Excellent episode! Am a very big fan of WL (am a local New Jerseyan), WLTV, and now a first-time commentor!

Had my first barbaresco this past weekend at Felidia’s in Manhattan– a 1995 Ugo Lequio San Cristoforo (?). Smooth, great fruit, soft tannins… even the wife likes it! Excellent with my veal tenderloin. This was one of the more inexpensive barbarescos on the wine list but thoroughly enjoyed it. I am now a fan and will try your ’98 Ugo from Gallina. Will be very interested in your blog tomorrow. I give the restaurant excellent ratings as well.

Question- how do you handle red wine once it has been opened, to enjoy the following day– recap with the original cork? do you recommend vacuvins? refrigerate or room air?

Gary,

I notice that sometimes you appear to take the price point into consideration when you award a score. Does RP? Or WS? In other words, would a 90 pt bottle at, say $15, still be a 90 pt at $35, or $75? Another question regarding points — Say Parker awards a score of 90. Now you say that you would give it an 89. Is there a real difference?

I tend to use the various scores as a starating point. A 90 pt bottle at $15 would be a bargain. A 90 point bottle at $75 would be expected at the least.

Bararescos . . . Hmmm, I have had a few, but none stand out in my memory. In fact, the best Nebbiiolo I can remember was from across the river in Roero!!

Gary, another great episode.. Crazy Doc Brown hair!! Question for you. Where do you see WLTV a year or a few years from now. Considering 5 episodes a week, you’ll be hitting episode ~400 by end of next year and episode 1000 in 3 years or so… What do you think will change, etc?

Gene M.

Good episode, Gary!

QOTD – I’ve never really had a Barbaresco… I’m more a fan of Spanish reds than Italians really… but that’s just me…

Have you thought about doing an episode about different but similar wines offered by a single winery. Their entry, mid and top of the line. Maybe Luzón with their Luzón, Luzón Verde, Castillo de Luzón and Altos de Luzón? Or something less inspiring like Mondavi’s Pivate Select CS, Napa CS, Reserve Napa CS?

Thanks and keep it up!

Carlitos

Gary…I went out with some friends to Hoboken to have dinner a few hours ago…and one my friends brougth the Clio…I tried before he told me that is 96 RP…and I found a fantastic wine with a great cost/benefit…I am going to buy a few bottles at WL now…Spanish wines are becoming one of my favorites wine regions…Jumila…Priorat…Why dont you do an episode with Priorat wines?

Fernando L

GV
Love the hair…but why fix it if it’s not broke?
I appreciated the last episode; in fact, that’s why I tune in(EP. 83). I don’t care about the rating vs. price point. If it’s good….say so. If it sucks…say so… Regardless. Good job.
BTW, Our Labor Day tasting vs. WLTV/GV was spot on. We all agreed w/ you on the wines I purchased and your assessment of each. In fact, I have to order some more. Great sales tool.

PS Save all your “energy” for the good stuff.

“Buying your wine so you don’t have to.” 🙂

Dude, looks like the Nicolia Volkoff’s tag team partner the Iron Sheik may have put you in the Camel Clutch while you combed the quaff for this episode. Anyway, ha ha I get the joke.

When going Nebbiolo, I usually opt for a Barolo. I’ve always been curious to try a Gaja Babaresco though.

QOTD: Countless bottles of Gaja Barbaresco, if only it wasn’t so expensive.

I’m glad you’ve finally come to realize the difference between complexity and intensity.

Regarding the Barbaresco question, I’ve recently enjoyed tasting several 2001 Produttori del Barbaresco riservas (Moccagatta, Ovello, Pora, Rabajà and Rio Sordo.

Gary, you look like you juist rolled out of bed. Great show.

How did everyone get their avatars to show? I’m looking all over & dont see a place to setup a profile?
Thx

http://msn.foxsports.com/name/public/NFL/PowerRankings

Gary:

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Fox sports has the Jets rated 30th in power rankings. Last year the Steelers were ranked first going into the season.

I will out myself and say that I have never had a barbaresco. Please help us inexperienced ones understand what a typical barbaresco is.
thanks

Bubblegum on the nose of the Alto Moncayo? Kewl, last bottle I had of a Spanish Grenache made me say “bubbleyum bubble gum” and I don’t mean the grape flavor, my wife thought I’d lost my mind. I’m glad to know it’s a possibility.

Gary-
Another SUPER episode:) I give it a 98!!
I love the energy!
Your hair style is interesting…
I am sooooooooooo glad you found some reds that are great.
I have never tasted a Barbaresco soooooooooooo…………..
Nicolia Volkoff ??? Wild blast from the past.
Please keep up the good work!!

Thank goodness for Fox Sports settling the NFL season for us, Rick McQ.
Now we won’t have to endure 20 weeks of the soap opera of the perspiring arts. Just give the Lombardy Football to the Steelers and save the trouble.

Gary, I’m blown away by the fact that some viewers gave you “CRAP” (as you say on this episode) because you didn’t like any of the wines in Episode #83. First of all, your reply was perfect in that you should call them as you see(taste) them….that’s the whole point of WLTV. Secondly, in the 3 previous episodes(80, 81 & 82), you recommended a total of 9 bottles….that’s right–9. So, keep doing what you’re doing (I know you will) and don’t listen to the dopes.

By the way, this is part of the beauty of the “Chuk’s Greatest Hits” SPREADSHEET…I can easily see all of your recommendataions.

G- way to stick it to Katie… she’s a bad color wine!

Suggestion, PLEASE consider telling us more explicitly what regions the wines are coming from (not just the country) and also consider showing the vineyard’s location on a map. It’ll be a great visual as we learn about the different wineries and their location.

Oh, and did I mention BEAR DOWN CHICAGO BEARS….

Gary! What’s up with your hair today?
High energy. High coif.

Best Barbaresco I’ve had Abrigo Vigna Montersino, just bought 3 more. Same price as the Marchesi but I think much better.

Gary,
In case I wasn’t clear regarding the last episode, my comments were not a complaint, nor did my review ascribe any problem to the fact that the wines weren’t sparking it for you. It was just an off day without enough articulation, which happens to everyone. In contrast, this was a JURASSIC CLASSIC today Gary — BRAVO! I give it a 98 because it contained everything I dig about WLTV. Like Little Miss Sunshine I laughed, I cried (a little, especially when Nikolai hugged the bottle), I scratched my head (at the new “do”, and more product to you dude), but most of all I salivated with the IN-DEPTH helpful detail of what you liked/didn’t like and even why others should try even if something like the Alto Moncayo doesn’t quite get the Vayner-NOD. I LOVED the comparative reference to spending $5 more and getting a CDP Blanc that has a bit more stuffing and/or character compared to the Tensley you tasted. That is exactly the kind of thought process I have, or look for, when I buy. Q4GV: Some of your description for the Margerum, such as “Muscat-like” and “peach” on the mid-P surprised me and seems atypical for a Sauvignon Blanc. Tell us about the most memorable wine you have tried where you smelled/tasted and it was so completely divergent from what you expected based on the varietal that you thought someone was playing a trick on you. QOTD: Best Barbaresco I ever had was a 1990 Bruno Giacosa Santo Stefano Reserva.

Gary…can you explain what you mean by “new world fruit” as opposed to “old world fruit?”

What’s with the hair thing?

Good episode.

Tell us about the “Vayner-slurp”. Is that your special technique or did someone tech it to you?

Gary, wow – maybe a little too over the top today. By the way, I loved Episode 83 – it is more fun for me to see you review so-so wines and make a call against. Very valuable to determine what not to buy. and it was totally real.

Thanks for the guidance on Parker’s over-the-top rankings today. I had the Margerum lst night in Santa Barbara and it is indeed terrific stuff – – although I am still more of Fiddlehead Sauvigion fan.

I love Barbaresco (and Barolo). Our house Barberesco is Pio Cesare – – although my favorite bottle ever was a 2000 Gaja – – it was a Spice Rack in a bottle!

Joe

Gary,
On the page with the past episodes, could you please provide a tasting recap (one or two words), expert rating if applicable, a link and the price for each of the tasted wines?
This would be a great shopping tool.
See, we donâ??t shop after each episode. It would be nice to be able to glance at the past episode page and see something like your PASS!! Get the Case!; Recommended, Good for the Price, Outstanding Bargain, etc.

Thank you.

Eugene