QOTD – I watched an older show where you tasted wines from North Carolina. My favorite wine to date and great for the summer is North Carolina’s Shelton Vineyards Riesling. It is $12 bucks, and everyone I know who has tasted it, regard it as one of their favorites.

Sojourn Pinots and Breggo Rose. A million bucks of upfront money for your book deal, holy crap. You are going to have to get rid of those $12 wines and roll correct with some big names. Do you have pets? Peace.

Yeah, when you can get Cloudy Bay in a Cheesecake Factory (and every other inconsequential ‘restaurant’), you KNOW that it’s not the wine that it once may have been. Probably like getting a ‘beer’ at a McDonalds.(I’ve never eaten at one in 20 countries on four continents that I’ve traveled.)

I like NZSB, but there seems to have been major globalization force at play, cause I usually see just the entry level cheapies, and then a second higher quality tier – the Scotts, Kim Crawford, et al, but for the most part, the lion’s share of familiar stuff is good- to- better than average, but not a crazy good, super tier, as in many other varietals,and/or appellation specific, or estate named wines…

Not familiar w/ the Chasing Venus, but will look forward to gving it a shot – in Ohio, i’ll prob. be nearer to $20.

Hey GV really like your show.Don’t drink white wine that much but would like to start trying some.Can you do a show on d’arenberg (footbolt) (love grass)?

QOTD:Would like a good Riesling.

Thanks Gary! Good stuff.

My experience with NZ Sauvignon Blancs is limited to Kim Crawford. I remember it being a little too fruity for my palate. I shall definitely be keeping my eyes and mouth open for other whites from NZ.

QOTD: Lately I’ve really been into Soaves. I like the volcanic rock minerality aspect to most of them. Tonight I’m enjoying a Tenuta Sant’ Antonio Monte Ceriani 2007. Very good stuff. At first, on the nose, a bit of a rubber component, but that gives way to a key lime pie characteristic. Great acid and an interesting mineral play.
My “coup de coeur” lately for a white wine is “Les Pouches”, a Saumur by Louis Roche, 2007. AMAZING!!!!! Very unique traits for a white. The one that stands out the most is a cotton candy component on the nose (weird, I know). I liked it so much I bought 4 bottles to store for white wine season.

Love y’all!

QOTD: I plan to have more Vinho Verde varietals (Alvarinho, Loureiro) and whites from my local wineries (Westport Rivers, Travessia)

QOTD: I plan to have more Vinho Verde varietals (Alvarinho, Loureiro) and whites from my local wineries (Westport Rivers, Travessia)

Nice ep, definitely an interesting subject. One NZSB that has been a major hit in Finland lately is called Vicarage Lane SB from Marlborough, probably because it is partly Finnish owned and way cheaper than Cloudy Bay and Jackson Estate. I still prefer Sancerre though.

QOTD: Patagonia Pinot Noirs, Albarinos and those full-bodied Valpolicella Superiores

Gary,

I agree with your view of Cloudy Bay. I put it in the same camp as Conundrum. Well made, strong brand, but I really feel that protecting the brand has always made the winemakers play it safe. The 94 point review brought the coverage and established the brand. Consistency, albeit often boring, keeps it a permanent fixture on the wine lists and on the shelf.

QOTD – Still on an Albarino kick from your shows last year, looking forward to that. I am also going to sprinkle in some Verdejo this year. As to reds, spring makes me think of Spanish Garnacha on our deck.

Take care.

Rieslings and Roses!

As I transition into “white wine mode”, I’m making a concerted effort to get into white burgundy/bordeaux. I have somewhat limited experience with both, but the bottles I’ve had have absolutely fascinated me.

Would love a couple shows about these two regions – perhaps even highlighting some <$20 value plays that are available.

Glad to see the new vintage of the Chasing Venus performed well, I bought some of the previous vintage and was impressed by it – will probably never go after a bottle of Cloudy Bay again.

My girlfriend and I find Sauvignon Blanc can taste like… socks. In fact, one month we tried two Chilean Sav Blancs and we were blown away at how different they were, one being very “socky” and the other more fresh and bright. Maybe you have no idea what I’m talking about, but do you think maybe what we mean by “socks” is this “grassiness”? If you get a chance to reply Gary, that would be awesome.

Cheers!

Wines we tried: Espiritu de Chile 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Carolina 2008 Reserva Sauvignon Blanc

QOTD: I’m look forward to drinking more Cali Pinot’s, which I’ve actually never tried. I’m a CKC and a wine noob though, so there’s a LOT I’m being introduced to every day. It’s all about pallet expansion!

Great show GV! Short, to the point, good selection of wines as they are now becoming seasonal. One of the best shows in a while.

QOTD: I am a Loire Valley fanatic (thanks to you…) and love the minerality and acid they bring, as does a nice Chablis, Riesling and Gewurz. I am an acid fanatic as well, I rarely drink without food, so it is very important that the wine I drink is food friendly. This is why I avoid fruity/buttery wines.

QOTD:
Gruners. Love that flavor and minerality.

Me and the better half think you’ve been dressing down for the show more lately. Don’t get us wrong, we’re all for it. Plus, you’ll be dressed more appropriately for the impending baby spit-up…

QOTD: We’re planning on ordering a case of the 2007 Edelzwicker from Navarro Vineyards for the spring season.

Great Show! I have always liked full bodied reds, but being recently challenged by you (I’ve only been watching for about 2 weeks) I’m excited to try the chasing Venus. Usually I only drink whites when it’s hot outside, but I’m commited to expanding my palate. I have friends coming into town for Easter and I cannot wait to turn them on to your show.

Hey Gary

Thanks for the show.

QOTD: This summer I’m looking to drink more Sparkling, don’t often drink it during the week as it’s just me at home and a bottle really needs to be downed in a night – looking at getting some half bottles or someone to drink it with me. Also getting really keen on Portugese white wine – purchased at very resonable prices in Macau.

cheers
Andrew

QOTD: I’m definitely digging whites lately. Had an Oregon Pinot Gris last night from Elk Cove that really made me happy. I’d like more Albarino and Gewurtztramier in my future.

Gary – Good show.

QOTD – Drinking Chenin Blanc all summer long. Mix in a little Chablis and some Grenache Blanc fromt he central coast.

You guys should do a show on Grenache Blanc. The stuff is on fire.

Very nice, to the point kind of show. An interesting subject matter and one I have entered into debate with a few people over. Because of the popularity of the NZ savvy’s here (australia) – they hold 4 spots in our top 10 best selling wines – people are insanely narrow minded about them. I agree that some are just mass produced with very little personality, however that’s no reason to turn off them altogether.
QOTD: getting into winter here so i’m looking forward to drinking some reds (been on the white/sparkling feel for the last 4 or so months). Mainly expanding my palette to new varieties or imported wines.
Tried the 05 Chateau Filhot Sauteurn a few nights ago and absolutely loved it, which prompted me to check out the archives and sure enough, episode 39 there is a review of the 98. Gary you have come a long way since then!

Cat pee reference from episode 390. I’m glad my pallet doesn’t pick that up.

QOTD – This summer I’ll be finishing the NZ Sauvingon Blanc that we bottled for our daughter’s wedding last summer. Great memories in every bottle.

Over the holidays, my brother gave me a case of a variety of Beuajolais and I haven’t been motivated to drink it in the colder weather, but am looking forward to going through the whole case this spring!

Gary – you need to create your own scoring system. So many wines end up in the 86-91 point range – unless their made by a college! It was pretty clear tonight that you liked one wine (90), were OK on another (89) and not impressed with a third (86). You’re obviously more creative than that and now that you’re a star you should be able to develop your own more descriptie system.

nice show. I like the grassy NZ SBs. QOTD: looking forward to super light pinot noirs and exploring other light-to-medium bodied reds from around the world that have better QPR plays! Had a ripasso valpolicella that fit that bill pretty nicely the other day.

Props to Mott for the nice camera work at the beginning, we could see Gary’s face refracted through the bottle being zoomed in on. Very nice and artsy!

When I first started drinking wine I couldn’t stand NZ sauv. So much grapefruit and grass I couldn’t stand it. But these days I’ve started enjoying wines with huge aromatics and have come back to this region and am loving them more and more.