Really enjoying the match ups, good clean fun. any chance that pinot’s available after you went gaga over it? I didn’t think so.
QOTD: I always look forward to the next bottle and rarely have favorites that I go back to again and again. There’s just too much good stuff out there yet to try.

QOTD: actually, it was this past monday when I had the 01 Restituta Sugarille. just an amazing brunello

gary, how on earth could you do a pinot episode with no burgs, c’mon. the lack of burg love is disheartening

for me, the last wine that left me speechless was the Domaine Leon Barral 2004 Faugeres. My first ever Faugeres, but certainly not my last…what a wine!

QOTD: 2000 Schiavenza Barolo Kabooom, the sound of me being blown out of the water at Christmas!

This show rocked, BTW. Tuesday, Wed, and Thursday were all awsome shows and I got my red “Bring the Thunder” wrist band today. I’m cool!

QOTD: 1990 Salon Champagne in Magnum….

A pearl…

Mailing list fever G-Man. More pinot love, and I can’t get enough.

QOTD: Copain Hacienda Secoya Vineyard Pinot Noir-my brain was hearing that red alert siren, this was not good it was great.

Thanks to my fellow Seattle Vayniacs, I’ve been sampling some very good wines lately. I was recently blown away by a 2003 Boudreaux Merlot and a 2005 Fall Line Cabernet Sauvignon.

you know, Gary, “Sniffy sniff” doesn’t come across so well when you don’t say it so enthusiastically, like today’s episode.

canada dave, you gonna take that knocks comment sitting down?!

what type of taste is “pine cone city”?

ummm, gary, how can you say the red radish taste was so obvious when it took you a while to put your tongue on it? 🙂

philips hill is probably thinking, WTF is going on; our phones are ringing like crazy!

gary, instead of duck, you could’ve taken a bird from out in the hallway.

80 and at the track? Do tell!

QOTD: while not a wine, old pultney 12 year old single malt scotch really wowed me with its smoothness and subtle saltiness; achieving a delicate balance- and at a great sale price of $23.99 Bones, unbelievable!

and no, Gary, I’m not hardcore yet. I’ll have to settle with soft core.

QOTD: Les Genêts Savennières by Damien Laureau 2004

QOTD: Les Genêts Savennières by Damien Laureau 2004

QOTD: Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2005.

QOTD: What’s the last wine that knocked me out like the 2005 Phillip Hill Toulouse?

Answer: The 2005 Toulouse. Confusing? Not really. Phillip Hill sources grapes from Toulouse. I absolutely love Anderson Valley Pinot wines. I make about 5 trips a year to visit AV, which is one of the most gorgeous, beautific micro-valleys in the world – that I’ve seen.

Last time I visited the Toulouse Estate vineyard, I had an opportunity to try a vertical tasting of their wines from 2002 through 2006, which was a barrel-sample. The 2005 vintage stood out like Gerard Depardieu’s nose, but in a distinctly good way. I loved it and bought way more bottles than I should be able to afford. To be clear, I’m talking about the 2005 Toulouse Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate bottling.

Gary, have you heard of this wine? Will you taste it on the show sometime? I think the 2006 will be stellar too from what I gathered from the barrel-tasting. The previous vintages weren’t too grand, or should I say small and pug-nosed.

QOTD: What’s the last wine that knocked me out like the 2005 Phillip Hill Toulouse?

Answer: The 2005 Toulouse. Confusing? Not really. Phillip Hill sources grapes from Toulouse. I absolutely love Anderson Valley Pinot wines. I make about 5 trips a year to visit AV, which is one of the most gorgeous, beautific micro-valleys in the world – that I’ve seen.

Last time I visited the Toulouse Estate vineyard, I had an opportunity to try a vertical tasting of their wines from 2002 through 2006, which was a barrel-sample. The 2005 vintage stood out like Gerard Depardieu’s nose, but in a distinctly good way. I loved it and bought way more bottles than I should be able to afford. To be clear, I’m talking about the 2005 Toulouse Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate bottling.

Gary, have you heard of this wine? Will you taste it on the show sometime? I think the 2006 will be stellar too from what I gathered from the barrel-tasting. The previous vintages weren’t too grand, or should I say small and pug-nosed.

QOTD: The last wine that really got my attention was a Jessup Cellars 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet. I decanted it for a few hours, rebottled it and took it to dinner the night after Valentines day. We had it with a Chateaubriand from cafe Artemis in Helena, Montana. The meal was incredible, the atmosphere perfect and the wine was mind bending…….well, almost. The Jessup Cab was complex, deep, refined and had a very long finish. The sommelier at the restaurant was extremely impressed with the wine and want’s me to bring another Jessup wine to the restaurant for him to try.

QoTd: 2004 Domaine De Chevalier (Rogue)

The wine that blew me away was a Silver Oak. I forget the year but it is the wine that got me into wine.

QOTD: Almira Old Vines Los dos Grenache Syrah … wasn’t a 94 pointer or anything but I gave it solid 89 and it was only 7 bones! If you find some let me know and I will come to your house and steal it!

I love you Gary! cant wait for tomorrows show.

I have one of these 😉

Great show Mr. V!! I’m really searching some bargains in Pinots – esp. the Spätburgunder from Germany.

QOTD: 2001 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese … I scored it 97 pts! Magic stuff!

2002 Coteaux du Languedoc, Domaine de Moncalmes (Les Caves de Pyrene).

95 pnts my pal

2002 Coteaux du Languedoc, Domaine de Moncalmes (Les Caves de Pyrene).

95 pnts my pal

QOTD: Wines that struck me? (1) 2005 Darioush Signature Cabernet, probably one of the best wines of the vintage (not of the year), and (2) Gary Farell Russian River Pinot Noir. Each impressed me enough to go out and buy some.

Come to San Jose and I’ll open the Darioush with you.

Ronchi Babera d’Alba. This is only like a $25 wine, but this is my price range. Nevetheless this wine was incredibly nervy and hmm… I think a little bit perfect. I could drink this wine every night and be content. I love North Berkeley Import selections, they rock it out each time, in a decent price range.

Rosenblum 2003 Hillside Syrah. Drank my last bottle. It is going to be tough finding another $20 value like this. I guess I will have to get into my McPrice Myers a bit earlier than expected. Somebody stop me!

100 cases? That’s just wrong.

QOTD: 2004 Cliff Lede Cab Sauv. Bam.

who did you drop 39 on oh tiny one? hell, i have only put that # up a few times in my career!

Anderson Valley kicks major azz as all now know. what a great place to visit but the ride from Philo to the coast is considerable though the map makes it look like cake.

what did you do to the name Toulouse? i am going to have to rewind to catch that piece of butchery!

QotD: 05 Cali PN that sent me reeling was Brogan Cellars “My Fathers Vineyard”, also an Anderson Valley sourced Pinot. off the hook excellent.