Came on part one and two rather late. I love the absolute joy you and Mr. Greene have when discussing these world class wines. The Ygay in itself is a story that of itself makes me want to search out this wine. however my region of Canada doesn't have the best range of stocks to choose from

Hell Gary! This was an amazing episode. To see the combined passion and expertise of you two bouncing of each other was truly inspirational. On a more broad note, your show has gotten my brother massively into wines. only 2 years ago he was sure he would never enjoy red win, now he's sniffing and exploring and even went to France for a week to check out the vineyards. Thanks again!!

Hey Gary,

Looking over the comments in the blog i guess I am in the minority but I love good wine and the calif cab never disappoints for me. I just got back from Napa and had the luxury of hitting Frank Family, Pina, Tom Scott Vineyard(Barn Burner)and they are giving some great deals. I haver also noticed a lot of the wine list are opening up and it has been fun to buy a few bottles. i use wine a lot in my business and i love sharing with people who apprecaite the experience. I just had a bottle of the 2005 Dancing Hares...you should taste this wine. I thought it was great. Also just got the opportunity to buy some Futo which is way out of my price range but I eneded up getting a few bottles. you ever had this wine? if so let me know your thoughts before i get my shipment.

Got your book today and bought an extra(at your sugggestion) to give to a customer. I hope it is going well for you! Best of Luck!

Great show Gary...and loved the guest! Have drunk the Murrieta repeatedly and also have had a great experience with D'Arenberg wines generally. You asked a question at the start of the show as to which regions you sould take a closer look at. I'd beg you to look at Margaret River, Western Australia. There are some big name Chardonnays which are not really my thing...but I'd love to see you tasting some of the vintage Leeuwin Estate, Vasse Felix and Voyager estate wines amongst others. Even better, come down to Singapore for a tasting event and we'll line them all up for you. Keep up the good work!

Please more shows like this....
Wife: Hey that Diamond Creek sounds really good, we should try some of that.
Me: Uhh.. honey, you sure? It's like $150?
Wife: Well, Gary really made it sound good.
Me: Well, sweetie, if you really want it...
(to myself: YES!! SCORE!!!)

Thanks guys, an absolutely cracking show.

QOTD: Well too be honest CALIFORNIAN CABERNET IS PROBABLY THE WINE I WOULD BE LEAST LIKELY TO BUY IN THE WHOLE WORLD. I live in Hong Kong so am in a pretty open wine market and I love Cabernet, but in my opinion Cabernet from California seems to be the worst value for money wine going around. I ones I've tried have been to sweet and oaky and definitely bad value compared to what the rest of the world offers. I drink wine from everywhere, but I would drink more Canadian and Chinese wine than US wine!

Cheers
Andrew

Great I like to find some spanish stuff!! I think spanish DO are the most undervalued wines in the US, here in Mexico they are the most available and I've tried some of them from Ribera del Duero and Rioja, being the first zone a hot hot terroir to elaborate some serious juice..... I've followed your career Gary and I love the spanish and italian wines as I'm addicted to these two cuisines and national products..... I enjoy your cheese and wine pairing and I advise you not to focus on italian cheese.. Bring on some french and spanish as well.... I think I may be your first mexican fan since here in Mexico wine consumption is under 0.300 Liter per capita a year.... Keep bringing the thunder..... Love your energy and attitude!!!

Great show Gary! Thanks for having such as great guests as Joshua, Heidi Barrett, etc. So much knowledge to be gleaned just by listening to you interact with them. I'm really looking forward to my 5th Wine & Spirits Magazine's "Top 100" Tasting in 6 years on 10/14!

QOTD: It seems like most of your comments are anti-CA Cab. To be honest,having been involved with wine - started as a wine buyer with Safeway while in college - for 20 years, I am definitely conscious of PQR. Of course, I've tasted countless high end CA Cabs at various trade tastings, but would rarely if ever buy a bottle, except as a gift. However, that has changed in 2009, due to

1) The simply amazing deals out there on wines such as Caymus Special Select, BV Georges de la Tour, Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages, Rubicon Estates "Rubicon," and so forth. Caymus is practically half-price, for instance.

And 2) Joining a wine club - The Wine Hunters - here in the East Bay (Oakland, San Leandro, Dublin, etc.) - where the members are most appreciative of CA Cabs and Meritages, especially from Napa. Have tried wines this year I never have before, despite being in the trade ... Shrader, Harlan (Bond, The Maiden), Hidden Ridge, Stephanie, CORRA, Stags Leap SLV and Fay, Gemstone, Textbook, Cornerstone, Rudd, Dancing Hare, Carter, Pahlmeyer, and on and on. Yes, it's been a crazy year!

QOTD. I never bought Cali Cab and I probably never will. It's way too overpriced in my opinion. Plus I'm not a big meat eater, so it's difficult to find a good time to drink it.

Really enjoyed this guest and you as well. good exchange and you are getting better as an interviewer.

QOTD - Now that it is getting into fall and cooler weather, will be focusing on the red wine varietals. While I have not avoided California Cabs I am much more a lighter white wine type of consumer.

I had to comment again...I woke up chuckling this morning because or dream that had a replay of your reaction to the Castillo Y Gay story..."Whaaaaaaaaaat???!!!"

Great show. I was very impressed with Joshua's enthusiasm, insight and intelligence. Nice storyteller as well. I never bought much CA Cab, mainly because there were far better deals at my price points, especially on the East Coast. I do feel that Napa Cab was an overpriced luxury item for the great bottles. But I've appreciated them quite a bit more over the past few months living here in California, and hope they'll be able to adjust to the new economy. There are quite a few well made Cabs for under $30, but far too few under $20. Those that merit the super-lux prices will survive, but I doubt all the vanity brands selling mediocre stuff for $30-60 will last.

Another great magnum sized episode. Joshua Green obviously has a great depth of knowledge and experience, and comes across as a very classy guy. You both got on very well, and I dare say Joshua's calm and confident demeanor kept GV's interviewing right in the end zone. I think we all wished we could be there tasting with you both.

QOTD: CA-Cabs just are not on the regular shopping list...I try them at tastings whenever I get a chance, but the ones priced for the mainstream are pretty much ho-hum, and the ones that get the kudos are out of the current and historical budgetary guidelines. That said, your reaction's to the Diamond Creek make me think I might need to lobby for a special procurement. Otherwise I get my cabs from Chile if I want new world juice.

Amazing 2 part episode. Loved the guest & loved your chemistry. Seemed very natural unlike some previous guests.

QOTD: In general, I am not buying Cali Cab. I honestly, have never had the opportunity to buy it. By the time I got into wine (6 years ago) Cali Cab had priced itself out of my range. The few I have had in the past, I enjoyed, but I find that the QPR is not the same as other regions. As a father of 2 kids, I have a hard time shelling out $50 for a wine (never mind $150), when I can get the same level of enjoyment for $20-30 from the Rhone, Portugal, Spain, or Italy. If prices came down, then I would be quick to jump in.

P.S. Gary, as a Pats fan, it pains me to say, but congrat on beating us & being 3-0. Your Jets look very impressive. I will issue one word of caution, don't count the Pats out yet. Brady still has not hit his stride, but seems to be making steps every week as does the defense. See you (the Jets) in November.

09:03 "WHAT!" That was hilarious.

Great question--I will buy any red over napa cab--it is largely overpriced!!!

QOTD: Good Cali Cab is beyond my budget. I mostly stick the Chilean cabs or Australian...

CA Cabs are not a good QPR. Also, the trend in the past decade has been to over-oak, and it's killed my interest. Until I start seeing a "100% Certified no Oak-Monster" seal on 'em, it's tough for me to dish out. Seriously, the land there is so good, why do they have to mess with it?

Great follow up to the first part GV. I don't drink Cali Cabs because they are so over priced. Rather go to Washington for the value.

I drink CA Cabs from time to time, but over all they are too shallow unless you go over 100$ and in that case I would go for a nice Bordeaux!!!

Excellent episode! Kudos to Joshua for being a spot on great guest, very knowledgeable, very forthright, just a joy to listen to. Kudos to Gary as well for doing a great job with the interview. Nice work, GV! I really enjoyed Joshua's insights and opinions on the different wines and the wealth of knowledge that he displayed on the areas and the producers. Outstanding!

QOTD: Oddly, I've never bought much Napa cab in the past. This year, I bought some Dominus, Caymus, Dancing Hare, Shafer 1.5, and Phelps Insignia. I think those are all 2005 vintage. Historically, I have always had a soft spot for Bordeaux and I went crazy on the 2005 Bordeaux purchases, so I've settled down some and went back to the USA for awhile.

Second part was just as good as the first. Great guest, great chemistry, great wines. I knew Riojas could, and should age, but I didn't realize the extent of it - current releases from 20+ years ago, 2001 being considered very young. I'm definitely going to but some Rioja away from a long time, but in the meantime are much older vintages readily available and are there any that stand out? I'm 22 years old, I've had a few ports and Champagnes that are older than me and some Bordeaux about my age but I'd love to try a Rioja that's got me by 10 years.

Also, the Diamond Creek sounds incredible, I would imagine it's small production, but how would one go about trying to find this?

Don't forget to come back to the Cristal!

QOTD - I've moved away from Cali cabs lately, mainly because of familiarity and trying to keep trying new things, but the price point also does play some role. If anything I've found the quality getting better - the '06 Phifer Pavitt Date Night is still one of the best wines I've had in the past year, but as I've explored, I've found better QPR in other places around the world - Portugal, Southern Rhone, and most recently, the Loire Valley.

Magazine subscriptions will shoot through the roof. Good show. I'm ready to subscribe.

QOTD: I got tired of CA Cab in my price range. I haven't tried any expensive wines from anywhere. I enjoy expanding my palate but I often find myself drinking/buying Spanish wines as my go-to wines.

Gary,

I have been an avid watcher for almost 2 years now. I would call myself an advanced beginner when it comes to wine drinking mostly thanks to your show. I too am one of the ones who get frustrated when you interrupt the interviewees but thought that Joshua was a perfect interview. Actually, he was more of a counterpart to you, a great John Madden to your Al Michaels. He provided great insight and information on the wine and felt a little deference from you to his opinion, which I felt is rare in your interviews.
Would love to see him back soon!

Gary, great show, keep the entertaining and informative guests coming. Joshua, great job, always knew about your mag, of course, but never really bothered to take a serious look; I will now, after seeing you on the show.

QOTD: Don't even get me started... I've been a lurker, and this Q is spurring me to post for the first time. Napa cabs are wonderful, but freaking overpriced. If I'm buying CA cab these days it's more often than not Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley (lovely Zins, too), or Paso Robles. I refuse, based largely on principle, to overpay for the wines coming out of Napa; out of the 40+ bottles I have here at the house right now, one is a Napa cab, and fully 1/2 of my wines are above the $20 price point. Tonight is a great example, I'm looking for a decent bottle to open for a friend, and am considering a Gigondas, a Vacqueyras, a Chateauneuf-du-Pape (admittedly getting expensive but a better PQR than Napa IMO), or a Bierzo.

Yep. Still buying Napa cabs. Selectively, though. I've recently bought Hundred Acres Kali Morgan, Buccella, O'Shaughnessy, Blankiet, Beau Vigne, Conn Creek Ltd Reserve. Most I'm buying to collect in a new wine vault I just built, particularly the culty mailing list wines like Hunacred Acre, O'Shaughness, Buccella and Blankiet. The rest to consume.

Gary, This has been one of the best guests i have seen in awhile. I could listen to both of you talk ALL DAY! :)

QOTD: Honestly, we have been trying different variates for awhile now. I haven't stuck specifically to California cabs... but we are a huge fan of cab wines. Today we tried a South Africa Cab, and it was AMAZING. Probably the best cab we have ever had!

Good Show

qotd: well being a Canadian and making 13$ an hour. buying California Wine in general doesn't fit. I don't seek Cali Cabs/ Napa just from what I have heard on Oak, and to me that isn't something I want to spend 100$+++++

Yes, I'm still buying CA Cab. But I'm skipping Napa Cabs - the prices are just outrageous. I've found good CA Cab in Santa Ynez, particularly from Star Lane. So, Star Lane Cab is 40 bucks a bottle and drinks like a 100 dollar bottle of Napa juice.

Great episode and a great guest. That was lots of fun. Keep of the good work, Gary.

Josh was great. This is an awesome ep.

QOTD: I have only had CA cabs a few times. I usually buy with the randomness.

QOTD: There is still WAY too much wine to be explored in the under $20 category for me to start dipping into higher end Napa Cabs, even with the recent softening of prices. I'm still exploring Portugal- dry red and whites alike, Longuedoc and Rousillon sub-appelations like Cotes du Ventoux and Cotes du Liberon and Loire Chenins from regions that I have yet to dive into, sparkling EVERYTHING from Vouvray to Garganega-based sparklers from the Suave neck of the woods, to dry Australian Tassy Riesling, Mornington Peninsula Pinot and Chard, to Alicante and Bierzo, to Austrian and Slovenian whites, and Chilean COASTAL wines from cooler climate varietals (Pinot Noir, Sauv. Blanc, Chard from Limari, Casablanca, San Antonio, Leyda) and, and, and...

QOTD: I haven't bought one in quite a while. The prices got to the point where I felt I could get comparable wine from other regions of the world for a much better price. Honestly, it's episodes like this that make we think I should get back to drinking it.

Excellent, excellent episode(s). Thank you very much Mr. Greene. Yours is a magazine I've flipped through many times and enjoyed but didn't leap for whatever reason. Maybe Gary's Portuguese wine reference is right on which means I should subscribe (had two Portuguese wines last night at a restaurant and loved them both). Thanks again.

Loved both shows. Interesting, informative, not TOO nerdy.......

QOTD: Can't really help. Never a big Cali Cab guy.

I loved these 2 shows and guest, Joshua Greene. I could listen to him everyday. You're not too shabby either, Gary.

QOTD: I use to splurge on more high-end wines and always, buy an Insignia and an Opus one every vintage which I haven't been doing. I'm not buying as many 50-80 dollar bottles. More like 40 and under and have gone to other varietals and other parts of the country and the world. Some of the Cabs I recently purchased in the last year were Waypoint, Egelhoff, Justin, including their Isosceles blend and Cliff Lede. No more Paul Hobbs, Caymus or Beringer. Yes to second labels--Stella Grey.

Great show!

Joshua has my fantasy job, tasting and writing about wines. I write and edit pieces about drugs now, much less fascinating!

What happened to the pricing of Cali Cabs are one of my great sadnesses. I grew into wine appreciation at the time when they were available for low prices, but quality was spotty at best. To find the best wines one had to be a "wine detective", read obscure leaflets like Mr. Parker put out at the time and deal with a lot of less than perfect wines.
Then quality improved and there was a "golden period" where America was on top of affordable cabernet sauvignon based wines. About 1992 the greed factor took over. Wine went from a beverage to enjoy with food and friends with commoodity based pricing and sometimes a bit more for an exceptional effort to an entertainment business. Like the real estate market wine overshot (for most people) its price point. Cali Cabs are now out of reach for the average person, and that is sad. Yes I know there are sometimes good wines that can be had for $20-40, but the best are $80+.

I have read that Napa and Sonoma grape prices are declining steeply and more wineries are for sale in Napa than at any other time in recent history. I am hopeful that a great winemaker will get together with some of those lower priced purchased grapes and create and affordable Napa Cab again. The demand would be there if the economics would allow for the creation of a great cab at say $37.95 price point. Folks would buy it by the case.

Until that happens we have been buying and drinking the awesome underappreciated CA syrahs that are available for $20-45. Producers like Linne Calodo, Stolpman, Pax Mahle's new winery, Windgap, Mike Officer's Carlisle etc. I am slowly depleting my stores of CA cabs which I purchased up to 1997 or so. I am hopeful that someone will step up with a new reasonably priced wine before my stocks are depleted.

QOTD: I have a lot of cabernets right now, all of them good. I love California cabernets and when I come across one new to me such as the Robert Craig Mr. Veeder I tasted today, I want to purchase it. However, at $62.00 it's something of a stretch. One of the limitations of cabs for me is that they go so well with red meats which I seldom eat.
Nice show. It was a pleasure to meet Joshua Green. Gary seemed to be in good spirits with his unusually infectious laugh.

Great episode Gary and Joshua. One of the best Ive seen in a while. Joshua, you are one of my favorite guest in WLTV history. Made top 10.


QOTD: I've been looking at Zin's more lately, than Cab's. Also Meved. I try to take GV's advice and continually change it up by trying new wines, so I dont't get caught up one style and vintage for too long. Facts are, as you both know better than I, Cali Cab's are pricy and people are bound to change it up though economic troughs. If wine lovers never make it back to Cali Cab's because they found better bangs for their buck else where, it will just go to show how inflated the Cali Cab market was. Globalization will raise the bar for all inflated markets, especially Cali Cab.

Again, the 2nd part was as good as the first. Great guest, convinced me to go get a subscription... And a bottle of Diamond Creek :)

QOTD: not buying CA Cabs anymore, but it's been more that a few years and not related to the economy. Just wanted to expand my palette and move on. Although I must admit, my fall back is Napa Merlot when I just want a good wine with meals and don't have the patience for something new.

Killer episode. I absolutely loved the guest and the interaction between you guys was really great. Thanks for the show! This one goes into the classics in my book.
QOTD: I have never really purchased napa cab much at all in the past. I think mostly due to the fact that Cabernet in general is not my favorite variety..but also because I tend to go leftbank bordeaux when I want Cab, partly do to the fact that they seem fresher...and partly do the fact that I am drawn to European wines more because I feel like I can learn more from them. I realize this is silly however and I can learn just as much from Cali Cab...which you have inspired me to drink more of. Again...thanks for the awesome interview both of you.