EP 402 Searching For Wines Under $10 That Bring The Thunder

We are always seeking deals for the Vayniacs and on todays show I think we are lined up for some, but you never do know, We have gone 0-3 many times before!

Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Castle Rock Columbia Valley MerlotWashington Merlot
2005 Espelt SauloOther Spanish Red Wine
2004 Tours De La RoqueLanguedoc-Roussillon

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Latest Comment:

View More

John__J

qotd: I see it tasting more and more varietals I've never tried before

Tags: Languedoc-Roussillon, merlot, red, review, Spanish, Video, washington state, wine, wines

Episodes >


  • Hotshot162

    Funny video at the end!

    QOTD: My palate is still in training mode, I guess I’ll know where it’s going in a couple months

  • henry

    just got hip to your show. didn’t sniff the screen. out here in Washington. have you featured Washington State? Will you?

  • henry

    just got hip to your show. didn’t sniff the screen. out here in Washington. have you featured Washington State? Will you?

  • So I’m watching the episode and you stick the glass in my face and tell me to take a sniffy-sniff, so I do. Didn’t get much, pretty tight nose in my opinion. Ok, back the the ep…

  • So I’m watching the episode and you stick the glass in my face and tell me to take a sniffy-sniff, so I do. Didn’t get much, pretty tight nose in my opinion. Ok, back the the ep…

  • Sam Lydecker

    Something went wrong….The wine smelled like my computer screen.

  • Sam Lydecker

    Something went wrong….The wine smelled like my computer screen.

  • QOTD: In the next year I see my palette having cost me a lot of money thanks to your show! But hopefully with a lot more maturity and having tried wines I don’t even know exist yet!

  • Lysa Marie

    I sniffed – but no one saw, so its okay.

    QOTD – Definitely in the red wines. When I started drinking wine it was white wines all the way, but in the past couple years or so I’ve found that my pal doesn’t like sweet and sugar as much as it used to and it wants something drier and spicier.

  • QOTD: In the next year I see my palette having cost me a lot of money thanks to your show! But hopefully with a lot more maturity and having tried wines I don’t even know exist yet!

  • Lysa Marie

    I sniffed – but no one saw, so its okay.

    QOTD – Definitely in the red wines. When I started drinking wine it was white wines all the way, but in the past couple years or so I’ve found that my pal doesn’t like sweet and sugar as much as it used to and it wants something drier and spicier.

  • Oregon Jim

    Qotd- I find my Pal changing at different times of the day, and in different environments. I constantly find myself seeing different things in wines from different bottles of the same exact wine.

    I believe your palate changes so much that paying attention to wine scores is a waste of time and more importantly money. Next year I am going to analyze what information my palate is giving me and along with my nose I am going to be forgetting scores and trying to buy based on producers, varietals, locations, and of course price!

    I want to do more exploring in California’s Central Coast, Russian River, and Anderson Valley, Oregon’s Dundee, Ribbon Ridge, Columbia Gorge, and Walla Walla Valley,and Washington’s Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, and Walla Walla Valley.

  • Oregon Jim

    Qotd- I find my Pal changing at different times of the day, and in different environments. I constantly find myself seeing different things in wines from different bottles of the same exact wine.

    I believe your palate changes so much that paying attention to wine scores is a waste of time and more importantly money. Next year I am going to analyze what information my palate is giving me and along with my nose I am going to be forgetting scores and trying to buy based on producers, varietals, locations, and of course price!

    I want to do more exploring in California’s Central Coast, Russian River, and Anderson Valley, Oregon’s Dundee, Ribbon Ridge, Columbia Gorge, and Walla Walla Valley,and Washington’s Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, and Walla Walla Valley.

  • Robert

    I didn’t try and smell my computer screen, but thats because I’m doing late night homework. So I was listening but not in responsive mode.

    QOTD: Right now my pallete is still kind of young, but i can pick out general tastes pretty good and can gage general stuff like if the wine is still too young or something like that. If I keep drinking wine like I do, I think in a year I should have a pretty healthy pallete and will be able to pick out individual tastes, but no where as good as an expert like you. I don’t like to do that though, I’m like you and tend to compare it to some food or candy I’ve eaten instead of completely dissecting the individual flavors. I feel like it gives me a better feel of the wine, especially if I’m going back later and reading my reviews on cork’d.

  • Robert

    I didn’t try and smell my computer screen, but thats because I’m doing late night homework. So I was listening but not in responsive mode.

    QOTD: Right now my pallete is still kind of young, but i can pick out general tastes pretty good and can gage general stuff like if the wine is still too young or something like that. If I keep drinking wine like I do, I think in a year I should have a pretty healthy pallete and will be able to pick out individual tastes, but no where as good as an expert like you. I don’t like to do that though, I’m like you and tend to compare it to some food or candy I’ve eaten instead of completely dissecting the individual flavors. I feel like it gives me a better feel of the wine, especially if I’m going back later and reading my reviews on cork’d.

  • QOTD: I will answer this question after the ProWein fair mid march πŸ˜‰

  • QOTD: I will answer this question after the ProWein fair mid march πŸ˜‰

  • The Lukas

    I can’t believe i didn’t notice yesterday.
    You have a new table cloth. It’s probably best you don’t spill wine on this one.
    It’s not wine colored.

    QOTD:
    Over the next year, my palette and i are going on an adventure.
    We are going to travel the world (via wine stores), and try out as many different things as possible.
    I hope we don’t end up fighting and going our separate ways.
    But i can imagine we will start to head towards the old world.

    Gary, i think there should be some sort of huge wine label database on the internet.
    And you can go there and download the labels of the wines you know you like, and put them on your phone. That way, you’ll always have a little gallery of you favorite wines with you, all the time.

  • The Lukas

    I can’t believe i didn’t notice yesterday.
    You have a new table cloth. It’s probably best you don’t spill wine on this one.
    It’s not wine colored.

    QOTD:
    Over the next year, my palette and i are going on an adventure.
    We are going to travel the world (via wine stores), and try out as many different things as possible.
    I hope we don’t end up fighting and going our separate ways.
    But i can imagine we will start to head towards the old world.

    Gary, i think there should be some sort of huge wine label database on the internet.
    And you can go there and download the labels of the wines you know you like, and put them on your phone. That way, you’ll always have a little gallery of you favorite wines with you, all the time.

  • SoCal

    Nice Stuff site……but no Big A$$ glass?????
    Dude you would sell thousands of those……you got to hook that one up…..heck have it etched with the WLTV logo…..you just have to find an affordable producer make it sub $70 per glass…….come on hook it up……just remember who helped develop the idea πŸ˜‰

    QOTD: Very good question, I have gone from Cali to South Africa, to Spain, to Bordeaux, and now I am getting into Italy….a lot…..so probably Italy……….

  • SoCal

    Nice Stuff site……but no Big A$$ glass?????
    Dude you would sell thousands of those……you got to hook that one up…..heck have it etched with the WLTV logo…..you just have to find an affordable producer make it sub $70 per glass…….come on hook it up……just remember who helped develop the idea πŸ˜‰

    QOTD: Very good question, I have gone from Cali to South Africa, to Spain, to Bordeaux, and now I am getting into Italy….a lot…..so probably Italy……….

  • Klassh

    QOTD: In a year, my pallet will be above yours! You know, since your rather short.

  • Klassh

    QOTD: In a year, my pallet will be above yours! You know, since your rather short.

  • Lindsey

    QOTD: hopefully my pal will be friends with, or at least be able to distinguish, more Italian varietals. It´d be great to see a show with wines that express a textbook definition of different varietals.

    Also, Baby Vivian is a-DORRRRR-able!

  • Lindsey

    QOTD: hopefully my pal will be friends with, or at least be able to distinguish, more Italian varietals. It´d be great to see a show with wines that express a textbook definition of different varietals.

    Also, Baby Vivian is a-DORRRRR-able!

  • Wasn’t Castle Rock the town in Stand By Me? Vivian and the Oak Monster.. priceless

  • Wasn’t Castle Rock the town in Stand By Me? Vivian and the Oak Monster.. priceless

  • italianwinelover

    Good Show GV!! Thanks for doing some more “touchable” wines.

    QOTD: I’d like to learn more about white wines. I just can’t get past the sweetness, short finishes and the simplicity. I like to taste them but I can’t see me sitting down and drinking a whole bottle. Not that I do that!!!

  • italianwinelover

    Good Show GV!! Thanks for doing some more “touchable” wines.

    QOTD: I’d like to learn more about white wines. I just can’t get past the sweetness, short finishes and the simplicity. I like to taste them but I can’t see me sitting down and drinking a whole bottle. Not that I do that!!!

  • Anthony L.

    Almost forgot to leave a comment. Great Show again!

    QOTD: I think I’d like to move my pallet toward the non food tastes. I haven’ been able to do that thus far.

  • Anthony L.

    Almost forgot to leave a comment. Great Show again!

    QOTD: I think I’d like to move my pallet toward the non food tastes. I haven’ been able to do that thus far.

  • JerseyGirl turned CNY vayniac

    Haha! Gary, you know your Vayniacs… I have to admit that I jokingly sniffy sniffed when you said to!

    QOTD: I definitely see my Pal leaning more toward reds than it has in the past, mostly because I think my taste is maturing and I’m starting to love reds a lot more….BUT it’s hard to tell so we’ll have to see!

    Thanks for the under $10 wines gary! I love it when you have great wines on the show that I can afford!

  • JerseyGirl turned CNY vayniac

    Haha! Gary, you know your Vayniacs… I have to admit that I jokingly sniffy sniffed when you said to!

    QOTD: I definitely see my Pal leaning more toward reds than it has in the past, mostly because I think my taste is maturing and I’m starting to love reds a lot more….BUT it’s hard to tell so we’ll have to see!

    Thanks for the under $10 wines gary! I love it when you have great wines on the show that I can afford!

  • Every day it’s more of the same: Variety, entertainment, quality. I don’t know if I can stand it!

    Great video at the end. I like the way Vivian commented on what she was tasting. Way to go!

    QOTD: I see my palate being more educated in a year. I see it being able to pick out a couple more flavors in wine. Maybe my palate will even learn what liche is.

  • Every day it’s more of the same: Variety, entertainment, quality. I don’t know if I can stand it!

    Great video at the end. I like the way Vivian commented on what she was tasting. Way to go!

    QOTD: I see my palate being more educated in a year. I see it being able to pick out a couple more flavors in wine. Maybe my palate will even learn what liche is.

  • bigmay

    I totally tried to get a sniffy-sniff but somehow didn’t get that sulfur component.

    QOTD: With your help and guidance, I see my Pal exploring regions and varietals that it doesn’t even know exist today.

    Join the “Smart Wine Drinkers of America” facebook group! (We don’t really care if you’re really you’re in America though.)

  • bigmay

    I totally tried to get a sniffy-sniff but somehow didn’t get that sulfur component.

    QOTD: With your help and guidance, I see my Pal exploring regions and varietals that it doesn’t even know exist today.

    Join the “Smart Wine Drinkers of America” facebook group! (We don’t really care if you’re really you’re in America though.)

  • Deano

    Gary good episode. I love the wines for the CKC i can afford them πŸ™‚

    QOTD:
    -In a whole new place now that i am trying new wines.

  • Deano

    Gary good episode. I love the wines for the CKC i can afford them πŸ™‚

    QOTD:
    -In a whole new place now that i am trying new wines.

  • Gary,

    I love that you’re trying to find wines that are more widely available and provide a good QPR. I’m not sure that two of the three wines listed here fall into the former (easy to find) but they are certainly at a good price point. Keep it up! Lower priced wines that score well (or present in your opinion a great QPR) are HUGE amongst the CKC. I’ll keep adding them to my blog as I see you reviewing them!

  • Gary,

    I love that you’re trying to find wines that are more widely available and provide a good QPR. I’m not sure that two of the three wines listed here fall into the former (easy to find) but they are certainly at a good price point. Keep it up! Lower priced wines that score well (or present in your opinion a great QPR) are HUGE amongst the CKC. I’ll keep adding them to my blog as I see you reviewing them!

  • B.

    QOTD: What should be the vacuum of a dream becomes continually replete as the source of dreams is being tapped so that this one dream may wax, flourish like a cabbage rose, defying sumptuary laws, leaving us to awake and try to begin living in what has now become a slum.

  • B.

    QOTD: What should be the vacuum of a dream becomes continually replete as the source of dreams is being tapped so that this one dream may wax, flourish like a cabbage rose, defying sumptuary laws, leaving us to awake and try to begin living in what has now become a slum.

  • DavidB

    I sniffed but did not inhale so it does not count.

    QOTD: No freaking idea where it is now much less where it is going…

  • DavidB

    I sniffed but did not inhale so it does not count.

    QOTD: No freaking idea where it is now much less where it is going…

  • I tried a WA merlot the other night – Chateau Ste. Michelle “Indian Wells” 2003, perhaps a few rungs and dollars above that Castle Rock, probably a bit more memorable… if you look past all that freaking wood, I mean new American oak aging for 18 months.
    BTW, what’s the deadline for the Thunder contest? Friday?
    QOTD: My PAL is becoming less exclusionary and more adventurous. However, it still has a preference for aromatic whites like Gewurz & Viognier & Sauv Blanc. It still recoils at tannic monsters like Tannat.

  • I tried a WA merlot the other night – Chateau Ste. Michelle “Indian Wells” 2003, perhaps a few rungs and dollars above that Castle Rock, probably a bit more memorable… if you look past all that freaking wood, I mean new American oak aging for 18 months.
    BTW, what’s the deadline for the Thunder contest? Friday?
    QOTD: My PAL is becoming less exclusionary and more adventurous. However, it still has a preference for aromatic whites like Gewurz & Viognier & Sauv Blanc. It still recoils at tannic monsters like Tannat.

  • Dan A

    QOTD: I see my pal going more old-world, discovering more of what I’m really getting into now…

  • Dan A

    QOTD: I see my pal going more old-world, discovering more of what I’m really getting into now…

  • Oak Park Kris

    Vivian Rocks! Good episode, gonna try the Espelt, sounds right on!

Close

Not Subscribed to WLTV yet?

Never miss an episode and get notifications on the hottest wine deals!

No thanks.