While up in the Anderson Valley, I also recommend a side trip or two to the Vichy Hot Springs in Ukiah (just do a half day before or after something else.) How often do you get to share tub schmutz with Mark Twain?

Also recommended, hike (or bike, carefully, about half the way) at Russian Gulch http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=25246. Love it up there. And, you can give the kids rides on the banana slugs!

Ice cream: I cannot tell a lie — Cherry Moose Tracks http://www.moosetracks.com/flavors/detail/20 (i.e. cherry ice cream & chocolate covered cherry juice candies, with a stripe of fudge). It’s took sweet and too ooky and too rich, and sometimes that’s a good thing. Second place goes to pistacio, and third to the mint version of cookies & cream I had the other day.)

QOTD 1:Deep fried pickles are delicous. But never had your urge, except maybe with some string cheese after some sweets, or some fresh mozarella.

QOTD 2: I love ice cream, period. But you need to make your own ice cream to really find bliss. Go out buy one of those slow churning ice cream makers (less than $100) and make some of your very own creamy, delicious ice cream. You will thank me.

Cool setting…sth different, btw, I think this is the very few times where you paused and it took you some time to think a bout the QOTD!!!

Interesting. The way you feel about Anderson Valley is how I feel about Sardinia.

Let’s Go Pens

QOTD1: I need to have something salty after dessert. So I get what you are saying.

QOTD2: Cookies and Cream

I can’t answer two questions of the day I am suffering from forum withdrawal and can’t focus that long. When are the forums coming back online? As to my favorite ice cream. Peanut butter chocolate. It has been my favorite for about 40 years.

I recently had a face ripping Pinot from the Russian River Valley, adjacent to Anderson Valley. Perhaps a couple of shows from there are in order. The Williams Selyem winery of Healdsburg makes some handcrafted wines that are not inexpensive either. The 2006 Pinot I had from the Flax Vineyard was about $70 clams.

I recently had a face ripping Pinot from the Russian River Valley, adjacent to Anderson Valley. Perhaps a couple of shows from there are in order. The Williams Selyem winery of Healdsburg makes some handcrafted wines that are not inexpensive either. The 2006 Pinot I had from the Flax Vineyard was about $70 clams.

listen to all the sirens in the background. it reminds me of Houston.

QOTD: Mint Choclate Chip, there is also a new Breyers Root Beer Float “swirl” that I like where the root beer is a sherbert mixed with vanilla that I’m liking a lot. Breyers has the puerest flavors IMO too.

PS–LOL that you stumped yourself on the QOTD

QOTD 1. The only thing I want after dessert is more dessert.
QOTD 2. My favorite flavor isn’t made any more. Goo Goo Clusters.

I have not been impressed with Cali Pinots in the past and I have tried many. I’ll give Anderson Vally pinots a go again but being a Seattlite the only pinot I like (other than burgandy obviously), comes from Oregon.

Nice show again GV!

Thanks to you, I?m starting to go deep on Pinot. I used to be a Cab/Malbec guy. But since I started watching WLTV I?m trying different stuff all the time. ?Expanding my palate!?

QOTD1: After a desert I usually have a good Espresso.
QOTD2: Chocolate.

GV, I found some crazy device on Amazon, called The Wine Clip? that supposedly makes tannic wine taste better?! Sounds a little too magical for me?

I think would a nice show idea for you to test this thing for the Vaynernation.

A Kiss on Misha,
Best wishes to you and your family,

Mauricio Fernandes.
from Brazil)

I completely agree with what you said about the bullshit of scoring. How’d you decide to taste the Claudia Springs before the Black Kite, given that they’re both Anderson Valley pinot noirs? (I asked a similar question after the Gigondas episode a little bit back.)

Thank you!
— a 21 yr old trying to learn as much as he can about the wine world

QOTD2: pear, without a doubt (more sorbet than ice cream, but close enough i hope!)

Speaking of overpriced Pinot Noirs, I attended the Santa Cruz Mountains Vintner’s Festival last weekend. I tasted some really great wines, but it seemed like all the price points were $10-$20 higher than I thought they should be. I’m talking $40 at the lowest end of the price spectrum for a decent should-be-$20 bottle. Is that a result of their smaller production or are they in the “build it and they will come” Napa envy mindset? This is after going to Napa two weekends before and being astounded that most of the bottles were in the $25 – $35 range.

There was one KNOCKOUT wine I had. It was a 2005 Estate Pinot from McHenry Vineyards. Literal shack as the entrance to their cellar, but this $25 bottle was absolutely phenomenal. The winemaker was a great guy and the whole place had a really charming family feel to it. I highly recommend you seek it out if possible.

time and place… where you are is the right place, always….

good show.

Been on a carmel kick recently

Butter Pecan.

QOTD: Chocolate Peanutbutter Crunch

Best Pinot by far… Moshin in Sonoma, CA. Pricey but worth it! If you want a great CA sparkling… Mayo is to die for. You are so cool Gary. Saw your dad at the Library this week. Congrats on the babe!!!!

QOTD #2 Chocolate turtle and rocky road.

Good show and really want to try the Black Kite.

QOTD #1 – Not a big dessert fan, but do LOVE port!

QOTD #2 – AN old flavor from Braum’s that is no longer offered – Key Lime Pie.

QOTD: Vanilla base with something chocolatey in it. For example Cookies and Cream. But more interesting. Some crunchy and gooey textures in a vanilla base.

Hey, where the heck is our 4th of July secret pack?!

qotd= i’m with “M”: vanilla base w/a little chocolate something. Brigham’s chocolate chip is a classic Boston fav.

Congrats Gary & Lizzie, Misha is awfully cute. I love her fluffy little head of hair and big eyes!

qotd My nephew’s homemade chocolate double truffle ice cream. btw off to Italy today. Hope for Super Tuscan show we can enjoy while there.

Gary, thanks so much for continuing to do episodes now that I know you are as busy as you could possibly be. I like that first qotd even though it was kind of scattered. My girlfriend and I often find ourselves wanting some salty or savory food after sweets. I don’t know why either, but the contrast seems to give my palate some kind of balance. I guess the concentrated sugar, while pleasant at the time, is just too much on some level. Now, if only the forums were working …

QOTD #1: I like the contrast between the muted sweetness of cold desserts and the hot bitterness of coffee. Gotta balance the yin and yang of the palate.

QOTD #2: I love some mint chip ice cream, although I need understood why it’s neon green…