Gary,
I could not have been more pleased with your reaction to the Bedell merlot. Well I guess a “It sucks” would have provided an even greater chuckle, but to that gray haired old snob at the winery, ha ha ha . Justed started the whole wine thing so I would like to know what $25 and what $50 cab would provide the most bang for my buck. Not yet become comfortable with dropping a $100.
Thanks,
The vindicated wine novice

Just saw yesterday’s WLTV now. Great show…. as for the best Cab, I have to thank you. Was out at The Ryland Inn about 6 months ago for a group 40th birthday with my wife and two friends and their wives. Both friends are further along in their wine education than I.

During the early parts of the meal my friends had selected a white and then a burgundy (neither of which I specifically recall). As the time came for our beef course we decided to go with a Cali Cab, and it was my turn to choose. Browsed the list looking for something that would be good but wouldn’t completely break the bank and when I came upon the 2002 Egelhoff Cab. I thought it to be pretty reasonalble on a restaurant list at $110.

I had purchased a case from WL based on your extremely strong recomendation last year but hadn’t yet tried. It was absolutely stunning. We all loved it, and I was very pleased to come up with something that they had never heard of and are now trying to acquire. Can’t wait to get into my stash over the next years. Many thanks!

Best cabs – I have to go with the ’61 Lafite Rothschild. But for California, the ’84 Mondavi Reserve was marvelous. I’d have loved to try it alongside the ’84 Heitz Martha’s.

I agree that Virginia, Texas, Idaho may have a shot of hitting the high end of things. But NJ??? It’s a LONG way off.

Keep ’em coming.

The best Cab I have ever had …
– over $100 – Bryant Family 1997
– under $100 – Clark Claudon 1994 or Quilceda Creek 1998

Lovin’ WL TV … thanks

hey, don’t knock Jersey… we rank 5th in wine production behind CA, WA, OR, and NY… (Though can’t say I have had any good ones, let alone many NJ wines at all…) 8

Gary,

Would love to see an episode on Michigan whites. Best cab based wine — tough call. I’ve recently had both a 1989 Pichon Longeuville and a 2003 David Arthur Elevation.

the tour was great, reminded me of some Benny Hill episodes. maybe you could dress up for us? In NYS I like Dr. K’s Salmon Run chard. For California cab, I remember a bottle of 1986 Chateau Montelena Estate that was great a couple of years ago. For Bordeaux, Lynch Bages 1989

GV,

HEITZ CELLARS MARTHAS VINEYARD 97

I love Cabernet Sauvignon (and Cab-based) wine. While I have enjoyed several outstanding ones from all over the world, the one that stands out in my mind was the 1997 La Sirena from California. My wife and I drank it in 1995 (6 years in bottle) and it showed lush black currant fruit, lightly toasted oak, sweet spice and minerality and ripe tannins. A well balanced wine!

gary,
how do you have a ny episode without finger lakes rieslings? I know you have some Dr. Frank’s rieslings in stock, and you used to have a wiemer riesling in stock. Hopefully you are just waiting until you have a better selection of finger lakes wines before you feature them in an episode?
also, I hope you include a dominus in your cab tasting because it seems like a high-end wine that the critics (rp and laube of spectator) have been dramatically split on for recent vintages.
-thanks

1971 Chateau Margaux when it was in its prime.

GARY YOU TALK THE TASTE OF BLACK CURRENT. I’M NOT SURE WHAT IT TASTES LIKE CAN YOU DESCRIBE ANOTHER WAY!

Rick

New World:
JP Insignia – all good, but best I have tasted so far is 1991. I have newer vintages in my collection, but I like to wait till they are really ready to drink.
Old World:
Pichon Longueville – Lalande. 1989 is the only one I have tasted, though I have other vintages in my collection.

Gary, another awesome episode. I have watched from the 1st (Verite) and you are now Humming with the show. I haved been going to WL since 1999, and it was interesting to reflect back on how small WL was then while watching you run through the place now. I have all my family and friends visiting WLTV now.

My best Cab experience was the 1978 Chateau Montelena Estate consumed in 2000. The longest strongest finish I have ever experienced. It was still youthful. Montelena must of loaded that wine with Stems and seeds back then for it to have so mcuh life after 22 years.

thanks for all you do for us.
Joe

Best Cab based
Old World 1971 Leoville Las Cases by far.
New World old style 1979 Heitz Martha’s Vineyard
new style 1999 Harlan the Maiden

Keep up the great comments.
How about a review of Virginia Wines.

I’m a little late with this but…..Wow, some interesting LI bashing on this board. There are over 30 wineries on the east end of LI and sure, some are not so hot, but do yourself a favor and try a few others. Shinn is making great reds. Jamesport makes some great reds, whites and blends. And Channing Daughters and Wolffer, both on the South Fork, are 2 of the best wineries out there. Also try Lieb (whites), Macari and Roanoke. If you just go to the Pindar’s and Bedell’s you’ll be missing out.

Best Cab based ever would have to be the one that hooked me. 1959 Chateau Lafite Rothschild “Double Magnum” I was fortunate enough have this one at a family reunion about 12 years ago.

The best i have found in my price range however is the 1992 FERRARI-CARANO “TRESOR RESERVE”
I also really enjoyed the 1998 Leeuwin Estate “Art Series” Cabernet, but can’t seem to find them anymore. Gary thanks for everything and keep up the good work. Jtk

Great tour for us West coast buyers…
Best Cab…94 Mondavi Tokalon,or a 97 Grgich Yountville…01 latour…

Drool … wish we had something like WL over here.
QOTD: difficult, I not really into Cab. Sauv. (I like it though). Let’s go for OW then, because NW is hard to get. Mmm, 1990 Sociando-Mallet? Maybe yes.

Gary

Come back – plaese!!!

Best Cab 2002 Rudd Oakville Properitary Estates. Very hard to find in Wisconsin. It was young but opened up and was outstanding.

Great episode.

Keep doing more USA wines that aren’t from California!!

Being on IR, having nothing to do, I watch this episode for the umpth time and finally had to comment… you didn’t show the area of your store where I pick up my online orders.

The most surprisingly awesome Cab I had was Cyrus 1998 Alexander Valley. It was in the cellar till summer of ’06 and we tasted it with Justin Isosceles 1997 (95ws) and it kicked the Isosceles all over the place. Maybe it had something to do with the Cyrus being unfiltered but what a gem it was. I may have opened the wine at its very peak. Never had an experience quite like that with a bottl I payed $25 for. Keep-it-up Vay-ner-chuk!
Looking forward to see when they announce the date of the Steelers-Jets game.

I feel like I know you so much better now. Sweet.