Unfortunately, am 5500 miles away so can’t get the secret pack 🙁
Turned 40 a month or so ago, thanks for the shout-out.
Had about 10 episodes stacked up and so watching them all.
Been enjoying some new friends and some new wines. Met a relative that’s a Veyniak too.
Basically enjoying life.

I did not participate in the Secret Pack due to my travel schedule. Do like Albarinos and certain CA Syrahs.
QOTD – Prepping for my 20th anniversary!

Gary,

Just had the Albarino for dinner with the family. Steamed clams and broiled scallops. It was excellent. However, when mom pulled out her super family famous double chocolate cake for dessert we popped the Le Gourmand Rivesaltes – you were the star of the show! EVERYONE loved it. It really brought the thunder with the chocolate. Thanks for some great secret pack picks.

Once again I did not participate in the Secret Pack, but I very much enjoyed the show.

QOTD: Spent about ten days in Quebec City on business and had a wonderful time as well – great city, good restaurants, decent wine selection despite the Canadian distribution system. Now catching up on WLTV episodes while on business in Geneva, Switzerland for about ten days.

QOTD: Tasting lots of 2005 Bordeauxs for the first time (having a hard time with the tannins with my young palette), besides wine I’m having fun with our website yayart.com where we are pushing digital art to the physical world.

Great episode Gary! As for the QOTD: My last few months have been spent preping for my trip. I leave in 5 days of India! I’m gonna be there for about 2 months and I’m very very excited!

QOTD: I’ve missed you too, G-man! I was away in France and Italy for 2 weeks and have been trying to catch up on my life here in LA. Im almost caught up with WLTV episodes, and I have som e good new for you soon…

Been on the road for the last 2.5 weeks and still not back home yet. For me, the Sangratino is a killer wine. Not big on any of the others. Still waiting to see the VIP package for the cruise. Have missed seeing any news about the cruise lately though we may have been one of the first to sign up.

Gary,

I finally sat down on my BDay to taste the secret pack with Mom, Dad, sister, and a cousin. We always love doing these together.

All wines were in general a hit.

The albarino was the most interesting I’ve ever had.
The sagrantino and rivesaltes tied for the overall winners. Popular among everyone.
We are still not sure about the syrah. The nose was a little odd.

My sister, who is not yet a big wine drinker loved the rivesaltes. Maybe this will be her bridge wine!

Love it so much! Take care

Keep it up Gary! I haven’t missed an episode in over a year. Big ups from Denmark.

Gary:

Thanks for the shout-out on the birth of our new son Zeke Henry.

He really amazes me!

Richard Shaffer

Would love to try that Sagrantino!

The Copain syrah is amazing for the price-point. I just had a Chapoutier from 1996 (lermite) and I’d put this in ALMOST the same league…but $100 cheaper.

Just had the Syrah. I thought it had a little funkiness at first sniff. I do however get the pomegranate and blackberry jam mixed in with the dirty socks. This is definitely going to be a staple in my cellar. This is not your Australian Syrah.

victor

Couldn?t resist peaking- Will have to wait to taste secret pack in Florida
tomorrow when I go on holidays and have these wines and others waiting for
me at my hotel! Yes Canada! You can order delivery of these wines to your
American hotels you visit while on vacation &/or business!

Wish I could’ve tasted along!

QOTD: Been chilling in Bordeaux and working the harvest! It’s been sweet!

QOTD: BUSY trying to revamp our winelist! So behind on episodes, but I’ll catch up soon!

Still working through my Secret Pack. Just finished the Syrah and started the Sagrantino. Gary, good picks! Loved the Albarino the most so far, but really like the Syrah (some coca cola fizz action in my cheeks! My mouth that is!). I’m also a sucker for dry, sour Italian wines, and the Sagrantino is awesome, I probably never would have tried on my own. Looking forward to the next pack…I like the ‘recommendation’ approach to the packs.

Just drank the Sagrantino. I opened it up last night and had one glass with a manicotti. The tannins ripped my face off. Only after 3 hrs of decanting it was still too tight. I did get the sour cherries and the floral component. I left it out on the counter overnight and now the tannins are more manageable. The sour cherries are now just cherries and the bacon fat has come to the forefront on the nose. A little bit of smokiness and pepperiness is also present. I would love to see where this is in 2-3 ys. A great, complex wine. What can I say, I’m a fan of sagrantino now.

Have watched but not tried the secret pack yet from episode #548. Trying to set up a tasting with friends and want to pair with food. As another comment I saw asked, do you have any recommendations for the Syrah and Sagratino?

Also, been wanting to thank you for turning me onto Rieslings; incredible, ripping stuff.

That Sagrantino is something I’vee gotta find. QOTD: Trying to stay awake! Thanks for all the shows, Greg

I finally got to tasting the pack today (12/30/08). I wanted to have some of my good friends around to try it but ended up trying it all by myself. I am glad I did. I enjoyed the all but must admit the third one of the bunch was my favorit. I can’t wait to share the rest with everyone tommorrow. Thanks for putting together a great pack.

QOTD: Looking for a job that involves the futhering of my wine education.

Hi Gary! I’m just catching this episode (Jan ’09) and wanted to post some big ups to you on the selections. I was especially jazzed to see the Goretti Sagrantino. I had the opportunity to visit the Goretti winery last May while on a trip celebrating the big 5-0 with friends and my daughter.
The Sagrantino wowed me. Like you say, very complex nose and palate.
The Goretti winery also participated in a dinner here in Cleveland put on in conjunction with LPSC where I picked up a couple more bottles.
I served my 2003 over the holidays with a grilled lamb chops with wine reduction. Nice pairing and my bottle didn’t seem to need as much air.
The star of the my holiday dinner though was their L’Arringatore (80% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, 10% Cigliegiolo). In Umbria, the bottle we took back to the hotel was really tight, but two subsequent bottles were great. I also enjoy their Il Moggio (100% Grechetto). Cheers!

I love these episodes but kick myself because you cant ship the packs to the state of Washington. Id love to be tasting them along with you. Still a good show and hope the fellow Vayniacs enjoyed the wines. QOTD: Not much. Kind of drifting right now. Working some heavy days and when it comes to my days off I just feel like being lazy around the house. I am going to the Mariners fan fest this Saturday ( first time ive been able to go to one ) so Im excited about that. Hopefully I’ll be able to touch the grass!…. something Ive wanted to do since I was a kid. Thank God we have grass and not turf.