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EP 605 A Master Sommelier From Germany Stops By To Talk Wine

Master Sommelier Hendrik Thoma from Germany stops by and chats wine, german wine and shows us his great personality.

Wines tasted in this episode:

1992 Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Spatlese RieslingGerman Riesling
2007 Cartagena GewurtztraminerOther Chilean White Wine
2006 Becker Pinot NoirOther German Varieties
2006 Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling AusleseGerman Riesling

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

Latest Comment:

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Jacqui Nichols

I think you two should do more shows together. I had a BLAST watching you two together!!

Tags: Auslese, Chilean, German, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Noir, Video

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  • Scott EJ

    Nothing beats a couple of wine guys sitting around breaking down wines. One of your more really authentic shows. Thank you,

    QOTD: I’m gonna cheat by a buck: Santa Rita Reserve Cabernet Sauv. Taste it, you’ll see.

    S.

  • Robert B.

    Das war die Beste Episode, die je gesehen hatte. Wonderschon! Great fun. Ich habe die Zilliken 1993 geprobiert. 1993 war ausegezeichnet! Outstanding. The two were very dynamic and fun to watch. The interaction was great. Both of them are real characters.

  • Robert B.

    Das war die Beste Episode, die je gesehen hatte. Wonderschon! Great fun. Ich habe die Zilliken 1993 geprobiert. 1993 war ausegezeichnet! Outstanding. The two were very dynamic and fun to watch. The interaction was great. Both of them are real characters.

  • Shuf

    Another great show. Hendrik was definetly one of your better guests. It would be great if he could have a recurring role on the show, possibly showcasing german wines.
    QOTD: I think it’s possible to make an interesting and well-made eight dollar bottle of wine. The problem would be the consistency. Gary has probably had several that would fit the discription but consistent replication would seem too difficult. Sometimes everything just comes together.

  • Robert B.

    Das war die Beste Episode, die je gesehen hatte. Wonderschon! Great fun. Ich habe die Zilliken 1993 geprobiert. 1993 war ausegezeichnet! Outstanding. The two were very dynamic and fun to watch. The interaction was great. Both of them are real characters.

  • Shuf

    Another great show. Hendrik was definetly one of your better guests. It would be great if he could have a recurring role on the show, possibly showcasing german wines.
    QOTD: I think it’s possible to make an interesting and well-made eight dollar bottle of wine. The problem would be the consistency. Gary has probably had several that would fit the discription but consistent replication would seem too difficult. Sometimes everything just comes together.

  • Mike V.

    One of the best shows ever! I like your “agressive foreign policies”.I do agree with Mike in Wisconsin, You missed a great opportunity to have someone very entertaining and with lots of insight explain the many classifications of German Rieslings.

    QOTD- many serviceable “pizza” wines in that price range. NO ONE in their right mind would produce a “great” $8 wine.

  • Dustin

    Great show! Great guest! The video at the end was awesome.

  • Mike V.

    One of the best shows ever! I like your “agressive foreign policies”.I do agree with Mike in Wisconsin, You missed a great opportunity to have someone very entertaining and with lots of insight explain the many classifications of German Rieslings.

    QOTD- many serviceable “pizza” wines in that price range. NO ONE in their right mind would produce a “great” $8 wine.

  • Dustin

    Great show! Great guest! The video at the end was awesome.

  • Josh S

    Great conversational episode… Loved it

    QOTD: I’ve spent a fair amount of time around “I don’t like wine, i drink rose, etc” people lately, and I find that a super new-world fruity wine is a great way to bring to them to red. With that in mind, there are quite a few super fruit-bombs under $8. Most recently was the Rosemont Shiraz which tasted like drinking strawberry jam. Does that make it “great”? no. not really. Just worth keeping around…

  • Josh S

    Great conversational episode… Loved it

    QOTD: I’ve spent a fair amount of time around “I don’t like wine, i drink rose, etc” people lately, and I find that a super new-world fruity wine is a great way to bring to them to red. With that in mind, there are quite a few super fruit-bombs under $8. Most recently was the Rosemont Shiraz which tasted like drinking strawberry jam. Does that make it “great”? no. not really. Just worth keeping around…

  • Travis

    Amazing episode – best guest ever!

    QOTD: $8? Sure, as long as it’s not-for-profit, no advertising, and all volunteer labor. (with no middleman/distributor) Imagine how much just those few elements add to the price verses the ‘core’ PRICE of the wine… Otherwise, better plan on $15+ for GREAT wine.

  • Travis

    Amazing episode – best guest ever!

    QOTD: $8? Sure, as long as it’s not-for-profit, no advertising, and all volunteer labor. (with no middleman/distributor) Imagine how much just those few elements add to the price verses the ‘core’ PRICE of the wine… Otherwise, better plan on $15+ for GREAT wine.

  • TWofPasadena

    GREAT show.

    Hendrik ROCKED as a guest. I had to go and open another bottle to finish this episode (hello Advil!).

  • TWofPasadena

    GREAT show.

    Hendrik ROCKED as a guest. I had to go and open another bottle to finish this episode (hello Advil!).

  • shawnandlu

    Hendrick, my man, you had me at “who is Ryan Seacrest” We can only dream.

    QOTD: yes I think it can be done but only in special circumstances. I think that it could be done in a third world country were real estate and labor costs are still relatively inexpensively. Also the winery would have to be new enough that the reputation had not driven up demand and price yet.

    P.S. the ending video absolutely rocks!

  • shawnandlu

    Hendrick, my man, you had me at “who is Ryan Seacrest” We can only dream.

    QOTD: yes I think it can be done but only in special circumstances. I think that it could be done in a third world country were real estate and labor costs are still relatively inexpensively. Also the winery would have to be new enough that the reputation had not driven up demand and price yet.

    P.S. the ending video absolutely rocks!

  • Michael D

    Great show, Gary! Like many of your other viewers and fans, I enjoy guests who help us learn more about the complex subject of wines. Hendrik Thoma was such a guest. Also, he has the personality to mesh with yours and not wilt in comparison, as some of your guests have done. Great episode.

    As for the QOTD, no I don’t think there is such a thing as a great wine for $8 or less, but some are OK. Here in the Phoenix area, wines probably cost a little less than in N.Y. or N.J., and stores here are legally allowed to discount prices, unlike [I believe] some states. The result is that we here in AZ probably get some better prices on wines than do many of your viewers. In the past 6 months, I have been able to find a few wines in the $8 to $10 dollar range that were better than expected. A recent example was a Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Riesling on sale for $8, which was quite pleasant. For the money I think that Argentinian malbecs and cabs offer some very good value. Santa Julia Reserva malbec [about $12]comes to mind.

  • Michael D

    Great show, Gary! Like many of your other viewers and fans, I enjoy guests who help us learn more about the complex subject of wines. Hendrik Thoma was such a guest. Also, he has the personality to mesh with yours and not wilt in comparison, as some of your guests have done. Great episode.

    As for the QOTD, no I don’t think there is such a thing as a great wine for $8 or less, but some are OK. Here in the Phoenix area, wines probably cost a little less than in N.Y. or N.J., and stores here are legally allowed to discount prices, unlike [I believe] some states. The result is that we here in AZ probably get some better prices on wines than do many of your viewers. In the past 6 months, I have been able to find a few wines in the $8 to $10 dollar range that were better than expected. A recent example was a Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Riesling on sale for $8, which was quite pleasant. For the money I think that Argentinian malbecs and cabs offer some very good value. Santa Julia Reserva malbec [about $12]comes to mind.

  • Loved this episode. I need to throw more stuff, clearly it would make for better days…

  • Loved this episode. I need to throw more stuff, clearly it would make for better days…

  • Tremendous show today, bringing the Thunder as always – It was like two dueling fountains of wine knowledge spouting off and nothing could be more entertaining while still being truly enlightening.

    Also, kudos to you for the manner in which the Cork’d hacking incident was handled today. Being so forthright under undue stress was refreshing and something other hacked retailers (hint, hint – TJMaxx) could learn from – In other words give me the truth and do not send some PR lackey out to spit some arranged “company line”.

    Finally, thanks for my “101 Wines” copy which you signed. I was fortunate enough to follow you on Twitter and was able to take advantage of the cool offer.

    Keep the good work coming. Enjoying it immensely already in the ’09!

  • Tremendous show today, bringing the Thunder as always – It was like two dueling fountains of wine knowledge spouting off and nothing could be more entertaining while still being truly enlightening.

    Also, kudos to you for the manner in which the Cork’d hacking incident was handled today. Being so forthright under undue stress was refreshing and something other hacked retailers (hint, hint – TJMaxx) could learn from – In other words give me the truth and do not send some PR lackey out to spit some arranged “company line”.

    Finally, thanks for my “101 Wines” copy which you signed. I was fortunate enough to follow you on Twitter and was able to take advantage of the cool offer.

    Keep the good work coming. Enjoying it immensely already in the ’09!

  • Ian Leong

    Sickest episode yet, easily one of my favourite. Maybe it’s because I’m a Riesling nut and I’ve lived in Germany for a period of time. Surprised there were only 2 master sommeliers in Germany, who’d thunk it? I cringe everytime Gary pronouces ‘spatlese’

    QOTD: I would think in the US it would be easier to find a good wine under $8, but given the taxation laws in Singapore, you’d be lucky to find ANY wine under $10 USD. But for the US, I’d imagine it’s kinda hard to make a GREAT wine under $8. If you do know, hook me up.

  • Ian Leong

    Sickest episode yet, easily one of my favourite. Maybe it’s because I’m a Riesling nut and I’ve lived in Germany for a period of time. Surprised there were only 2 master sommeliers in Germany, who’d thunk it? I cringe everytime Gary pronouces ‘spatlese’

    QOTD: I would think in the US it would be easier to find a good wine under $8, but given the taxation laws in Singapore, you’d be lucky to find ANY wine under $10 USD. But for the US, I’d imagine it’s kinda hard to make a GREAT wine under $8. If you do know, hook me up.

  • Another great show Gary… Loved Hendrik on this episode you should fly him out once a month as you both talked about! Good stuff 😉

  • Another great show Gary… Loved Hendrik on this episode you should fly him out once a month as you both talked about! Good stuff 😉

  • Griz4life

    AWESOME GUEST!!!!

    Gary, that was an amazing show, one of the best I’ve seen in awhile.

    QOTD: I do think you can make a great wine for $8. I think it takes the moxy of a wine maker and a wine producer in that they have to agree to buck the trend of only thinking a great wine can be of a certain price point. I believe that too many people believe a superior product can only be created by a high ‘faked’ demand. That demand is created by an elitist consumer clientele. You create a high demand from high clientele (ie. very low production) you create high profit.

    I understand there is a necessity for high quality in this case, but very many clients believe that exclusivity overrides quality.

    I call bullshit.

  • Griz4life

    AWESOME GUEST!!!!

    Gary, that was an amazing show, one of the best I’ve seen in awhile.

    QOTD: I do think you can make a great wine for $8. I think it takes the moxy of a wine maker and a wine producer in that they have to agree to buck the trend of only thinking a great wine can be of a certain price point. I believe that too many people believe a superior product can only be created by a high ‘faked’ demand. That demand is created by an elitist consumer clientele. You create a high demand from high clientele (ie. very low production) you create high profit.

    I understand there is a necessity for high quality in this case, but very many clients believe that exclusivity overrides quality.

    I call bullshit.

  • Great episode?Gewurzt in Chile, what an eye opener? Even if it sucks I still agree with Gary on experiencing it!

    QOTD: Can you make a good wine under $8? Answer, I?m not sure you can plan to. That said I would argue this 2006 Dynamic Red Table Wine fits the mold. Still generally speaking nearly impossible to so vintage after vintage?

    @Daniel Kemp I?ve really enjoyed the Franc Merlot at $5. Ranked it at #2 in my most recent Top 10 list. Nice intro to Cab Franc, especially for newcomers.

    @John Farrin had the Capolan, not a huge Merlot fan but impossible to complain about at $4?

    @JS Trader Joe?s has a fantastic bottle of Pinot Noir for $4? Surely you jest. I believe I have seen them all. Do tell, spare me at least a bottle!

    @SteveW Agree there is a lot of ?excess dumping? going on at Trader Joe?s. Worked well for Charles Shaw until they tried to scale it and still works well at times. Just never vintage after vintage. The Chariot Gypsy is my current case study to see if you can retain the magic at the price point from vintage to vintage.

    @christopher foley The Gascon Malbec, really? Wasn?t a fan! Love Trader Joe?s but they never get it done on Malbec. Go get some Pascual Toso and get back to me?

    Cheers all!

    Jason

  • Great episode?Gewurzt in Chile, what an eye opener? Even if it sucks I still agree with Gary on experiencing it!

    QOTD: Can you make a good wine under $8? Answer, I?m not sure you can plan to. That said I would argue this 2006 Dynamic Red Table Wine fits the mold. Still generally speaking nearly impossible to so vintage after vintage?

    @Daniel Kemp I?ve really enjoyed the Franc Merlot at $5. Ranked it at #2 in my most recent Top 10 list. Nice intro to Cab Franc, especially for newcomers.

    @John Farrin had the Capolan, not a huge Merlot fan but impossible to complain about at $4?

    @JS Trader Joe?s has a fantastic bottle of Pinot Noir for $4? Surely you jest. I believe I have seen them all. Do tell, spare me at least a bottle!

    @SteveW Agree there is a lot of ?excess dumping? going on at Trader Joe?s. Worked well for Charles Shaw until they tried to scale it and still works well at times. Just never vintage after vintage. The Chariot Gypsy is my current case study to see if you can retain the magic at the price point from vintage to vintage.

    @christopher foley The Gascon Malbec, really? Wasn?t a fan! Love Trader Joe?s but they never get it done on Malbec. Go get some Pascual Toso and get back to me?

    Cheers all!

    Jason

  • mikek

    Just watched this episode for the 2nd time … “link it up, Vaynerchuk”! at the end of the clip, has GOT to be made into a tee shirt! You have GOT to LOVE the MOTT!! (still LMAO)!!

  • mikek

    Just watched this episode for the 2nd time … “link it up, Vaynerchuk”! at the end of the clip, has GOT to be made into a tee shirt! You have GOT to LOVE the MOTT!! (still LMAO)!!

  • MMMMMMMM tufff, Im Chilean in Chile, talking about chilean wines, my opinion is that they are all in the 5-8 USD prize range compared globally with the rest of the world out there wines…

    I know its a very negative prize response, Im horrified with the high level of dishonest wines chilean oenologist love to prodce and export. Total lack of passion for truth, total copy-paste wanna be, total “·$!%$/&·/, exept for no more than 5 wines that rule!

    Like Villard Pinot Noir from Casablanca, Meli Carignan, Kai Carmenere, Casa Marin Syrah (11,7º alcohol 2008), Almaviva Epu Cabernet-Carmenere. Thats it Gary, from me as a Chilean I have to raise a black flag because I love my nation, but I dislike non natural, painted like hores no-dimensional wines.

    By the way, grate show, the german guy is absolute fun, a camera strike!

  • MMMMMMMM tufff, Im Chilean in Chile, talking about chilean wines, my opinion is that they are all in the 5-8 USD prize range compared globally with the rest of the world out there wines…

    I know its a very negative prize response, Im horrified with the high level of dishonest wines chilean oenologist love to prodce and export. Total lack of passion for truth, total copy-paste wanna be, total “·$!%$/&·/, exept for no more than 5 wines that rule!

    Like Villard Pinot Noir from Casablanca, Meli Carignan, Kai Carmenere, Casa Marin Syrah (11,7º alcohol 2008), Almaviva Epu Cabernet-Carmenere. Thats it Gary, from me as a Chilean I have to raise a black flag because I love my nation, but I dislike non natural, painted like hores no-dimensional wines.

    By the way, grate show, the german guy is absolute fun, a camera strike!

  • WHHHOOHHHHOWWWW !!! Amazing show! Hendrik Thoma was a great guest!!! Can’t wait to see his TV Show over here!

    Marlene

  • WHHHOOHHHHOWWWW !!! Amazing show! Hendrik Thoma was a great guest!!! Can’t wait to see his TV Show over here!

    Marlene

  • Sorry, but what exactly was the question? “Great” wine under 8$, “very good” wine – or what? Whatever, it’s very difficult to give any qualified answer to this question without having defined what you mean with “very good”. Does “very good” equal at least 85 points for you?

    Werner

  • Sorry, but what exactly was the question? “Great” wine under 8$, “very good” wine – or what? Whatever, it’s very difficult to give any qualified answer to this question without having defined what you mean with “very good”. Does “very good” equal at least 85 points for you?

    Werner

  • GREAT episode! Very good guest.
    You are coming across as really ragging on California these days;
    not sure what that’s all about.
    Thanks for continuing to inform and inspire.
    T
    P.S. The “2008 throwing” video at the end was excellent!

  • GREAT episode! Very good guest.
    You are coming across as really ragging on California these days;
    not sure what that’s all about.
    Thanks for continuing to inform and inspire.
    T
    P.S. The “2008 throwing” video at the end was excellent!

  • QOTD: Not in today’s economic world

  • QOTD: Not in today’s economic world

  • Beverly

    GREAT EPISODE!!! Bring him back again…very charming and great personality. Thanks, Gary!

  • Beverly

    GREAT EPISODE!!! Bring him back again…very charming and great personality. Thanks, Gary!

  • Joan

    Gary- I love your show. You know so much and are such a wealth of knowledge but please, work on your pronunciations! Château d’Yquem = E-Kem, the d is silent. It would be like me pronouncing your favorite team “The Yets”. The German stuff is very difficult and you did a fabulous job today. Thanks for making the world a more interesting place to live in. Have a great day!

  • Joan

    Gary- I love your show. You know so much and are such a wealth of knowledge but please, work on your pronunciations! Château d’Yquem = E-Kem, the d is silent. It would be like me pronouncing your favorite team “The Yets”. The German stuff is very difficult and you did a fabulous job today. Thanks for making the world a more interesting place to live in. Have a great day!

  • Frank

    I was super pumped when I saw an episode with Hendrik as a guest being online and directly jumped into it. This show is one of the best shows and Hendrik is definetly the best guest ever! Gary and Hendrik together bring the ultimate thunder!

    A week ago I had a Pinot Noir from Knipser (Pfalz) in Germany and liked it a lot.

  • Frank

    I was super pumped when I saw an episode with Hendrik as a guest being online and directly jumped into it. This show is one of the best shows and Hendrik is definetly the best guest ever! Gary and Hendrik together bring the ultimate thunder!

    A week ago I had a Pinot Noir from Knipser (Pfalz) in Germany and liked it a lot.

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