Gary

I like the following cider:
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/growers-granny-smith-apple-cider/17340/6217/
But here are some others to pick from
http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products?keyword=cider

These are much better than my homemade hard cider which is a dry light-bodied wine that has no aroma. The best description for the Okanagan ciders — crisp and sweet. Best when laying in the grass at Jericho Park at the Vancouver folk mucic festival http://www.thefestival.bc.ca/ They welcome volunteers from all over. http://www.thefestival.bc.ca/volunteers/index.php

EJ…To echo Gary on the subject…wine is a lot tougher than you think. If you are going to drink the wine within a week or so, it’s not gonna matter if you put it back in the cellar or keep it chilling in your fridge. The important thing is going to be serving at the ultimate temperature you like German Whites at.

Personally…I say keep it in the fridge to remind you to make a great meal!

B

The Rocky Creek is not tasting well at all tonight, unless you like grape koolaid.
I’m gonna give it another 18 hours and see what developes, but right now I could pass on this Zin.

B

Gary, you MUST seek out and taste the ciders of Eric Bordolet if & when you get a chance. He’s an artisanal cider producer in the Loire who makes estate, terroir-driven hard ciders from his biodynamically-farmed apple & pear orchards. He’s pals with Loire winemakers Didier Dagueneau and Francois Chidaine.

Are we talking Hard Apple Cider? I answered for non-alcoholic earlier.

I’ve tried about a dozen Hard Apple Ciders and the best (by far) is Ace brand from Sonoma County, CA. Real fruit taste and not super sweet (for a cider) unlike the more popular Canadian ciders which taste candied/artificial.

Brandon:

Are you sure you’re using the appropriate glass for the Rocky Zin?

Is it the Bordeaux, Burgundy, or Chianti glass for that?

I would think it would be the Bordeaux, but I’ve seen other glass recommendations from the websites that sell wine glassware. Is this not a science??

Gary, gary gary gary!! For the last time! I am not an Eagles fan. Chris is. So come on all ready!

BTW, I am a Steelers fan, who also lost by a field-goal on Sunday. But quit saying I like the Eagles!! Great episode.

Happy Birthday SS Chris!!

Last night I drank the Domaine “La Garrigue” 2004 from episode #45…very nice wine. I really enjoyed it a lot. It has good color, nice terroir and spice on the nose which follows to the palate, very nice tannins, and a long finish. I agree with GV and RP…90 pts. And a great price for such a well made wine.

So Gary, what about those WLTV parties?

I’ve been drinking the Las Rocas for the last 3 vintages. It has always been an excellent value and is perfect for everyday drinking purposes. Here is a link to my blog where I discussed this wine.

Steve B
blog.thegrapenuts.net

Oops, forgot the link…………… Here it is

http://blog.thegrapenuts.net/?p=23 – my entry

http://blog.thegrapenuts.net/?p=5 – my brother-in-law’s entry

Steve B

YES!…The Giants beat America’s Team. It’s gonna be great watching Eli grow into a great NFL QB.

QOTD – Try the cider at Och’s Orchard in Warwick, NY. I used to go there apple picking. It’s a great area where you can just go explore by driving around all day in the country.

What I’ve never understood about the Las Rocas is, there’s actually two of them: the regular Garnacha and a Vinas Viejas. The regular one (as seen on WLTV) comes in a standard Bdx-shaped bottle but the VV comes in a tapering bottle, like a Pinot. What’s up with that?

Ray n,

A few of the wineries I have visited in Sonoma store their wines with that gas- they were usually small producers. I asked about the gas as I saw her use it. She said it preserves it just fine till the next day for the tasting room.

This type of gas is also uses during various stages of winemaking to fill head space on tanks that do not have variable floating lids. That is quite common as the gas is heavier than air and forces the air out.

Ray N,
My wife is pregnant also- She is due Dec. 31 but we(I) am hoping for Dec. 28th that is right between Giants games and still gives me the tax break for 2006- Hey every little bit counts. In terms of feeling guilty I have no shame as my wife has never had to drive me home after every party or pass on a third glass of wine because she had to drive.

So Ray stand up proud and say I AM GETTING DRUNK ON GOOD WINE- besides its not like you can Knock her up or anything!

Gary,

By the way, nice touch with W – I – N – E ! billboard outside the Meadowlands. I saw it on Sunday. Really cool. Has anyone else seen this? For those not in the area, Gary’s love of wine and the JETS has successfully invade the Meadowlands. He has a billboard for Wine Library up outside Giants stadium, altering the J – E – T – S chant into W – I – N – E ! I say brilliant!

KAHUNA,

My eldest son was born on 12/28 (which was the due date).

My next two boys, were also born on their respective due dates…what are the odds?

SS Chris and Brandon
The two of you could combine for another 25 or so comments to get Episode 112 to 300 adding to your combined comments of 53 as it stand now. Golly, that would only be 1 in 4.

Panman — We’re going to need to see a picture of that billboard.

I was going to buy the Rocas from WL but since you’re going to give away some free stuff I guess I’ll wait 🙂

ps Kenny Rogers IS a cheat. So is Bonds, Giambi, Sheffield, Pudge (anyone notice how emaciated he looks??), Juan Gonzalez, etc… La Russa let him get away. That in itself is a crime.

Neon Leon is a Godsend. Curtis who??

J-E-T-S…. (where’s Gastineau when you need him)

I think I can safely say that I am one of the youngest viewers of WLTV. Everyone talking of kids and wives…no wife, no kids, just me and my vices at a ripe age of 24.

Gary,

Why wouldnt you put that Trevor Jones against the other ports? Unless it was rated with the price range in mind?

Jonathan G: There are much younger viewers than you! I’m 26, but Chris F. is 23. So he has you beat! And, Gary’s brother isn’t even 21 is he? Not sure.

EJ – Great question. I was wondering the same thing. I have a NV bottle of Mumm Napa 25th Anniversary Sparkling in the fridge now for about 2 months. Same thing – Had it all planned out and then plans fell through – Still in fridge. Is there a danger in this?

I was thinking before I drink it, to actually take it out of the fridge for a couple hours to let it “warm up” a little (Still chilled) as I think that when you something is that cold it kills all flavors like Gary was talking about with the Chards.

I too would like some thoughts on this? I will report on my findings on this bottle as I have had this before in a more “traditional” manor.

Colin D. Devroe: I just saw everyone talking of wives and children, but its good to know that there are other young people. I tell all my friends about WLTV. We all love learning about it, drinking it and…drinking it.

SS Chris,
My brother-in-law and my dog also born on Dec. 28th! Well right ow the baby is sort of on its side so they are leaning towards a c-section which would give us some flexability in the date. I think-

Jonathan G,
I have been drinking wine my whole life(Italian Family) but got into drinking it around age 24(and by that I mean something not out of a Gallon Jug) of course it was because of a girl-She was drinking the Mr. Carlo Rossi out of a Jug and I brought a 1.5L of Ruffino I think we she just was very impressed- Lets just say “It’s Good to be the king” that night.

I am 37 now, first kid on the way and married four years(no, not to the above mentioned girl) so you have a ton of time to sway the babes with good wine! Lucky you.

was that about wine or football?