The best AND worst was a Chinon. Worst b/c I didn’t like it at all -simply not up my alley (although there was nothing objectively wrong with it). Best b/c I would never have tried it w/o the thunder show and it was the first (of many) TS inspired wines I tried.

QoTD: best = 2004 Domaine Bertrand-berge Ancestral (from the April Fools secret pack)
worst= 2005 sangiovese for 8$

QOTD: There were several that I really liked: AP Vin Gary’s Pinot Noir, Posta del Vinatero Cocina, Black Pig Albarino. I don’t think that there was anything that I hated – I wasn’t crazy about L’esthete Chinon or Chateau Luchey Halde Blanc, but they were interesting. I still have some wines that I haven’t tried but am anxiously awaiting (drinking no wine before it’s time) such as Meadowlark Red, Godolphin Shiraz Cab, Chateau Les Secrets De Cardinale.

Did I hear that you were coming to Albuquerque, NM? That would be great! I’m going to the Corrales (small village near Alb.) Quilt and Wine Festival on Saturday and I’ll pick out some wines for you to try.

Per Se sounds great. And it’s near Lincoln Center. But if I go high end I might start with Aquavit – it’s a bit more reasonable than Per Se.

QOTD: There were several that I really liked: AP Vin Gary’s Pinot Noir, Posta del Vinatero Cocina, Black Pig Albarino. I don’t think that there was anything that I hated – I wasn’t crazy about L’esthete Chinon or Chateau Luchey Halde Blanc, but they were interesting. I still have some wines that I haven’t tried but am anxiously awaiting (drinking no wine before it’s time) such as Meadowlark Red, Godolphin Shiraz Cab, Chateau Les Secrets De Cardinale.

Did I hear that you were coming to Albuquerque, NM? That would be great! I’m going to the Corrales (small village near Alb.) Quilt and Wine Festival on Saturday and I’ll pick out some wines for you to try.

Per Se sounds great. And it’s near Lincoln Center. But if I go high end I might start with Aquavit – it’s a bit more reasonable than Per Se.

QOTD: Hmmm Best & Worst of your recs?
BEST: I’d have to say it’s a tie between 2004 Chateau Lascombes and Gaston Chicquet Champagne. Your Grower champagne episode was illuminating, as were the Cornas, Gruner, and Quincy shows (BTW, I’ve had one or two before seeing your show, to answer THAT QOTD).

Many of your recs are not available in Seattle, and/or are not nearly as cheap as in NJ, so maybe THAT is your worst rec.

GV – Good stuff. QOTD – You introduced me to Cahors, but I haven’t found one I like yet (I keep trying!). But you’ve also pushed me into Loire and Mourvedre!

QOTD: The absolute worse was NEC-OTIUM Pinot Grigio. Thin, horrible tasting swill. I don’t like Pinot Grigio and I thought this would convince me that good ones were out there–not yet.

2005 Berço do Infante Vinho Regional Estremadura Reserva–best cheap wine ever. Good flavor, nice balance 85 points–$4.95!

BTW, you might get more responses if your home page restated the QOTD. I sometimes, if I miss the show, have to try to figure it out from the responses.

Keep up the good work.

QOTD: Your focus on southern France for good QPR has definitely made me take notice as the Euro continues to hold strong…and the Mischief and Mayhem Pinot Noir from Burgundy that you reviewed and recommended definitely brought the thunder for 20 U S B O N E S.

BTW: Rully is south of the Cote d’Or or just south of the Cote de Beaune as I’m sure you are aware of although you stated “north of the Cote d’Or”.

QOTD: Hmm, that’s a tough one. Honestly, there have been few things that I never had before WLTV and the ones I have tried I wouldn’t put in a best or worst category. I tried a Greco di Tufo a couple of weeks ago and while it was good, I wouldn’t say best, but I’ll put that down as my best answer. As for worst, again, nothing horrible. I remember buying a couple of bottles of NZ Sauvignon that you raved about and while I tend to love NZ Sauvignon, both my wife and myself were disappointed in your rave. Nothing terrible, but as you say, different palates.

QOTD – Best one last week at my borther in laws house in Germany a Roco Chiara 2004 Riserva Merlo from the Padua region..It was “slap your moma good”..don’t know the price it was a gift to him. Worst one Little Penguin Shiraz..not good at all

QOTD: The best is the Sunday Morning Sauvignon Blanc. That was BY FAR the most interesting under 10 dollar wine I have ever had…BBBBYYYY FFFAAAARRRR

QOTD: The best is the Sunday Morning Sauvignon Blanc. That was BY FAR the most interesting under 10 dollar wine I have ever had…BBBBYYYY FFFAAAARRRR.
The worst is probably that Sagrantino you recommended and scored through the roof. I thought it was “good” but tasted like a 20 dollar fruit bomb. It was the first Sagrantino I’ve had and after hearing you rave about the tannins and structure of the wine I was really disappointed because I found it slightly flabby. Again good, but closer to a 89 than a 98 pointer

Gary you need to do a show on rose wines.

I’m no girly man but after the secret pack that had the rose wine, i am digging it…you said 20 bones was too much for the secret pack rose so what can you recommned for the same quality as the Le Tendance 2006 bordeaux rose for under 20 bones? i will be making a field trip to Wine Library next week to pick some Rose you recommend (and Encontro Bairrada 2004 that Ian recommened @ the Wine Library event last month—- tremendous daily wine)

ciao for now

Thanks Gary for the advice you shared on the Big Idea last night. I’m a web developer in CA, and you inspired me to quit my job to go out on my own.

QOTD: Best, the Matassa white earlier this year
Worst: Hasn’t happened yet…

QOTD: Best thing I’ve had inspired by the show is a Cab Franc St Nicolas de Bourgueil Les Rouilleres 2005. Not had a bad one.

Good show as always, in my little town there is not enough interest so will try to find a place close to me if possble, would love to meet you.

QOTD – The best is the Cab Franc, I tried a Chinon, and it was really wonderful expansion of my limited understanding.

The worst – I cannot think of a worst, although I was not so impressed with the Beaujolais Nouveau by G. Duboeuf 2007. You gave it a PAZZZ but I tried it anyway for the knowledge and found it to be very blagh. Not bad just blagh.

Great questions. There’s a whole lot of varietals and regionals that I really like because of WLTV, e.g., Sancerre, Brunello, Languedoc-Rousillon… I’ve also rediscovered Riesling and its food-friendly nature. There are many other wines that I’ve bought, but haven’t tried yet (Barolo, Riber del Duero, etc.)–I’m patient and am waiting until they hit their plateau. And, of course, the ton (literally, this is pretty accurate) of 2005 Bordeaux that I bought and will enjoy for many, many years. On the downside, I can’t think of what I’ve tried that I didn’t like, other than the occasional bottle.

Odd, I just ordered some of the Jaeger Defaix Rully last weekend (and received it the other day), but haven’t tried it yet.

Dear Gary,

You dared to give Olivier Laflaive a good kicking !!!!

How dare you !!!!

respect.

In fact that show was real added value. I’ve never tried it (the Rully) but I would have thought the Leflaive would be the best of the three. Instead it was awful.

I tried his Mersault village wine and his Puligny village wine, both of which were excellent so I was very surprised to see you trash the Rully.

I’ll see if I can get hold of the Jaeger here in France.

I’d love to see a show on high end Provence or Langue d’Oc reds.

Rgds,

Paul C

QOTD#1: Princeton, New Jersey
QOTD#2: Best: 2003 Saint Jean Du Barroux L’Oligocene Worst: EVIL cab (yuck).
Great show. Most Rully I’ve had has been a little oak-monster-y, but nice. So I was surprised that Oakey wasn’t in the house today with these wines.

QOTD: Newton Unfiltered or Catena melbac!! the best
worst.. none yet.

Good Show! I have been drinking Rully for 15-20 years. I am amazed at how well they age….usually as well as Premier Cru white Burgundy, developing superb complexities and bottle bouquet. I have had them many times in blind tastings where they were guessed to be top white Burgundy by nearly everyone in attendance.

QOTD: I haven’t had a bad wine yet, so I’ll share two good ones. In response to your Cab Franc Loire episode, I had a Domaine Filliatreau Vielle Vigne 2005 that was outstanding. Its the only red wine I’ve ever had that tasted of Pineapple. It came through right in the midpalate, fantastic in combination with the black and blue berries and fine tannins. â?¬9. I would give this a 91, but what do I know.

The other wine was after your 2005 Bordeaux rant, which wasn’t the first time I’d heard it, but it got me off my butt to try a good one. The Chateau Goubau 2005 Cotes de Castillon (â?¬17.80)was a gigantic, round fruit bomb with cherry, cedar and some toasty oak throughout. I would give it an 89.

QOTD: I haven’t had a bad wine yet, so I’ll share two good ones. In response to your Cab Franc Loire episode, I had a Domaine Filliatreau Vielle Vigne 2005 that was outstanding. Its the only red wine I’ve ever had that tasted of Pineapple. It came through right in the midpalate, fantastic in combination with the black and blue berries and fine tannins. â?¬9. I would give this a 91, but what do I know.

The other wine was after your 2005 Bordeaux rant, which wasn’t the first time I’d heard it, but it got me off my butt to try a good one. The Chateau Goubau 2005 Cotes de Castillon (â?¬17.80)was a gigantic, round fruit bomb with cherry, cedar and some toasty oak throughout. I would give it an 89.

QOTD – Best:
1. Chateau Dereszla Tokaji 2006 (from March’s Secret 4-pack) a knock-out white for a primarily red wine drinker
2. Zolo Torrontes 2007 from Argentina that I tried at the Verde Valley Wine Co in Cottonwood, AZ after one of your episodes touting this grape

QOTD – Worst:
Not really a worst, just a “not as good as I expected” the Domaine Sainte Leocadie 2005 Les Clauses from the Minervois. Next trip to Languedoc, I definitely plan to look up these & other wines in Aigne.