I agree with quite a number of comments here, and I do refer to other comments I made about winemakers in different countries and how “serious” they take the wine business (a couple of weeks ago I made this comment) :
1/ yes, it’s not easy to start as a winemaker, and yes, loads of investments are made, but this is (according to me) NO reason to charge the people who buy your wine 75$…another thing is whether people want to pay these prices (reminds me of Japanese buying the Beaujolais nouveau for $$$ and so, the quality of the wine went to 2nd order)
2/ my (limited) experience of winemakers in different countries is that far the least “serious” are the ones starting in US (must say I’ve only visited wineries in California), almost beginning a winery because “they fell in love with a chateau in France”, or “it’s a great place to have parties taking place”…but these are (according to me again) the wrong reasons to start a winery. If you want to be a winemaker, learn about it, make investments and the objective is to make a great wine. Not the rest.

In my opinion, loads of people step into the wine trade for business purposes…OK, go ahead, but something is missing then…and don’t accuse me then of not wanting to spend 75$ on a bottle of their wine, in order for them to make a nice living and pay for their little “caprice”…then I prefer to pay that amount of money on a wine that is made in a famous winery (which has been busy winemaking since ages).

You can tell I didn’t really like the episode…this was an illustration of why I prefer visiting wineries in Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa (in a week Australia as well) and Europe : the most extravagant thing there were the visits, but wine was always the most important thing. In California often this is not the case, and although the label is nice, the lady is friendly, the winery looks great, the wine can be a fraude…and this may be mentioned.

QOTD : well, off to Australia tomorrow with my partner…Date Night? no, 3.5 weeks of dating!!! ;-))

Enjoyed the show. Was your guest from Texas?
QOTD – 20th anniversary last month, limo picked us up at home, dropped us off at the Boston Public Gardens, we toured the city. Had a great lunch on Charles St – Enoteca 32 where I had a Gruener Veltliner and she had a very nice Italian wine from Umbria.
Then we capped it off with dinner at Grill 23 and had a Lewis Cellars Alec’s Blend, which was fabulous.
A limo picked us up after our meal and we headed home!

This woman represents everything wrong with the wine industry. What a joke.

– Elliot (SEA KAY SEA)

I didn’t like this episode at all.
There was no real thunder and Gary was holding back.
I have to agree with others that buying grapes, hiring people, renting equipment, etc., is not what winemaking is all about – that’s just realising that calling yourself “boutique” and charging $75 x 12 means a possible $900 per box of 12.
There is no heart in the wine – it’s like getting an all-in-one cake recipe, putting the ingredients in a mixer to blend them all together and then after putting it in the over waiting to see what comes out.

I agree with most below. If you kept it real, then props to you.

QOTD: Looking forward to a date night this weekened.

After sending her website an email and getting a very nice reply from the Suzanne I feel that being on a show Nerves do play a role and that people should give her the benfit of the doubt! Many will regret not picking it up when the item turns hott and the wine is hard to find! Kudos to her for having the juevos to do it! Many people talk about leaving there corporate jobs and following there dreams but few ever do it!

Nice show,

Thanks

QOTD: Date night??? I really think ‘dating’ is a North American phenomenon. The rest of the world doesn’t really get into it like you guys … maybe we should?

Andrew

QOTD: Nope. We haven’t made time because of school. But once the semester ends!

Good Lord Gary,

I got a bottle of the 2006 last night. I paid 85 bones at my local store… HIGHLY HIGHLY DISAPOINTED !!!!!!!!!!!!

I understand that u couldnt say much with the lady sitting next to you.. but good lord, there are $30 Napa wines that will put this one to shame..

My take: I think that obviously they are just trying to make money here, and trying to get some kind of buzz going like the “Sea Smoke”…. good luck with that. for now… and for this price, U have to be nuts to waste your money this way.

I have one of my WSET Diploma classes on the 6th. I’ll try to ride down to SF after. Sounds fun.

Went to TGI Fridays last Friday with the wife. That was the last date. Otherwise, we have been relaxing at home with the Bouscat 2005. Great pick GV! Great cooking wine too!

Chuck bass over dan humphrey … all day long. Rock the scarf gary!

Hey Gary. I share many of the thoughts expressed already, so I won’t pile on. I will say, though, that I thought it was a good show. It’s always interesting to see the people behind the wine. It’s much different to talk to a winemaker than a vineyard owner. What struck me about Suzanne was her “marketing speak.” It oscillated between subtle and in-your-face. I bring this up because I’m very sensitive to people who speak with pride and confidence about their products, versus those who over use buzz words and seem to be hawking their products. I got much more of the latter for Suzanne. Even the QOTD, which I refuse to answer, was a marketing stunt. Hey…there’s nothing wrong with plugs and marketing, but given that she just had nearly 30 minutes on your show, I think she could have resisted drawing people to her site. I didn’t like that.

Kudos to you, Gary, for being honest about the price point. $75 is way outside my normal price range. This is even pushing the envelope for special wines (gifts, special occasion). Watching your shows all this time reveals that there are scores of wines that can rival or beat the Date Night Cab for $50 or less. Personally, I feel like this $75 is a bit gimmicky. I’m not going to join the calls by some that Suzanne and her husband trying to strike it rich. If you do the math, 300 cases will bring a gross, GROSS, of $270k. That’s not high rolling by any stretch–considering the cost of labor, leases, equipment, MARKETING, etc.

In the end, this show represents why I love WLTV so much. You talk about what you like and don’t like, and are willing to say it to Suzanne’s face. That’s integrity to me. In my best Chris Rock voice, “You’re keeping real!” 😀

Oops! “You’re keeping IT real.”

Interesting show. You really didn’t talk about the cabernet and chocolate combination that much which I agree is phenomenal. Also, you scored the wines – I thought you didn’t score a guest’s wines in their presence. Well, anyway, there was something about your guest that was…

This was a very weird episode – the guest seemed to have no interesting insight.. more a chance for her to sell ‘her’ product.

Agree with Paco. Bought the 2005 and did not like it at all so I’m somewhat loathe to spend $75-85 for the 2006. I actually have not been thrilled with many of the boutique wineries. Have tasted a lot of them and most are just too over-the top for me. This one fits that description. I would have given the 2005 a major PAZZZZZZZZ

After watching WLTV for a looong time, I have to say that this was the first episode to disappoint. I agree with a lot of the other Vayniacs on the boards- I think that the guest was pretentious and had no real love of wine (but lots of money with her husband spend on “rockstar” ingredients). I just felt as though the marketing for this product was too much….and not only that, but she couldn’t get all the info right. I mean, sure, she might’ve been nervous, but really, you should know before going on a *wine program* that the host will ask you questions about *your* wine. And even if she couldn’t remember, there’s a website that could’ve been consulted beforehand.

I have to give credit to GV for keeping it real and saying what he thought of the wines, but I think even he held back. When you’ve just started out a winery, getting constructive criticism can ameliorate the product so it’s not just another $75 Napa Cab. I’d rather spend $75 on a nice Bordeaux or Barolo and not a “textbook”, just a hair shy of a fruit bomb. That I can get for a lot cheaper.

It’s too bad the chocolate and cab pairing wasn’t focused on as much. Now that by itself would’ve been a great 28 minutes!

you all have no fucking clue what you’re tasting here…its obvious. Dont sell out on us! Love you guys but this is transparent.

QOTD: Tomorrow.

I’m obviously behind in my viewing, and in this case read the majority of the comments prior to watching the show. I think the guest and Gary are getting a bit of a bad rap here. I heard all I needed to hear from Gary – I actually think he is quite good at making a negative point in front of a guest without slamming them or the product. What I heard from Gary is there are a number 30 – 40 dollar wines from Australia and even Napa that are as good as the ’05. Based on that I would not run out to try it. However, I heard that he enjoyed the ’06 alot and that it rivaled a number of the better Napa cabs. Based on that, I would probably give the ’06 a go if I run across it. As far as the guest, whether it was nerves or just her personality I agree her mannerisms and expressions conveyed a certain pretentiousness and unfortunately that came through. My guess though is she is a likeable individual in person (she seems warm enough), and I didn’t get the same sense of over selling or money grubbing that I read in the comments on the board. I congratulate her and her husband for following their dream and I wish them continued success.

God, it is almost embarrassing to watch this lady…. Please, if you want to escape the corporate world, go be a teacher, and do some good for the world, rather than create blah blah wines.

QOTD: Havent been on a date in a while. *shrug* You have to roll with the punches.

Puppet Master…that was funny. It would have been a lot better to have the actual wine maker on the show. I’m sure you realize that, but I just have to mention it. Rough show, bad guest, what are you gonna do? Rock on. 75 bones? That’s what’s so irritating about Napa wines. Finding real value in Napa is like searching for lost treasure in the ocean. You know it’s out there, but how many bunk dives and dollars do you have to blow before you find the booty?
QOTD: Lady, you bug.

Seemed like you didn’t really like the 05 at first but then later, you were liking it more? Why would anyone spend $75 for a wine that is merely “delicious”