I had two sensational knockouts. The 2003 Leoville Barton and the 1990 Chateau Latour.

I would rate the Latour a perfect 100 points. Just perfection in a glass. Wow. Took 9 hours in a decanter to be fully expressed. This wine easily has another 20 years right now, but why wait? Its just too good right now. 1990 is my favorite vintage of all time from all over France, especially the Burgundies.

The 2003 Leoville Barton ranks among the 2000 Latour, Margaux, L’Evangile (Pomerol) as the best young wines I have ever tasted. I would rate this wine 98-99. I recommend waiting till about 2012-2015 to drink this when it will develop, be a bit more rounder and softer, and might be 100 points. Holy crap this is liquid ambrosia. A gift from Dionysus.

Most disappointing wine? 2002 Cakebread Cellars Benchland Select (cabernet). I have noticed something about Cakebreads. If drunk extremely young, like just when it is released, this wine is pure hedonism. I just dont find them to be very appealing when they age. The 1997 was really tremendous. (I’m a big fan of 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 Napas). I cracked a bottle a couple months ago, and was not even as close as good as when it was young. I find that truthfully to be the case with many California Cabs. Unless you are drinking some Insignias, Harlans, Screaming Eagles or Bryant Family, I just dont find Cabernet from California appealing with age. I find them much more enjoyable in their youth. They lose alot of their character and fruit with age, which sucks. This is why Bordeaux is the international standard of age worthy red wine, or red wine in general.

My .02; When you think things can’t get worse, remember you will be stronger in the end.

I’m gonna have to call B.S. Gary, my wife was def. spreading the love on her blog. Always one step ahead of ya Gary 😉

Lol at Brad

Link
http://hsouth.blogspot.com/2007/05/so-much-to-talk-about-after-10days-away.html

QOTD: Worst – Veramonte Chardonnay, I hated it.
Best – I’m having to think hard here. Black Bart Synchrony probably.

The 2005 Resling from Seven Hills, Columbia Valley was quite nice.

FEAR NOT, Gary! I am spreading the goodness of WLTV to as many people as I can. And what can I say, if they aren’t watching, then it’s their loss! I don’t have a blog, because generally, I couldn’t give a rat’s a&$ about what everyone on the planet has to say, and I don’t think anyone would really be interested in my opinions, either. Too many people wanting to put their 2 cents in, you know what I mean? That being said… I could really get into a wine blog!!! Not a snobby wine blog, but a really down to earth wine blog for people who love wine and love to share it with other people. You know what I mean? Well, of course you do, you’re doing it!!!! Keep it up, Gary. I will refer as many as I can reach, and together, we will change the wine world…

I was very lucky to be able to try a 99 sassicaia ans a 98 Solaia. I have to give the edge to the solaia.

Gary: If I had a blog, I promise you would be linked. Scout’s Homor! As such I pass the word verbally to all that would be interested. I swear it!

QOTD: The best would be a Gruner Veltliner, Rudi Pichler, Smaragd,”Hochrain, 2003

QOTD: The worst has to be most any of the crap passed of as “wines by the glass” at 95% of the restaurants in NYC.

QOTD: Hacienda Araucano 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon – I thought this was a great Cab from Chile – especially for $10. It’s produced by Jaques and Francois Lurton.

Welcome back – you look and sound energized. Too bad the wines tonite were a miss. Though the scores weren’t too bad, you looked very dissappointed, particularly for what they cost.

welcome back gary….find any good retsina?

qotd: lots of bests, but a standout was 01 clos mogador from priorat, mind blowing from the start and kept getting better…..worst (in the sense of a huge letdown) was chapoutier ’91 white ermitage, d’loree…totally underwhelming….and you know how parker salivates over these wines…it was supposed to be out of it’s “dumb phase” fer cryin’ out loud! over a hunert bones and we didn’t even finish it (the zind-humbrecht pinot gris kicked it’s little butt tho!)

QOD Part I: Best wine I had while Gary was away?

1997 Stefano Farina Barolo Riserva… 92 pts. Potentially a higher score because it continued to improve in the glass. We drank it too fast. It was opened for several hours but not decanted for more than 15 minutes before we dug in. Drank over an hour and a half. This wine is drinking beautifully now but will still be in its prime for at least another 5 years, probably longer. Not giving much on the nose at first. Opened up to flowers, forest floor, and a little bit of fruit. On the palette however, it was much more expressive with plum, earth and mushrooms – screams for some mushroom risotto. Still showing great structure. Complex, elegant, and perfectly balanced – this is what I want my fine wine to be.

QOD Part II: What was the worst wine I had while Gary was away?

2006 Bodegas Muga Rioja Rosado… 75 pts. Nasty bubble gum nose. Flavor is reminscent of cleansing supplies with a little pool water thrown in.

Welcome back Gary. Thanks for the pre-taped episodes while you were gone.

QOTD: Chateau Sansonnet 2003 – Just delicious, racy yet still firm, well integrated tannins, silky, perfumed, I could not keep my nose out of the glass. Beautfiul earth and sour cherry notes. I’m definitely buying more.

Have another one Gary!!! It’s 728!

Doh!

welcome back glad to see you’re not wearing the same green shirt.
QOTD- Best- Williams Selyem 2005 Sonoma Coast Pinot – elegant, balanced – showing class and finesse.
Worst? – Perhaps the Sokol Blosser NV Meditrina. A blend of Pinot, Syrah and Zinfandel that tasted disjointed, rustic, backward and blended varietals that should not be mixed. It was mmmmmmm bad!. Tasted and smelled cheap and manufactured.

the best bottle i had was a donatella ginelli colombini brunello di montalcino riserva 2000, it was really nice!!

QOTD-

Best: Penfolds Grandfather Tawny Port
Worst: Lindemans Bin 50

QOTD: To be honest, I’m not even sure if I’ve opened a bottle of wine in the last two weeks.

QOTD: To be honest, I’m not even sure if I’ve opened a bottle of wine in the last two weeks.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK!!

QOTD: Best wine: A Falanghina I had at a tasting- great acidity and well balanced fruit, with some almond notes that make it ideal for light fair OR for drinking alone.
Worst Wine: 2005 Yellow Tail Cabernet– WAIT- no, I didn’t buy it, but my room mate did and when he and his friends were drinking it, I had to taste it. As expected: sweet, one-dimentional “wine cocktail” type flavor profile and nearly tanninless mouthfeel… but for $7.99 it was just what they were looking for. To each his/her own…

great to have you back gary!
qotd: worst: columbia crest two vines riesling- my father, who prefers sweet wines, picked it out while we were in washington; i couldn’t drink it. best: 1981 r. lopez de heredia rioja gran reserva i aquired through wine library to celebrate my birthday. sublime.

Good call on the Didier Dagueneau Pouilly Fume!

Welcome back Gary – missed the “live” episodes, though the 12 episode taping was a spectacular effort to be sure.

QOtD: Best was probably my first 2005 Bordeaux: “Chateau Curton La Perriere Curvee No 5”. As I haven’t had many wines from Bordeaux I don’t know how it stacks up really against the others, but it was really nice, especially for the 18 Canadian bones I paid for it.

Dude! Don’t forget that “Tinto Records” (my music + wine blog… and now winemaking TV blog) have been continuously praising you and WLTV!!! We love it!!!

Are these shameless plugs if you asked for them during the episodes??? Hmmm… oh well:
>> Video inspiration?: http://www.tintorecords.com/tv/44/epi-1-tintotv-launch-home-winemaking-intro
>> “Educate your palate” praise: http://www.tintorecords.com/tintos/32/educate-your-palate
>> “Toast to WLTV” praise: http://www.tintorecords.com/tintos/33/fun-and-entertaining

Keep it up Gary, WLTV brings the thunder!!!
-Nico

Nice to see you again Gary. I only had one wine while you were gone, and that was Concha y Toro Castillero del Diablo Carmenere. Saw it recommended a few times in the forums and decided to check it out–was very impressed for the 7 bucks it cost.

Welcome back Gary, as always great ep. Been doing some cork’d stuff, just thought you should know. Here’s the site, http://corkd.com/wine/view/27021-Pinot_Noir_Reserve#tasting-notes, if you have some time to take a look see. Your opinions are welcomed, as everyone knows your the MAN..

QOTD: Best, 2005 Pinot Noir, McGregor Winery up state N.Y.

Worst: I’d have to say there really wasn’t any.

Glad your back,

MB

Glad you’re back safe and sound, brother.

QOTD: Best – Blackwood canyon montrouge red table wine, (primarily malbec if i remember correctly)don’t remember the year
worst – Fidelitas 2003 syrah…too…much…ASPARAGUS, it was like the oak monster raped an asparagus patch and its tainted progeny had been swimming in the barrel while this thing aged.