QOTD: Dutschke God’s Hill Road Shiraz, Jacques Billot Brut Reserve Champagne, Johann Hart Riesling

QOD: Okay, this is after the fact. But I just had time to watch the video after watching a stunning Fiesta Bowl between Boise State and Oklahoma. Wow! I hope you got to see it. Great game! Anyway, New Year’s Eve we have a dinner party for 8 of our closest friends. With the amuse bouche, which was a deconstructed Guiness and shallot spicy sausage ragout with asiago cheese on top, we served the NV Napa Mumm Cuvee M. Nothing special, but it went well to greet the guests. The first course, was grilled shrimp basted in a chipotle butter over a green tomatillo salsa. We served a 2003 Alsatian Pinot Blanc. The main course was a rotisserie-grilled, herb crusted veal loin roast served with saffron risotto and baked asparagus with prosciutto and Herbs de Provence. This was served with 4 bottles of 1995 Sociando-Mallet which I decanted for 3 hours or so beforehand. It was smooth as silk. We then served a chocolate course (some 70% cocoa dark chocolate and a couple of truffles) with a nice 1977 Quinta do Noval Colheita Port. Dessert was a Bailey’s Cheesecake with dark chocolate swirls (my creation). At midnight, we toasted the New Year with a couple of bottles of NV Heidsieck & Co Monopole Blue Top Premiers Crus Champagne. All in all, it was a fantastic evening. I hope all of yours were equally good.

Happy New Year to all! My wife and I were in NYC for the holiday, and we HAD to stop by Wine Library on the way. All I can say is WOW! Gary met us when we arrived and is just as humble and folksy in person as he is on the show. He took time to walk me around to pick a case I needed for a party. He also helped me build a case for myself. I thanked him and we said our Happy Holidays and good bye. Just as we were heading toward the checkout, Gary’s dad Sasha walks by. I introduce myself and my wife. Sasha then invites us on a tour of the entire store. WHAT A TREAT! I have been talking about the store all weekend long to any one who will listen. A friend of my wife’s met us at the store and she was telling all her friends about the store. People can say what the want about Gary’s motives for doing WLTV. I say, “To hell with them.” Gary, his dad, and the entire staff at Wine Library are the real deal. I can honestly say that I have found my favorite wine store. I will now buy all my wine from WineLibary.com, and will, without reservation, tell anyone to do the same.

Thank you Gary, Sasha and the staff at Wine Library for capping off my 2006 with a great memory.

FYI…here are the two cases

For the New Year’s Eve party:

Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc Les Setilles 2005 (Library Code: 8877)
Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc 2005 (Library Code: 7686)
Gravity Hills Tumbling Tractor Zinfandel 2004 (Library Code: 9738)
Lemelson Pinot Noir Cuvee X 2003 (Library Code: 27784) — This wine disappeared fast!

My wife bought a huge assortment of cheese, spreads, olives, meats, and other goods from the gourmet department at the store. They were great!

For myself:

Clos Mimi Petite Rousse Syrah 2004 (Library Code: 8815)
Whistler Black Piper G/S/M 2005 (Library Code: 29157)
Giant Steps Jones Block Sexton Shiraz 2004 (Library Code: 28508)
Clone 5 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (Library Code: 29687) — This is Gary’s Cab. I can’t wait to try it!
Luna Beberide Tierras De Luna 2001 (Library Code: 5123)
Massena 11th Hour Shiraz 2004 (Library Code: 1930) — This is outside my normal price range, but Gary said I needed to treat myself. 😀

QOTD: Our hosts had a lot Champagne. There was Clicquot (brut and rose), Tattinger, Moet Imperial, and Roederer. A guest brought a gift bottle of ’93 Dom P. I brought a bottle of Jean Laurent Blanc de Blanc, but it was left in the card. I guess I will get to savor that one another day.

Oh…while in the city, we had dinner with some friends at La Giara (on Third Avenue between 33rd & 34th). (www.lagiara.com/)I’ve been there a few times, and they serve great Italian food with really friendly service. We had a Mionetto Prosecco (nice) with appetizers and Puglia Primitivo (okay) with dinner.

Ooops. Please excuse some of the typos.

I drank Castell Roig Brut and some Killibinbin Langhorne Blend 2004. Good stuff.

Nothing better than offering the ladies my champagne compared to the guy with Korbel. Thank you Gary. Giggity Giggity.

Where is the love for the Giants? I do believe both NY Sports teams will be in the playoffs this year. I am growing a Giants Playoff Beard. YEAH! What would be a good wine to send to Tiki Barber so he doesn’t retire?

I just want to second the opinion of Mathew L, who says, “Gary, his dad, and the entire staff at Wine Library are the real deal.”

Gary is as maniacally (or Vayniacly) devoted to his customers as he is to the Jets. 😉

What an awesome Sunday for football….my #1 AND #2 are in!!!! Yes, Lb there is a Santa Claus!

Great episode and I envy the beard… I can’t grow one that thick on my best week.

Just an FYI: I was at the Jets team hotel the night before they trounced the Dolphins — I tried to send a positive vibe to them while they were there… I think that did the trick.

QOTD: (and I know I am late) I had 40 people at my house, drinking everything that wasn’t locked up and helping me blow through a Cava-based punch and a case of Mumm Napa Blanc de Noirs — very pretty salmon color, nice strawberry flavors — a real crowd pleaser. Thank GOD they didn’t find the 1990 Palmer…. 😉

Happy 2007!

Gary, I hit the club in Waikiki… And I had tons of Vodka! Exactly the kind of Vodka in your vid, Grey Goose!

Gary, Had New Years in Vegas. Place to eat; Fleur Da Lye at Mandalay Bay. Opened a 1998 Ovation by Joseph Phelps. The color was golden. The consistancy was like light olive oil. The flavor just kept coming. Its match up with Fois Gras was orgasmic. Tell me you have some of this stuff laying around up there for sale (1998). Happy New Year Jerry. PS Don’t forget you promised me a Corton Charlemagne taste off on one of your shows. Jerry

Great episode Gary. Okay, I must be last on the sign up list cause i just got this email with the episode link today. QOTD: At Home, drank a few bottles of the 1985 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie. Cheers ~ Jtk

Thanks for the heads up on the Beringer. We’re heading to Napa MLK Jr. weekend and will skip Beringer (again).

NYE wines (20 people dinner/wine party). 5 bottles 1995 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires. 2 bottles 2000 Angelus (decanted at noon for 9 p.m. tasting and still tight). 2 bottles 1986 Pichon Lalande (showed well after just a couple hours of decanting – little sediment). 2 bottles El Nido Clio (70% Mouvedre/30% Cab was very interesting). 2 bottles 1997 Casanova di Neri (decanting for 6 hours did nothing, closed and dumb – wine finally opened for brunch the next day). 1 bottle 1986 Rieussec and 1 bottle 1988 Rieussec (for the Foie Gras course). 2 bottles 1992 Dunn Howell (after 9 hours decanting it finally came through). 2 bottles 1991 Chateau Montelena Estate (lovely after just a few hours of decanting). Mag of 2002 Chateau Montelena (new California style, preferred the 1991, but still a great wine and showed well after just 3 hours decanting). Double Mag of 1995 Caymus Special Select (think RP was more on the money about this wine than WS). Mag and 1 bottle of 1995 Insignia (think Tanzer and WS was more on the money about this wine than RP). 3 bottles of 1997 Venge Family Reserve (still a baby after 6 hours of decanting). 2 bottles of 1996 Clarendon Hills Astralis (wow!) Finished the evening with Montecristo No. 4s (Habana from a 50 stick cabinet box).

Iron Sheik?…Brutus the Barber Beefcake’s Barber Shop was the REAL DEAL

Loved the episode. The beard…not so much. Also, I’d take a 76 Sauternes over a riesling any day!

New Years 2006 I was in Bangkok Thailand. Great episode, I have thought about trying that wine now I will have to.

Good ending to 2006! Would have liked to seen that Sabre!

qotd drinking a sparkling of course

Gary how about doing a vin juane episode?

Beringer higher end stuff is very good. QOTD-home, drank 2002 Altamura amazing. http://www.winelx.com