’95 all the way-started college (got the best grades of my life 4.0 baby!), started dating my future wife, was rocking out in a local rock band (full on long hair and leather biker coat), and was loaded with cash (no bills yet). Close second 2003-the year I started drinking wine.

VAY – NER – CHUCK –

Loved the show,

QOTD: My best year hasn’t happened yet. At least I hope so. I’m a young vine.

QOTD- I would have to say that 34 (right now incidentally) is the best age of my life. Good job, marriage, and general place in life. Plus 2 weeks in Italy coming up might be shading this opinion……..

Great side by side comparison – encore…encore!
Graduate College years were great – little responsibility and a little spending money…but hopefully better years are yet to come.

My .02; City water is absolute crap, I find myself dehydrated if all I have is tap water. Ohh and American Gladiators on ESPN Classic kicks ass.

QOTD: I remember 1988 as a good year, I was about 8 then.

QOTD – hasn’t happened yet. My answer is a blend of cynicism and optimism, and much like an excellent Australian Cab-Shiraz blend is most palatable with a high alcohol content.

QOTD: hmmmm, a tie between 2005 (college grad, new job, long vacation with then-girlfriend/now-wife) and this year 2007 – life is good and I’m thankful!

-Nico

QOTD: Currently a toss-up between 2006 and 2007: I discovered WL and started getting intensely into learning about wine later in 2006, but this year, 2007, I’ve watched every WL ep., helped that little bit of you change the wine world and am constantly buying different wines, just graduated college and am moving accross the country to LA to try to get into the TV business with my degree and contacts in the business… so 2007 may shape up to be better than 2006… or may leave me broke and alone. I’ll let the rest of the year play itself out and see what the future brings!

Although it was neat seeing the wine battle, I didn’t like the reviews going back and forth kind of hard to follow, especially for me because I usually am doing other things while I watch the show. Again I did like that it was a little different but I hope this doesn’t become a regular format.

QOTD: I am in no position to choose a year right now seeing as how this is barely my first year (2nd month actually) of exploring the wine world.

QOTD : First year of college (1971-72). Hundreds of miles from home, not a care in the world. Living in a dorm. Making new friends. Completely new and exciting environment …. (San Francisco). Can’t beat that after growing up in a small town in ORYGUN.

congras gary on the health status….. & a very good comparison on different vintages…. hope you can do more of it

Cool show. I will have to make sure that Dad watches this show he is a Ruffino Gold nut. It’s just about the only chianti he will drink.

QOTD: Best year? It’s tough just to single out one year but how about ’97 graduated college got a job, my own place, and married. Wow alot happened that year.

qotd: best year…I mean of course there’s the years when the kids were born and all that, but I’m kind of partial to my college years. Junior year of college – good stuff.

QOTD>my best year was 2004, when i moved to NYC from Utah and found Streb Extreme Action here in Brooklyn, and then discovered wine, and beer and liquor for that matter.

QOTD: next year. Always next year.

QOTD: 2000 – Met my wife to be (7-5-07)

Best year overall was definitely 1996. Good times in elementary school (yeah, I know, i’m a young’un), no homework, great friends, my awesome teacher had sing alongs in class (that same teacher went on to be convicted of embezzling about 100 Gs from the teachers’ union) , Clinton got a second term in the white house, and it was a crazy awesome vintage in Champagne. Definitely some fond childhood memories (except for the champagne).

1950. 1966. 1969. 1971. 1973. 1975. 1978. 1980. 1982. 1985. 2003. 2005. Beginnngs for so many people and things close to me. THE vintages of my life. No head-to-head. All stand together.

QOTD: It’s a toss up between my Junior year of college (the most fun) and 2005 (when I changed my first diaper).

Jon

Tried to leave a comment twice before, but it didn’t take.

QOTD: 1984 – Ronnie was keeping us safe and happy, my family was growing (birth of 1st son) and happy, great job, and the Raiders won their third Super Bowl.

Normally not a big fan of the Ruffino either but in good vintages it can be pretty good. Drank the ’99 in the bar at the Boston Marriott Copley Place last summer on trip to see the Red Sox play.

QOTD: I’m currently IN my favorite year…. can you believe it?!?! Not 2007 , but rather the past 365 days have been the absolute best. Hands down.

At my age, each day is the best one. Have to agree with Randy, you get trapped into thinking sometime in the past was better. it all goes to make up who you are now, nhiotng more assuming you haven’t commited felonies and been caught. I have never been a fan of Ruffino. Too many off bottles for my taste and I only rarely see it on menus either.

I like to try to guess what GV is going to rate stuff: nailed the ’99! 😉 QOTD: Favorite year? This one; getting married, wine cellar growing, life is good…!

I like the idea of head to head match ups. Maybe a vertical with the same wine from 4 different vintages. That way you could comment on differences due to weather, vineyard and vinification practices, and aging of the wines.

Good show!