Ohhh well I as I write I’m tasting …. Molydooker Carnival of Love 2006….. great, outstanding shiraz…. exceeded my expectations…great balance, despiting a high alcohol level, with a royal elegance. Another kicking sirah is Lewis Cellars 2002, 2001 or 2003….. powerful, fruit bombs with some fine elegance as well. My other favorite one is D’Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz … an explotion of fruits complexity on most of the vintages I’ve tasted.

QOTD: 2000 Trecini Syrah. It was the first time I realized not to fear a higher alcohol wine. Now I just proceed with caution 🙂

Cool wine bar. QOTD: None yet.

I love Champagne with a big “C”…I like the Syrah based Cote Rotie the most…Cheers.

QOTD: Anything by Mr. Jean Louis Chave (genius)… maybe some Fonsalette (Rayas)… but must be from the Rhone!

For the day-to-day, a recent pleaseant discovery from the new world was the 2003 Ernesto Catena Tahuan Syrah – really delicious with incredible fruit and a lot more class than any reasonably priced Australian fruit bom.

Tensley 2005 Colson Canyon Syrah and Kaesler The Bogan Shiraz

Just got done watching the NYC wine tour and I am pumped to go to these places! Just got my Christmas 4 pack in the mail! I am pumped to taste these wines on Christmas with my family! I never even knew that there was such a thing as a white Bordeaux! Ohhh Baby!!! Gary you have really stepped it up a notch! I am a former lurker and I just couldn’t stand lurking out there anymore! Lurk no more I am a Vaniac just bursting at the seams!!! Conan who? Ellen who?? Gary you really are blowing up and there is no stoppin’ you now!!!

Syrah…Rosenblum, That’s how I roll!

As promised, I will answer the QotD… Unfortunately, I don’t have a favorite Syrah/Shiraz because of limited experience. I CAN say that I don’t much care for Yellowtail. I had a Pennfolds that I shared with some friends that I wouldn’t pour down the sink (however, I am not sure I would buy it again either). I think I need to step into other regions to learn more. Unfortunately, this grape is further down on my educational tour of wines.

I tried about 20 sparklers today at work. (on my own time..what a team player!)
I think what I learned was that the N.V. bubbles vary so much from batch to batch that it is a real crap shoot as far as consistency is concerned.
Syrah favorite….I seem to be enamored with the cool climate Syrahs this week like anything from the Bassetti Vineyard in (Cambria…just tell them it is Paso Robles..sort of..)

I tried about 20 sparklers today at work. (on my own time..what a team player!)
I think what I learned was that the N.V. bubbles vary so much from batch to batch that it is a real crap shoot as far as consistency is concerned.
Syrah favorite….I seem to be enamored with the cool climate Syrahs this week like anything from the Bassetti Vineyard in (Cambria…just tell them it is Paso Robles..sort of..)

QOTD: I don’t drink Syrah that much (but I’m new to this wine stuff, GV, so don’t get mad). But I shall have a favorite by Monday. 🙂

QOTD- about 8, 9 years ago I had a Bremerton young vines Shiraz (technically a Syrah, right?) that changed my life. That was the day I became a wine lover, rather than a wine drinker. I didn’t just taste the wine, but I could smell the Eucalyptus grove next to the growing vines and I was hooked.

Gary, I noticed you swirling your sparkling wine. Thatâ??s a habit I, too, understand from red wine tasting.

This year, I had the good fortune to visit Russian River Valley, CA and stopped by Iron Horse Winery, which produces some respected sparkling wines. During the tasting, the good natured pourer offered the unexpected question: May I teach you something about sparkling wine? Hey, itâ??s your valley, so teach away!

According to the helpful young man, unnecessary swirling can change the PH of sparkling wine and alter the flavor, beyond the winemakerâ??s intent.
OK. I donâ??t swirl bubbly anymore.

Question 1: What do you think of this idea?

Question 2: Have you been to Korbel Winery, which you dissed in earlier episode?

QOTD: Honestly, Syrah (shiraz) is the grape I donâ??t understand yet.

THANK YOU FOR PREACHIN THE WORD ON GROWER CHAMPAGNE!!!!!!
QOTD: I had a Cornas once and it was as good as syrah gets, and I had a crozes-hermitage that was incredibley elegant and well structured and everything great about syrah. That’s all I have to say.
Right now I am sippin on a Cremant de Loire made from CabsFrancs&Sauvs…Awesome! – $16!

QOTD Dutschke Semmler or God’s Hill Road.

QOTD: My favorite syrah is a shiraz that I had with my wife at Atelier the night I proposed to her. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the producer! I remember it was really peppery and they may have mentioned limestone soil. It may have actually been from an island off the Australian coast.

QOTD: no favorite yet. enjoyed the Water Wheel Memsie 2005 which is a Shiraz(86%), Malbec (9%), & Cab Sauv (5%) blend.

I’ve got a prosecco lined up for New Years but now I need to add a grower champagne to the party.

QOTD: Meerea Park Alexander Munro 2003 Shiraz

Discovered the great small producer while touring Hunter Valley two summers ago and I am so happy that I did.

QOTD: it is mostly Syrah so I think that counts … Les Verrieres Clos De Soutyeres Coteaux De Languedoc 2004

QOTD; Wait, what was I thinking, discount my earlier post, I forgot about E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde 2001 … this was really great, clearly the best syrah I have had

Champagne??? what about Cali sparklers?

QOTD – Penfold’s Deam Arm.

Love the bubbly!. I really wish they had cool places like that around here. My favorite syrah is definitely the 2002 Chameleon syrah from Cali. It must be a small producer because i’ve only seen it in two stores but this wine was stellar. It had everything in perfect balance.

QOTD – Great syrahs, have to be either Rulo, Buty or Cuneo.

Great show! Real champagne has been one of the biggest surprises for me in tasting different wines, thanks to the NV Nicholas Feuillate Premier Cru Rose Brut.

QOTD: Shiraz is what got me loving red wines, and the single greatest thing I have ever tasted in my life was the 2003 Torbreck the Factor. Best that I can afford, 2005 Torbreck Woodcutters Red, 2006 d’Arenburg Laughing Magpie (with about 6% Viognier)

QOTD: My favorite Syrah? Won’t say.