Comments! Hey, the birds were ON FIRE!! The Gray Ghost was a funny situation. Damn! if I send you a bottle from this Republic of Panama, you think it’ll get there? Tough show. QOTD: You beat me with that question.

Too bad you were sent some, what I would call, “souvenir” wines. Take a trip to the VA wine country and this is what you get at the souvenir shops. Unfortunately, the first two do not reflect the quality of many VA white wines. The reds have a way to go but the whites, i.e. Vidal Blanc, Cheyval Blanc and Viognier are represented well here in the DC area.

QOTD: Hands down, the Horton Viognier, yes, from Virginia. I would put it up against anything out there from the Big Four.

Cheers!

Talking about QPR, I’m having a Bogle Chardonnay right now that is quite good for 10 bones.

Gary

Well again I´m disappointed for living in Sweden…haven’t had any wine from outside the big four…
Have a good trip to London and try the restaurant I wrote about yesterday…

Swedish T

QOTD-Palentine Hills 2004 Cab Sauv Ice Wine outside Niagra on the Lake in Ontario. 100 bones for the little bottle but Oh my gosh it is is good!!

Hilarious ep!

QOTD: from N.M. Gruet sparkling wine: Grand Rose; and Methode Champenoise, Gilbert Gruet Grande Reserve
Better that Gary should be with us post Jets defeat than alone in some dingy bar.

Gary,

Try Linden from VA for some serious VA terroir-driven wines. Also Rogers Ford Petit Verdot.
VA is a slow mover, especially on the reds, but there are some stellar performers out there.
And don’t forget, after the big four… VA is number five.

Thanks for the great show!
jp

Fun episode. As a Virginian who lives in wine country–Charlottesville, I have to tell you that I mostly drink out of state wine. The VA wine products are getting better every year but most folks recognize that they are miles behind Oregon, CA and WA. That said, those of you looking to check them out should check out Barboursville Vineyards (about 90 minutes southwest of DC) and White Hall here in Charlottesville. Another fun bottle is a Chocolate dessert wine from Cooper Vineyards which is closer to Richmond. the Barboursville wines are a bit pricey for what you get but are definitely “in the game”. and if you drive down for a visit, you will not be fighting crowds like Napa’s. Cheers!

have to vote for canadian ice wines… I have had some iced reds recently that have been excellent

Gary don’t be SaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaD……

Is everyone following the CRUSHPAD updates for the Vayniac cabernet?

http://www.crushnet.com/media_details.php?nid=596

QOTD: I would have to say a good one would be Blackwolf vineyards Pinot Noir out of Dobson, NC or Biltmore Estate Sangiovese and Viognier in Asheville, NC are two nice bottles as well.

Definitely the 1990 Tignanello..it was heaven!

Enough with the Jets. Let’s drink more wine. “It’s a celebration, bitches!”

Living in VA and tasting VA wines I can totally relate to this show — my only advise is don’t try the reds — they’re even worse.

These last two episodes were a real downer — I think it’s time for free shipping?

Gary,

You seem in a funk…. But it’s good to know you are not hanging out in airport bathrooms – Minnesota or otherwise.

What’s with the “Villager” on the board, is someone calling you a muzhyk?

QOTD: Not sure, I’ve tasted hundreds of US wines from outside the big 4 and have had a few really good ones but can’t nail it down to a single one that stands out.

Thanks for featuring VA wines! I personally agree that the Fletchers Chardonnay might be just slightly too oaked. In fact our winemaker is backing off the oak this year and is fermenting/aging a higher percentage in used oak vs new.
thanks again GV — and try the others!

Buck up little camper. I’m worried about your mental health. 🙂

QOTD: I don’t really know of any honestly good wines I’ve had outside of the big 4 in the US. I do know, however, that some Missouri wine can be quite scary, and none of it rates as even good. I say that as someone who lives in MO and worked at a MO winery in college.

With regards to what ramona said, I have to agree that the Canadian red ice wine brings the deliciousness, but the ones I’ve tried were a bit lacking in terms of complexity: It was like drowning in a vat of the most delicious strawberry jam you could possibly imagine, but there wasn’t much else. That said, it’s definitely worth trying one (or two or …) if you’ve not before!

Have enjoyed several times now the 2004 Childress Syrah from NC. I try to support my home state and have been pleased.

North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley is home to Westbend VIneyards: I’ve liked their Vintner’s Signature quite a bit: full bodied and some complexity with tobacco notes (after all this is from North Carolina) and dark fruits. The Chambourcin was a bit too light, but when was the last time you tried a Chambourcin? (That’s my question of the month.) How did I ever stumble on North Carolina wines? (That isn’t the question of the month.) I was changing planes in Charlotte or Greensboro, I think and discovered a nice wine bar/shop inside the airport. Why aren’t there more wine bars in airports? (That could be the question of next month).

Hey Gary,

Living in north Georgia, I have had the opportunity to see the wine industry really grow into a viable business and wine region here. Granted, they aren’t stellar, but I have enjoyed several at Frogtown, Three Sisters, Wolf Mountain and Blackstock. They seem to be growing almost everything that gets crushed right here, and doing a fairly good job at it. Mouvedre, Chardonnay, Cab, etc.

The best part is that we can pack a picnic and head one hour north and arrive at some of the most beautiful grounds anywhere. Sometimes I crack a smile and can’t believe it’s really Georgia.

Hey Gary,

Living in north Georgia, I have had the opportunity to see the wine industry really grow into a viable business and wine region here. Granted, they aren’t stellar, but I have enjoyed several at Frogtown, Three Sisters, Wolf Mountain and Blackstock. They seem to be growing almost everything that gets crushed right here, and doing a fairly good job at it. Mouvedre, Chardonnay, Cab, etc.

The best part is that we can pack a picnic and head one hour north and arrive at some of the most beautiful grounds anywhere. Sometimes I crack a smile and can’t believe it’s really Georgia.

Barboursville Cabernet Franc from Virginia. They have some great whites too. The Horton Vignier is overrated, but some great Viognier and Riesling is made in Virginia. Why did you pick Chardonnay? It’s probably the least representative Virginia wine there is. Grey Ghost makes an outstanding dessert wine for instance. Do a show on Virginia Cabernet Franc!