Hi Gary,
I’m still looking for a good Chianti in the $15-$20 range, I guess you are too? Sorry for the late comment but I’ve tasted some nice ice & late harvest wines from the NY Finger Lakes region. Now’s the perfect time to take a trip up there. The country is beautiful in the fall and it’s a do-able trip from this area (4hrs) for a long weekend. I remember watching MASH and WWF (I can’t believe Hulk Hogan still wrestles!) with my dad and brothers when I was young but, like the Chianti you tasted so I don’t have to, there’s a lot of crap on TV these days…….except when the Yankees are pummeling the Red Sox, or any one else of course:-)

Gary:

Very very useful show today. I used to drink Chianti once a week with Itallian…and I got tired of them. Switched to Brunello on the days I feel great and Barbara for more everyday use. Barbara at $20 does offer that something special that Chianti does not – – and is an awesome match for traditional Itallian dishes.

My favorite TV show of yesteryear is the Andy Griffith show featuring don Knotts as Barney Fife. I don’t watch any TV now other than WLTV, Yankees and Mike and the Mad dog TIVOed on YES.

Joe

Gary

Chianti is about acid and more acid. Makes the tomato sauce taste juicy.

I’ll asasume Gary liked Taxi as an all time fav. How did I leave out Entourage? Matty Van good call on Denny Crane, love that character. However, the Sopranos has sucked for two years now. A show I would like to see every film of burned would be, “Yes Dear”, God that show sucked.

I’ll asasume Gary liked Taxi as an all time fav. How did I leave out Entourage? Matty Van good call on Denny Crane, love that character. However, the Sopranos has sucked for two years now. A show I would like to see every film of burned would be, “Yes Dear”, God that show sucked.

Nice episode on Chianti. I had that Ruffino recently, and I agree, super boring. QOD:
Favorite tv show now is Entourage. I’m a young LA resident and work in the music business, so I can definitely relate to their (mis)adventures. Favorite of all time, gotta go with Seinfeld

Current favorite – Lost.
All time favorite Lost in Space…………danger Will Robinson!

How can you justly do a Chianti episode and not have a wicker basket bottle? Come on!

Favorite TV show right now: WLTV 🙂
Favorite TV show of all time: Everybody Loves Raymond

Current: RESCUE ME (hands down the best show), Sopranos, Entourage, 24, Daily Show w/Jon Stewart

Past: SEINFELD (hands down again) and West Wing

Never met a Chianti I really liked, so thanks for validating my avoidance. QOD- all time – X Files; now – Entourage or Deadwood, depending on my mood.

Fianlly, giving the Ravens some props. Who knows, if you wisen up and renounce your allegiance to the JETS, we just may welcome you into the… wiat… on second thought… naah…. Anyway, best TV show on the air right now: The Simpsons. The best ever: MASH.

Funny about the Ruffino. A friend turned me onto it a few years ago with the 1997, but after trying different vingtages of the Gold, I have to say I was also “left wanting”. There are better Chiantis out there at the same price point and lower. Sorry to hear that there are so many changes going on — I also like the fact that different wines from different places taste so different. It will be a shame if things become as homogenized as you describe.

As to TV — I think it is impossible to pick an all-time favorite show, there have been so many good ones. Here are some choices:
Current Comedy: Haven’t seen one yet that I like
All-Time Comedy: Seinfeld, Frasier, first two seasons of Ally McBeal
Current Sci-Fi: Battlestar Galactica
All-Time Sci-Fi: Star Trek (just because it started them all)
Current Mystery/Fantasy: Lost
All-Time Mystery/Fantasy: X-Files
Current Medical: Tie between House and Grey’s Anatomy
All Time Medical: Tie between House and Grey’s Anatomy
Current Lawyer: “Justice” seems very promising
All Time Lawyer: Law & Order series
Current Cop/Investigative Drama: CSI (original in Vegas)
All Time Cop/Investigative: Tie: Hill Street Blues/NYPD Blue

A serious contender for best all-around acted, directed, written and executed television of all time would have to be “24” though. I typically rent it on DVD and have a seriously tough time stopping the show to eat or sleep. I usually look for a rainy weekend and just plow through the entire season between Friday evening and Sunday evening. Can’t wait for Season 5 to be released!

*sighs* -never really loked Italian wines EITHER. Well, except for years ago when I first tasted Barolo – I remember thinking it was like Port, but dry. Anyway… Y’all might be interested to know that ther eis a winery in Pennsylvania called Va La http://www.valavineyards.com/ run by an Italian family making wines from Italian varieties. THey make a very good Sangiovese and a mythically renowned but pretty poor nebiollo (this wine is by reservation only and has a limt of 4 or 6 bottles). Their Barbera is interesting, but slighty bitter. However, they are a serios operation and very highly regarded. WOrth a look if you’re passing.

Favourite TV programme? HAS to be “Iron Chef”, America or Original. Oh, and “House” of course(but not the present series which seems a WEE BIT WHACKY……….

G

… did I say I couldn’t type?

Anyone out there who knows: What do they mean when they describe a wine as backwards? And Gary, how about doing an episode on “second labels” on some of the more expensive Bordeaux’s? (for those of us who don’t live off of trust funds).

I can’t believe that no-one likes “HOUSE”.. c’mon guys – it is the best show on TV right now!!!

All time – I would have to go with Seinfeld – What other show do you know that many one liners from???? “hhheelllllooooooo Jerry”

Seinfeld was a great show, but Curb Your Enthusiasm was better. Once you see CYE, you can clearly tell that it wasn’t Jerry Seinfeld that made “Seinfeld” so good, it was Larry David.

When I was in Chianti during the month of may, I stumbled upon a small winery. The guy there said he only made wine for friends, but let us try some anyway and it was pretty tasty stuff. His philosophy is unoaked. Glad we were able to take a few bottles home after he pressed the foil and chianti labels on them by hand. Then, he bottled some olive oil too which is still the best i have ever had.
Fav TV show is Entourage

Gary, Again…awesome.
Great advice on the Ruffino. I thought the ’97 was good (not great) but lately things have not been the best for those guys.
Again…I extend my house and hospitality to you if you want to come down to Atlanta to eat on your restaurant tour.

Currently – “Rescue me” is the best show on TV

Historically – “Blackadder” ??? Anyone familiar ??

How about FONTODI????? Best Chianti on the market!!!

Best show ever…Price is Right…No doubt…I used to schedule my college classes around it! Now…I don’t watch much…but if “The Thirsty Traveler” is on…I watch. And if there is a Formula 1 race or a WRC race or poker; I watch.

YES>>>>Blackadder!!!!!

First of all Greg S. Its bad enough you’re a steeler fan but to be an ass kisser also…WLTV is your favorite show…please…Just breaking balls. I can’t believe no one mentioned the classic show of all time…All in the family-old world wine, recently, Seinfeld-new world fruit bomb. Gary, this is why the wine world can be difficult someimes. You hated the Ruffino 87pts(barely) you gave it but DT gives it a 92. Whats up with that? How can there be such a difference? When should i make the reservations at Piccolo Angolo?

I forgot to mention THE OFFICE…..great show (I have a “Dwight” BOBBLEHEAD…awesome!)

Per my earlier posting, RESCUE ME and SEINFELD are still my # 1’s.

GARY, Assuming that you’re an OFFICE fan???,Dwight’s BOBBLEHEAD needs a place on your tasting table on an upcoming episode.

FUTURE QOD: Top 5 movies of all time

The producton code for Chianti Classico is more stringent than for Chianti. It requires a minimum of 80% Sangiovese (vs. 75%) but can be 100%, the remaining percentage of red grapes can be either native or “international” varieties but must be grown on the estate, and after the 2005 vintage the previously allowed white grapes, Trebbiano and Malvasia Blanco, cannot be used.

The fact that Merlot, Cab Sauv and Syrah can at most be 20% means the Sangiovese characteristics (aromas, tastes, mouth feel, ec) would still dominate.

As for Chianti Classicos that might have fared better, two come to mind. One, mentioned earlier, is Antinori Badia A Passignano and the other, Felsina Berardenga Riserva Rancia.

As for the QOTD, Seinfeld for comedy (The Honeymooners a close second) and for drama Law and Order. Must be the New Yorker in me.