What are you reading is the real question. Sorry i missed you while in NJ last week. I just finished Into the Wild, which i figured I ought to rerad before i saw the movie. A fascinating story with Henry the IV similarities. Sad the Kid almost made it out of the Wild.
Just picked up The Razors edge by Somerset Maugham, I saw the movie 20 years ago and was intrigued by the Parisienne dens of iniquity… we’ll see if the book provides the same literary stimulation.

Looking forward to hitting Costco soon. Never even seen these displayed there — do they hide them or something?

Listening to Alice Sebold’s Almost Moon, downloaded from audible.com. Does that count? My first audiobook. Gets real hard to focus on the subway, but I imagine it gets easier, as long as you don’t get mugged first. Kind of a chick read, but I loved Lovely Bones by her so I took a shot. Depressing, yet edifying. I’m sure there’s a wine analogy to be made, but it’s late, so no neurons are firing.

I bought the GSM for $10 and the Cab for $17 in Missouri. Didn’t see the other.

QOTD: The entire internet.

Hi Gary! I’m a lurker. I’ve been watching for a couple months now and I really appreciate your show. You’ve taught me to really pay attention to flavors and aromas not just in wine but everything. Thanks for waking up my tastebuds. By the way, you look better on my iPhone than on the billboard on the Turnpike. I’m reading “the Year of Living Biblically” by A.J. Jacobs and it’s great so far.

needed 1 more comment for #300, cheers

Gary, what are your thoughts on the way Costco stores their wine?

QOTD: The Alchemist

QOTD – the unbearable lightness of being.
kinda not into the idea of supporting the giant mega industry that is Costco, but if their wine’s good, and cheap, i’ll drink it.

QOTD – “Wolves of the Calla” by Stephen King (5th book of 7 in Dark Tower series) …big King fan!

Goals – Brian Tracy…… awesome!!!

I am always leery of buying wine from a sale bin. My mind wonders what is wrong with it that they have to mark it down? Costco also sells Cameron Hughes wines which come from all over the world and have had some critical acclaim. He buys odd lots from reputable producers and sells the whole shebang to Costco and online until its gone. His taste is the filter that determines the quality high enough to put his name on it. He just released Lot 25 which is a Carneros Pinot Noir/Chardonnay sparkler that was to be marketed in the $50 range but now $20 buys it in 3 bottle lots. Good things can be had at Costco after all.

My wife just did some tasting demos at Harris Teeter for Bordeaux wines and she came home with two bottles from the sale bin at 50% off. An Austrian Red from Leo Hillinger 2005 using the St. Laurent grape for 10 bones that tasted like a $45 pinot noir! That computes to a 4.5 on my QPR scale which is quite rare. The other find was a lightly colored Zinfandel from Renwood 2003 in Amador which was also excellent at 10 bones. If the store was not so far away I would go back and vacuum up the remaining Burgenlander from Austria but the gas spent would wipe away the value.

I’m reading “Peter, Paul and Mary Magdalene” and “The Wine Lover’s Guide to Auctions” by the goddess of the gavel Ursula Hermacinski.

For those not familiar with the Costco culture, Jim Sinegal, one of the founders from, I beleive 1982, still runs the ship on the premise that “stockholders are fourth in line” after 1)employees, 2)customers,3)suppliers. He figures if you take care of folks in this order the investors will do ok.(See recent interview in the WSJ) The Kirkland name seems to use high quality producers throughout, not just for wine. For example, the extra virgin Tuscan olive oil is a great value, the California pistachios are fresh and very flavorful, etc.
Sometime try the Pinot Noir, that, for under $20 is pretty darn good. Not sure of this but it tastes like Russian River fruit to me. Anybody know? Thanks, Gary.
Just finished a book from 2001 about the Great Harvest Bread Company, BREAD AND BUTTER,by Tom McMakin. Good stuff(and good bread)

Rich Dad, Poor Dad.

My dad gave me a copy last time he was here in an effort to make me save and invest more money, which makes me feel a little more guilty when I keep buying wine.

So, you shaved. Guess you thought the Jets had a shot against the Skins 😉

QOTD: Just finished King Rat by China Meiville this morning. Fun little read.

actually, the only thing that I’m reading is “Wine” comments

BTW – Jet’s lost again, I see you’re sporting the new “Clear” beard. I understand, I’m a Raider fan..

I’m reading Richard Dawkin’s “The God Dilusion” – something to think about.

Thank you for this episode, I always wondered what you would make of those Costco wines. I do not think I have had those particular ones but I have had a couple of others and thought they were alright. It is always good to get your point of view.

QOTD: Just finished reading I Am Legend by Roberth Matheson and moving to non-fiction: See No Evil by Robert Baer.

LETS DO WHOLEFOOD WINES THEY ROCK!

QOTD: Reading? Food blogs.

Harry Potter!

I’m re-watching the review of the GSM while drinking it and I gotta say – I think it’s more cranberries than raspberries (bottle has been opened for ~4hrs). I just tasted some raspberries to compare and I’m pretty certain here. Just my 2c.

One more lurker out of the Mix! I’ve been watching since day one, but I’m just a horrible typer… Great show, I bet I can swirl better than you!!! QotD: “Flood your body with Oxygen” by Ed McCabe

reading: Assault on Reason by Al Gore. Very interesting. I’m getting very mad at people/institutions etc. that use FEAR to get at people.

QOTD: My out of control RSS feeds!!!

Here is someone who didn’t have such a good Costco experience –

http://winecamp.squarespace.com/journal/2007/10/31/coteaux-costco.html

How about head-to-head blinded bottles same wine (say a 2003 or 4), same exact (non-Kirkland) bottle from Costco and from WineLibrary or other ‘trusted’ merchant to see how costco storage fares. That would be a huge service to the Vayner nation.