Hey Vaynerchuk, you rock.

Interesting episode — but your scoring on all the wines left me somewhat bewildered. You seemed reluctant to give scores that were consistent with your tastings. Feeling the pressure from your suppliers?

Qotd Ignore it !!! If they see they are getting to you it just adds feul to the fire . Here’s a qoute from yourself Gman [ WHO GIVES A RATS ASS !!!! ] Keep on doing what you feel is right , us vayniacs got your back ..

Quick question: you often reference Parker, Tanzer, the usual suspect critics. Could you include their tasting notes, not just their scores? Of Parker, personally, I cannot stand the man. Not your problem. But if you could provide a contrasting palate to his, that would be most instructive. The Wine Advocate is a subscription only periodical, as is Tanzer’s. God bless Jancis Robinson’s Purple Pages: Yet she’s pay-to-play, too! Can you lift select passages from any and all and tell us how your evaluations differ? Parker says ‘liquorice’, you say a ‘fresh fennel’.
At some point you have to go toe to toe with these folks. Draw the line. IMHO.

Enjoyable and informative Ep, Big G. I truly can’t wait until the day that I can pop an older bottle of Bordeaux to taste something other than young wine…maybe I’ll smell pickles…exciting.

QOTD: Honestly, if I know that I “keep it real” and stay true to who I am, and treat others selflessly with respect, then I can’t be too worried about anyone who is bashing me–because they’re obviously WRONG. All I can do is continue to be myself, including the way I interact with the bashers. Their bitter negativity will eventually break them down from within. Sad. So sad. I feel bad for the insecurity these bashers feel that provoke them to try to bring down others.

Way to go. Keepin’ it real – that’s why we all watch you religiously! (OK, so sometimes I catch up on 5 episodes in a row.. .but I do watch every one.)

QOTD: Depends on the bashing. I usually start a fight though.

QOTD….I tell them to f@@@ off 😉

QOTD – Add fuel to the fire. Let them think they are winning and you’ll get to see everything they’ve got. Learn what you can and then move on because you already know that you are right don’t you.

We love you Gary!

QOTD: I usually let it bother me for one day but then I wisen up and say screw them. I make sure to be nice to them because I don’t want to stoop to their level(sitting in refuse). I focus on people who don’t bash me.

Glad you lost the “nappy head” look……that thing needed some serious ironing yesterday. Or at least some Brill Creme and Jai Karate!

Keep up the good work.

QOTD: Relish in the bashing and become a stronger person because of it.

Just wanted to concur with alot of the people commenting today. If the people bashing you would take more time to properly prepare their wine to get a good rating rather than going for volume at any costs, then your comments would “please” them more. If they come up with a questionable wine, price it accordingly, not increase the price because everyone else is for the new vintage.
You have helped me and soooo many people have a much better understanding of wine maybe just flip them the bird!!! You are right, they are wrong.
Thanks for your honesty and help.

Gary,

Great episode as usual.

QOTD: Not sure exactly if your talking about the wine producers bashing you or the notable number of personal bashings you’ve been getting lately about your appearance. If the former is the case then qudo’s to you for being true to yourself and not faltering under their pressure. F***k ’em if they can’t take the truth. If the later is the case then I personally owe you an apology for I am one of those. I will never complain about your sweaters again. It was all just good natured ribbing. I only pick on you because I care. 😉

To me it’s very simple. If wine producers want better scores then make better wine! Stop the mass production and do things the right way. Of course they might make less profit, but then they’ll get the GV seal of approval on WLTV if its worthy.

On the other hand, if you give a wine a 88 or less, I doubt many people would go out and get it. I certainly do not. Now I know you say, to trust our palate and to develop our palate to see what we like. That is all fine and true, but with the 10s of thousands of wines to choose from we need some filters to narrow the field. If you (or RP) give a wine 88 or less, I don’t even consider it. I’ve never agreed with many WS scores so I take those with a grain of salt. With thousands to choose from why would I want to drink a 85 point wine? So many 90 pointers to choose from it doesn’t make sense to me to try many others. I can see where some wine producers frown upon your honesty when you rate them sub 90, but your clientele and friends appreciate it. Keep it up.

The hair is MUCH better today. I was getting worried.

QOD: nothing. Why waste the time. Hope it’s not a personal question.

Good Stuff Gary. As far as the QOD. I don’t listen to other people that I don’t love or Respect. Just do what you do baby!

Re: QOD: “Ouch” works for me.
Sharon

I’m intrigued by lots of the comments on the qotd for this episode. The essence of some comments is, Gary’s taste opinion (or any wine critic) is the “truth” and if he assigns a low score or a PAZZZZZ then the wine maker should just make a better wine – they’re clearly just going for volume and ignoring quality (pretty presumptuous to judge the integrity and craft of the people behind the wine!). Haven’t you ever loved a movie that was panned by well known critics? Haven’t you ever hated a movie that won every Academy Award there is? Tasting notes are a much better guide than “score” to whether YOU will enjoy a wine. AND, there’s a whole WORLD of delicious taste experiences (and great values) that got some critic’s rating of 70 – 88. In fact, according to Parker’s score explanation (he invented the 100- point system for wine), anything he gives above 70 is probably worthy of your dinner table in one situation or another. Here’s what he says:

The numerical ratings are utilized only to enhance and complement the thorough tasting notes, which are my primary means of communicating my judgments to you.

96-100 points
An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this caliber are worth a special effort to find, purchase, and consume.

90-95 points
An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines.

80-89 points
A barely above average to VERY GOOD wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavor as well as character with NO NOTICEABLE FLAWS.

70-79 points
An average wine with little distinction except that it is SOUNDLY MADE. In essence, a straightforward, innocuous wine.

QOTD: Jealously shortly follows Success. Bashing is merely an immature way to express jealousy.

Your line of work is highly opinionated. Bashers are inevitable.

Nice episode, as usual!

QOTD: I usually try to get even but I am not always happy about it. I always go back to the truth and let them know that they have pissed me off. They usually come back crawling.

Going to WL now!

QOTD: I buy a case of wine from WL. Now, don’t we both feel a little better?

Gary, that was a nice e-mail you read, and I was wondering if you can taste on WLTV some of the wines that he mentions, and very likely I’ll put some of them on my shopping list. I like to patronize and support integrity.

First!

uh, well.

Here is a video for you first posters:

http://break.com/index/life_of_a_first_poster.html

Sorry about that!

Dan (still in Houston)