exclusively. >:(
December 12, 2008

Dawn
I agree with Daniel Smothergill, please stop interrupting!!! I really wanted to hear what George had to say. You also kept telling him “you knew that” or “he already told you”, NOT US! We wanted to hear! If you make one new years resolution it should be to let other people speak too. George was a wonderful guest.
As far as closures go, cork is best for so many reasons… Screwcaps are not as “green” as people like to think….
December 12, 2008

Gareth
This was a really great episode, I enjoyed listening to George’s stories and will probably buy bottle shock once its released. I still prefer cork to be honest but it’s a mental thing, with screw tops i subconsciously assume i’ve got a cheap wine, even though my mind (and wallet) know this isnt always the case.
December 11, 2008

JayZee
Boy, if you were angry and pissed BEFORE playing the Niners, I can only imagine how you are now. But don’t worry, the Jets will make the play-offs.

As for the show, it was a very good one. I must say, Gary, that you have had a LOT of outstanding guests this year – keep up the good work. George was very interesting.

QOTD: Screw-tops! And, yes, it used to be corks. Although I still like the ceremony of popping the cork. (And, no, I do NOT like the synthetic corks – they suck!)
December 11, 2008

MattUD
I don’t really have a preference for taste, but screwcaps are mighty easy to open in comparison.
December 10, 2008

Keith
Screw tops all the way.
December 10, 2008

Daniel Smothergill
Gary,
Be quiet! Interrupting your guests time after time is impolite, to say nothing of just plain annoying. It’s so bothersome I left.
December 10, 2008

Tim Wiseman
Love this historic episode, awesome! Still waiting to see Bottle Shock, should read the mentioned books though, adding Judgement of Paris to my library list.

QOTD: There is just something classic about cork. I’m not a snob about it though, it’s about the juice inside!!
December 10, 2008

YoungDave
QOTD: Natural cork is still my favorite, although I like stelvin closures (screw caps), zorks, and glass stoppers. I do LOATHE the synthetic corks, especially the solid rubber/plastic ones. Terrible.
December 10, 2008

CraigG
Judgement of Paris – Great book! I read it about a year ago. Very well written.

I am a convert to screw caps for the last two years. It is the future.
December 9, 2008

Dan-o
Good show! Interesting guest!

QOTD – I am fine with screw top closures. I have been burned a few times on corked wines. I have an extremely sensitive nose to cork taint and I can sense it immediately.
December 9, 2008

hasbeen
Great guest!

QOTD: Kristen already penned it, “I like corks, screw caps, and glass enclosures. I like the romance of the cork, the facility of screw caps, and the innate coolness of glass toppers. But I absolutely detest synthetic corks.”

I have had enough bad corks now to make me more than ready to switch entirely to screw caps.
December 9, 2008

jon arnold
GREAT show, really enjoyed george.

my favorite closure is definitely the cork — they’re badges of honor. Fill up fishbowls with them, make wall art with them… great!!
December 9, 2008

MBannon
Fun show, very interesting!

QOD – I love the Stelvin closure. Don’t know how it will do over the long haul (i.e. wines that age 20+ years), but for everything else it’s great!
December 9, 2008

Kristen
Absolutely fabulous! I’ve read both of his books (using em for my Masters thesis). Good reads. To Cork or Not to Cork was really interesting!

QOTD: I like corks, screw caps, and glass enclosures. I like the romance of the cork, the facility of screw caps, and the innate coolness of glass toppers. But I absolutely detest synthetic corks. Eek. Almost always makes the wine taste bad imho.
December 9, 2008

MikeF
QOTD: I am happy to buy wines with any type of closure, but there’s somthing about the ritual of pulling the cork that I like. Screw caps just don’t fill the bill in that area.
December 9, 2008

Jolie Elman
LOVED this episode. George Taber is a delightful, intelligent and charming man. Thanks for bringing him on.