A Master Sommelier From Germany Stops By To Talk Wine

A Master Sommelier From Germany Stops By To Talk Wine – Episode #605

January 7, 2009

Master Sommelier Hendrik Thoma from Germany stops by and chats wine, german wine and shows us his great personality.

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“I missed the favorite song question at the end there. ,…” by Bob78
“Terrific episode. Great guest, great Bulava video tacked on at the en…” by Daria Kushmelyn
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Wines tasted in this episode:

1992 Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Spatlese RieslingGerman Riesling
2007 Cartagena GewurtztraminerOther Chilean White Wine
2006 Becker Pinot NoirOther German Varieties
2006 Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling AusleseGerman Riesling

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

If you want to contact Hendrik

423 Responses

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January 8, 2009

TWalk
Great episode Gary….and an awesome guest…I would say it would be quite difficult to produce a goooood wine for under eight dollars and make any serious money off of it. But who am I?
January 8, 2009

Jeff Vogel
Hendrik–next time you’re in Kaiserslautern, drop an e-mail. Gary–this show was classic! I hope you were serious about having Herr Thoma on as often as possible. When I saw you were drinking Becker’s Pinot, I thought it was Fritz’s Pinot Noir Tafelwein. Shame it wasn’t; I would have loved to have heard your (and Hendrik’s) thoughts on it (and its price point: 85 Euro ex cellar). But glad you were able to taste the estate Pinot nonetheless, not to mention another Helmut Doennhoff classic. Wait till you taste the ‘07…it literally will make you faint.

QOTD: While we’re on the topic of Doennhoff wines, Helmut makes it very apparent that great wines are available for little money. His QbA Rieslings are some of the most riveting examples of broad estate-bottled Riesling, and that at under 9 Euro. This gives rather broad context to a tricky question: In the local currency–assuming you’re paying in it, without conversion–many a great wine can be made and had for under 5-8 Euro. It takes some research, but there will always be a new venture out there just trying to squeeze itself into a little sliver of shelf space, or an old one trying to resurrect its image for a new qualitative era. And if we remain diligent and discerning, one day we–with a little bit of you, Gary–will discover that $5-10 treasure trove…and the wine world will never be the same again. Peace!
January 8, 2009

diego
Oh and I forgot to mention Vinho Verde. You can get dirt cheap bottles that are a fascinating and fresh. Did I mention they we’re cheap? Like 4.50$ in some cases
January 8, 2009

RobM
Interesting episode, who would have thought a Master Sommelier to be less critical than the merchant.

Also, Gary I was wondering if anyone alerted you to the recognition WL and you got on Boomer and Carton this morning. Boomer referred to you as the Sommelier that signed the book included with his wine club shipment he received from Carton for Christmas. I have to say though, someone gives Boomer a WL gift and the best you can do is a signed book? Maybe something a little more creative could have gotten one of them on the Thunder Show.
January 8, 2009

diego
I has some farmer wine that I bought from a stall at a market in Paris that was pretty good. It was some sort of blend. 5 euro and it had great terrior and honest fruit. What kills the price point I think is the need to distribute and produce a lot of a cheap wine. If you can keep it small you have a better chance….but then again exclusivity yields price increases.
January 8, 2009

shawn
1st time posting long time fan.Great show had a good laugh at the end.
The interview was perfect i could have watched you two for hours.Thanks
for all that you’s do.
January 8, 2009

theemptyglass
QOTD: Why not? I mean good cheap wine won’t be made by thinking that it can’t. It only limits your possibilities. I think if enough wine makers try to make good cheap wine eventually they will figure out ways to do so. And I will keep trying cheap wine, because how will I know they aren’t good, unless I try. (And I can afford to do so, whereas I cannot afford the risk of more expensive wine.)
January 8, 2009

Yvettew
This was a great episode! Hendrik, you should definitely co-host with Gary once every month, haha.

QOTD: You might be able to make a pretty good bottle of wine for around $8, but in terms of the quality that some wine makers produce, I don’t believe so.
January 8, 2009

CBone
Nice show! Under $8 is tough, but I think it can be done, sure. If someone enjoys a wine, isn’t it then a good wine?
January 8, 2009

KWC
Love the episode, and I just bought some of that same donnhoff (for too much at another store). Guest was great. If you can make a good wine at that price, I haven’t had it, oh well. It just doesn’t seem likely, how can you take the time to love a wine and then sell it for that little.

PS The Cartier looks exactly like the watch I almost bought last week, now I can’t because people will think I’m a stalker, thanks GV.
January 8, 2009

Laura
I Love Love Love the GaryVee Wine Nerd. Thoma was awesome – CoHostHimUp!
He totally up’d your game and we all benefited from that.
January 8, 2009

TommyB
What a nice bloke! Can’t believe he never had a Gewurtz before though! And why have you only had 3 Gary! Ah.. who cares! Keep it going through 2009 fella,s. TommyB, Plymouth, UK
January 8, 2009

gubby
Great guest, right up there with Ian, Robinson, and Kramer. I have had a nice wine under $8. It was a South African merlot with nice balance and an interesting black pepper nose and finish. I enjoyed it.
January 8, 2009

M
Great guest.

QOTD: No, I cannot make a great wine for under $8. HaHa. Hopefully others can. All wines I drink are under $20. Many of them I consider great. Although I haven’t compared them to more expensive wines.
January 8, 2009

Greg Z
Fantastic show Gary. Mottt, awesome ending! Gary, you said that you like some of the wines that you diss. Start giving a double score, first one compared to the varietal expection and the second for the enjoyment factor that ingores the baseline expectation.
January 8, 2009

nelsonmaud
great show ,good guest
January 8, 2009

Leephus
Great show… again.

Apologies – Hendrik, not sure why I put Henry. LOL
January 8, 2009

Leephus
Great show! I don’t know how you keep it going GaryV. Guest was great too, really enjoyed Henry.

QOTD – Possible not probable
January 8, 2009

terrypk1
this guy is amazing. YEAH THANKS GARY.
January 8, 2009

Nath
Grea Show, great guest. Under$8- Yes, Non Vintage blends can achieve this in my opinion. Later
January 8, 2009

Herm
Great show Gary…..I enjoyed your guest an his German perspective…..I think it is possible to find great wines for $8.00….it’s all about your palate when all is said and done…
January 8, 2009

DF
QOTD: Probably not one that will knock your socks off, but for 364 days out of the year you can drink an under $8 bottle and be happy. Try Dona Paula Los Cardos Malbec and google my favorite food blog, Andy’s Diner/Malbec for more choices.
January 8, 2009

John Cannata
As always, your video was very informative. I am still learning and appreciate your show. The video AFTER you show today was great. Love the ending! LINK IT UP VAYNERCHUK!
January 8, 2009

joel delon
As a french actor in the french wine industry (Languedoc) i think you can make a truth wine under 8$ does not mean good but loved gary’s opinion about wine truthness ! too many wines hide their essence that’s why any consumer has to explore the hidden part of the wine
thank you gary for this show… from south of france
January 8, 2009

JayZee
What a freakin’ great show!! Excellent in every respect. Yet another excellent guest. Hendrik was super.

QOTD: Well, I certainly can’t make a great wine for under $8. I think you could make a great wine and give it away, but, no, I don’t think someone can make a great wine and sell it for under $8 and make a living.