QOTD: I just had the Domaine Pinson the other night and thought it rocked. Other than that alot of Spanish wine (mostly tempranillo) because it is such a good value as I’ve been cutting back on my spending.

just had the 2007 monte novo…also just tried a PV for the first time…loved them both…i used to drink malbec almost exclusively but since i got into WLTV i’ve been adhering to its mantra in full effect…thanks garyvee…you make wine exciting and if i had heard those words come out of my mouth a year ago i would’ve fallen down laughing…

I just had a 2002 Hoepler Pinot Noir from Austria. I was surprised by it. Definitely a Burgundy-like wine. Tons of cherries and a little sweetness to it. Other than that recent wine, just about anything. Any wine that is interesting and some from Michigan, being that I live here now.

Thanks Gary

QOTD: What am I drinking? Last night a bottle of Chinese wine ‘Suntime Niya Red 2002’ – surprising quaffable. What else – Alsace whites, Pinot, Argentinian wine and trying to try a few unusal thigns from Italy.

Cheers
Andrew

QOTD – I am trying to drink all kinds of things from around the world. Tomorrow I am attending an Oregon pinot tasting, which is a favorite. But anything new and different is fun.

Drinking Pinot Nero from the Alto Adige

– EK (The Original CKC Representative)

QOTD: I just had an Australian Shiraz, don’t remember exactly which, and am too lazy to go and look. It was pretty good though.

Great show…love the “nerdy content”!
We started hosting a “wine and cheese” once a month at our house…one of the wines someone brought was “Silkscarf Ensemble 2006” from the Okanagan Valley in BC. It was one I’ve had lately…had some great ones from Portugal lately too.

QOTD: Last week I was working through a 2002 Chateau Ste Michelle Syrah, this week is 2005 Mondavi PR Cabernet Sauvignon. Still trying to get a feel for different wines, learning a lot from The Thunder Show.

QOTD for last episode: GREAT SHOW, definitely a good idea! I’m a big fan of the longer guest episodes.

Definitely keep with the over the top aspect of the show! (re: sniffy sniff)

QOTD – In the past week or so… a decent Spatlese from Pfaltz, a totally uninspiring Vin de Pays Rose, and an interesting Alsatian Pinot Blanc.

Good One, GV! Ray Barnes’ quote of Hugh Johnson gets it down to the letter. What I might equate to the Englishman’s ‘session beer’. Not too intense, heavy, or cumbersome. Goes right along, by it self, or with light cheese, fruits, smoked whitefish, spreads, salads, or elegant entrees.

Is Drouhin still doing that Vero program? That was a balanced, well made version for the entry level. But as with most pricing structure hierarchies, the cherries at the top of the tree are so much more that the easily obtained ones. I used to get an incredible value from Bichot’s Domaine Long-Depaquit. But realize that in the hot vintages like ’03, the converse is easily proven true in Chablis, and the wines are subject to flabbiness, due to loss of acidity.

Just so folks know, Chablis is true terroir and varietal characteristic, not hiding behind oak, or Malo lactic ferm (at least, almost never), though that is allowed, and usually at the remarkable, finest cuvees and selections, and even then, subtlly, and gently, so as to avoid having twenty-five dollars of make-up on a five dollar face.

We love Chablis. We were lucky enough to spend a couple days there 4 years ago while cycling around following the tour de france. 1st Chard-based wine I could say I loved. 64 bones for the Drouhin ….. pricey, but tempting.

QOTD: Just working thru some everyday drinkers lately; Green Point Shiraz from Australia (Victoria), Ch. St. Michelle Cab over the weekend.

We love Chablis. We were lucky enough to spend a couple days there 4 years ago while cycling around following the tour de france. 1st Chard-based wine I could say I loved. 64 bones for the Drouhin ….. pricey, but tempting.

QOTD: Just working thru some everyday drinkers lately; Green Point Shiraz from Australia (Victoria), Ch. St. Michelle Cab over the weekend.

I have had to explain that AOC Chablis and Carlo Rossi have absolutely nothing in common to my non-wine geek friends so many times that its actually starting to annoy me when I have to repeat the explanation.

QOTD: My wine drinking has actually been way down the past few weeks, but I coincidentally opened a 2006 Bernard Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Cote De Lechet last night.

Gary –

The show with Jancis pulled this lurker from the shadows. She was fabulous and your show rocked! This after a double with Randall was over the top. Needless to say, I very much enjoy when you have guests of this quality. You’re a player in the wine world Gary 🙂

A California Chardonnay you must review on your show is from Stony Hill. Theirs is like none other from Napa … very Burgundian. They are pioneers in fine wine from Napa and wonderful folks. They put their heart into their wine and not a fancy tasting room, etc. Juxtopose this style Chard against Rombauer. WOW!

QOTD: I’ve been drinking much wine from our recent trip to the Willammette Valley. I continue to be stunned at the QPR of their wines. Many $25 Pinot Noirs that blow the socks off stuff from Russian River. Interestingly enough because you’ve been talking about it lately, a little known white we fell in love with is an Arneis from Ponzi. Willammette Valley reminds me of what I imagine Sonoma Valley to have been 20 years ago for geography, filled with pleasant laid back folks, making great wines with high QPR all on the cusp of exploding onto the wine scene.

Keep changing the wine world Gary! We like it!!!

– Greg Noorman

Gary: Palette food recommendation: Have you tasted gold kiwi? I just had gold kiwis from New Zealand and it was delicious and distinct enough from regular kiwi to be a worthwhile palette widener.

Regards.

Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Bordeaux, that’s the only wine I have right now. I only have 2 bottles.

(21 year old, budget wine enthusiast here)

I’m actually drinking the Le Gourmand Rivesaltes from the last Secret Pack, tempering the extreme sweetness with some chunks from an outstanding Organic Prairie Boule I just picked up from Whole Foods market. Not a big fan of this at all, but I do intend to finish it off.

I recently had my first Chablis in a local wine class, the 2005 Louis Michel & Fils. I have never tasted a Chardonnay that I liked, and didn’t even know that Chablis was Chardonnay. But I liked this one very much and purchased a bottle. Liked it even more, so I’m now a fan of Chablis and looking forward to trying others.

I’m drinking gin and tonics. I can’t afford a thunder cruise ticket. How about a contest(Or I could be a roadie?!?!?)Think about, Drift

Hi Gary,

I so much love the ending without the “whether you like it or not” bit… thank you!!!!

Furthermore, good show, would have been nice for the vayniacs to hear what all 7 Grand Cru Chablis are…other than Vaudesir (they are:Les Clos, Blanchots, Bougros,, Valmur, Preuses, and Grenouilles.)

QOTD: Just had some aweseome Malbec from O Fournier, A Crux… try it!! too young but a 4 hr. decanting job will do the trick…

Go Dolphins…. 3 more wins than last year already!!! plus, Matty ICE Ryan and the Falcons… how bout that BC QB doing his thing huh?!?!?!?

I loved the energy and the THUNDER you brought with this episode. It was great.

QOTD: Some budget Argentinian whites.

QOTD: Sad day, only desert wines left in the wine fridge… Though enjoyed one of them: 2004 Artesa Late Harvest Gewurztraminer …

Did I hear “ripe green banana”?

Geez, that’s like “dry riesling”…

QOTD: Tonight it was a pop and sip 2003 Ocone Aglianico del Taburno which undoubtedly suffered from lack of aeration. Hope I didn’t ruin it for wifey tomorrow.

But last weekend I got quite a pleasant surprise. We’d made an impromptu stop at a nephew’s home, and I grabbed what I thought was a $10 Malbec I’d bought earlier in the day. We were all amazed at the quality. Incredibly good tasting, soft and luscious. It wasn’t until I got home and checked the receipt and saw I’d inadvertently bought a $20 bottle: La Posta Malbec Angel Paulucci, 2005 I believe it was.

Gary enjoy the show i am a huge chardonnay fan as i live in a smaller town with a somewhat limited selection. Lately i have been drinking a lot of viogner and as well as Burgundian Chardonnay.

I am drinking 06′ philippe colin saint aubin les charmois right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and just about every day….is a good day for burgundy. So, yes. I am drinking lots and lots of burgundy. That’s the only thing i want to spend my money on…and the occasional valpolicella …..
Peace and chicken grease.