yeah i sniffed so what do you want to fight about it?
QOTD:
my pal in a year? i like a lot of big ass wine now, borolo and granache (plus the new world fruit-bombs) but i had a white Bordeaux that really rocked my world so i might be moving to something different

Tough competition! Love the CKC eps…my PAL in the next year? Water, cheese, and Casa Brava (Authentic Mexican Cuisine)! And hopefully a bottle or two of wine. Poor ckc/lurker.

doh, i totally sniffed when you held up that wine. doh!

-sara the gary-lovin’ songwriter

This show typifies the challenge of discovering rich flavor and value in wines. More and more I am drawn to Spain seeking exciting wines at moderate prices. The Languedoc-Roussillon appellations have a wide variety of styles at reasonable prices. The Douro wines of Portugal show pedigree at affordable price points. It could take decades to do justice to these fine wine traditions. I have had other Castle Rock wines and thought they were also slightly better than their price class.

All wines have their own story and behind every great wine you will find an interesting person or family or partnership that has a passion for quality. The Pic St. Loup area is known for its Craggy mountain that resembles the shape of a Wolf’s tooth hence the name. It would be interesting to interview some of these individuals who make these wines with honest toil. Mother nature has her whims and the winemaker must enjoy the blessings and withstand the scorn of rain or hail which can ruin a years work.

I am still seeking out the Carm without success. I will add the Espelt Saulo to my list. In the last week I have had some excellent wines. The 2005 ERIAL from Ribera del Duero showed beautifully rich dark fruit and a long finish. It was from Elite Wines Imports in Lorton, Virginia.

Thanks Gary.

I sniffed, thinking he likes pig crap but the sulfur is a little bit of a turn off.

vivian is so cute! kids put everything in their mouths – my son is currently training his pallet on dust bunnies, yogurt, and sweaty socks.

no, i didn’t sniff the screen, but i did peer into your glass!

QOTD: i’m hoping to see my PAL much better educated, so i can get over the “i can tell there’s a taste in there, but have no idea how to name it” stage.

QOTD: I see my mental library of wines growing to the point where I have several mental comparisons for the common varietals. I think my tasting technique is improving to the point where I can observe a lot of complexity – but I lack the experience to know what to focus on.

QOTD: I am hoping to branch out with new tastes this year as we are planning trips to several of the neighboring countries and wine is on the agenda for each one.

I’m hoping that I’m more into vegetal wines in a year or so. I spent a large portion of my early wine years with sweeter wines, like Rieslings. I still love them, but I want to branch out a bit.

I’m all about trying new wines and new grapes. I remember back when I knew next to nothing, and knew that I no longer liked white zin, but shockingly, tried a true zinfadel and fell in love with it. Same thing with the Grenache (and it’s poor cousin the boxed pink grenache.)

I keep going back to cabernet sauvignon and zinfadel, but I want to try and grow, especially with wine and food choices. New foods, new wines.

Vivian is one cute kid!

My pal is always on the hunt for more interesting things to smell…
Kathleen Lisson

I sniffy sniffed!
QOTD: I see my palate moving more toward french wines and old world, although I have been enjoying spanish and chilen wines quite a bit lately.

I love the baby video at the end! I’ll keep checking back for updates on Vivian’s maturing palate!

”I sniffy sniffed when you held up that wine also ….

yeah you got me… I sniffed

GO VIVIAN!! That little girl is soooo freaking cute! I came here just to see her video but ended up telling friends about the wine site!!

sorry…I got a cold..couldnt smell it…..lmao..its good to see you again gary…I’ve been working too much…..

Wines under $10.00 that BTT must include the M. Chapoutier 2005 Cotes du Rhone Belleruche. If you can find the ’03 (WS 91), it’s even better. I currently pay $9.49.

It’s my “house red.”

Error: that M. Chapoutier ’03 Belleruche is a WS 89, not 91. Sorry.

Gary – HAPPY to see more wines that poor people like me can afford!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

Show after show, I continue to want to actually try wine, preferably one that is at least a bit over “meh”. I’m 22 and have not drank a drop of alcohol of any kind, ever. I figure if I do drink a little something, it will be wine. If I keep watching, I won’t be able to hold out much longer.

Thanks Gary, your energy, and your views on life and family are refreshing.

We were sucked in by the Vivian video which is adorable but the site is pretty cool too.

QOTD: I see my pal trying more wines from Italy, Alsace, Austria, and such countries and regions where I haven’t “rolled” in a while (lately I’ve been buying a lot of southern France and Spanish wines).

QOTD: I hope to see my pal being trained and challenged as often as I can!