Hey Gary,
Great show, especially since I’ve been curious about Cameron Hughes for a while. You’ve been doing a great job in the thunder seat for a while, which is great. Love the wine geek episodes, the occasional in depth short shots, the blind tastings. I was about to email you to be sure you received my friend’s wine, Aum Cellars, a few months back, but I’ll follow up with you here – when is the bio-dynamic follow up to N. Joly coming? We’d love to be a part of it. Hope you spent far more time with Lizzy and Misha than WLTV this weekend and all is happy and well.

SOTD: Nothing really to say. Got all new brakes and rotors put on my car yesterday for $900. Oh drank and 04 BV Tapestry the other night and it was really good.

Never been to Costco (egad?)…and have not had Hughes on radar, but it is always interesting to see the variety across a producer’s line when the negociant angle is in play.

I see you are doing your thing GV, reaching out to heal a relationship…I hope your email to “@ Kell Brigan” works out for you. I pretty sure I know what you meant by the Thursday vs. Saturday, I pick wines in a similar fashion. It would never have crossed my mind to court my wife with that mentality though.

“Ryan Mac” may be on to something…the wine world IS changing and the Vayniacs could be mobilized to do some very interesting things.

OTD: We are a very fortunate group to be able to enjoy the luxury of fine wine, and to have the time for discourse about it. There are so many people in the world that have so much less, through no fault of their own. Some of them even helped to pick the grapes for us. The wine tastes even better when it is consumed with gratitude.

Gary, I can’t miss your shows, either, and I’m learning something new every time. Thank you for sharing yourself, your expertise, your friends (Mott!). The passing of all these public people this past week makes me thankful for my husband of 31 years, 4 beautiful children and 4 beautiful grandchildren. Keep your priorities right, and keep on bring us the thunder! I’m sharing it all with the precious people that keep me going everyday.

Thank you.

I’m def. going to check out the Cameron Hughes wines. My new fave is K Vintners, just can’t get enough–gotta support the town I was born in! This weekend my bf and I went to Pinot Days in SF, another crazy tasting, but came away with a few to look for: Baxter in Anderson Valley and Kenneth Volk. Delicious.

I have a question for you Gary. What do you do to face the things you fear most in life?

Quote for the Commentators:

“You can never waste what you have experienced.”
– Dennis Ray Nestor Jr. 06/29/2009

Spent Sunday at Newport Beach with wife and friends. Finished off the day with BBQ and couple bottles of Zaca Mesa Syrah 2003. Incredible!!

Gary, where do you like to travel on vacation. Since wine is your world do you stay away from wine based vacations?

Michael in Hollywood

SOTD: I just had one of the busiest and stressful weekends of the last 12 months, culminating with an interview that I just came from with a potential new agency. Ultimately, the meeting went VERY well and it may mean some very big and well deserved changes in my career. Cheers.

I’M EMAILING MOTT NOW!

SOTD: I emailed you on April 24, 2009 about corkd.com and you never replied me, you was too busy or I didn’t got your attention.

I haven’t seen the Cameron Hughes wines in my Costco (Arlington, VA). Is availablity store-by-store or regional?

I have never really been into wine before, but the thunder show is changing all that! Thanks Gary!

SOTD:
Major lurker and twitter/facebook follower. You have been the single integral factor in the development of my wine knowledge. I have never taken a class or gone to a major convention but my friends are blown away by my food pairings and suggestions. Also, you remind me of me if I had a better family life growing up and if I had any motivation to turn my hobbies into a business. I have had many chances to do it but I lack the confidence and motivation. You are an inspiration and I would love to meet you as I live in NYC as well. anyways, that’s all.

I wish the BCLD (british columbia canada liquor store didn’t have a 100% wine tax hah)

I am 25 and I don’t have a facebook account or a twitter accounter I had a myspace for 3days like 2 / 3years ago. Im not a fan of web 2.0 for the personal life for sure I don’t need people knowing everything about me… For a business I think its ok. I like blogs.

Sometimes I wish I could find someone local to nerd it up wine style or atleast in my interests wine/food but hey thats life!

Thanks for the tip on the Zinfandel. Ive been trying to get the wife to come around but so far she only enjoys the sweet whites.

I continue to be amazed by the energy you are able to bring to every show. I am sure having a subject you are this passionate about helps. I think you do a great job of sharing a glimpse into personal life and self promotion (if you don’t do it no one else will). I think it is the knowledge and thunder you bring is what keeps people here for almost 700 episodes, and will keep people for as long as you keep going.
I think the earlier suggestions of “how to” episodes are great. The more you know, the more comfortable you feel…which leads to more enjoyment.

Another suggestion, combine the food play a little more (you mentioned in the sake episode that it is one of the few drinks you enjoy without food) The episode up in Boston was great the way it ties in with the food.

I am a big food network fan and it seems more show are out and about at different restaurants, what do you think about location shots from wine bars/more wine list and places people are enjoying wine.

I hope being a father is everything you dreamed it would be
Thanks again
KC

You could auction off the chair since it has become so famous now. I’m sure you could find a good charity to donate its profits to.

Lot 128? I think I might still have some Lot 3 or 4 in the cellar. I guess Cameron Hughes has been doing this for a while.

You’ve been doing this for a while, too. Coming up on Episode 700! Congratulations!

I have been with you, off and on, from about Episode 200. There have been some long stretches when life has gotten in the way, and my viewing has been spotty, or I watch episodes late (like this one — sorry to miss the weekend when you had some time to read comments). My commenting has gotten even spottier. I guess I’ve been doing more lurking than commenting lately. Sorry about that.

Nevertheless, for all of my spotty viewing and commenting, I appreciate what you do. Keep doing it! And thanks!

(Now if we could just get the shipping laws changed, so I could order wine from you and have it shipped to Illinois….)

Cameron Hughes is often good stuff I’ve found. Want to add one point for discussion: Cameron Hughes often suggests letting their big wines sit for several years. Is that unusual for value wines at lower price points? Seems like it could be used as an excuse for wine that isn’t drinking well young. I’ve had some of their wines that fall into that bucket for me. Shouldn’t wine drink well young even if tight or if it could benefit from time? It seems like they ask you to take the plunge and believe that they wine will improve, but you can’t enjoy the wine for a few years, and you could be set up for a real disappointment later. Or, is CH doing us a favor letting us know that the wine might not be great right now and if you want to enjoy something with dinner tonight, look elsewhere. How to interpret? And better question: for those who purchased early lots that CH communicated would benefit from time, how did they drink 2-3 years later?

Enjoyed todays show. I will see if my Costco has the Cab. It sounds delish.
I watch your show during my lunch hour at work. It is a great break in the day and I really look forward to it. Thanks for all you do to bring the Thunder to us.

Gary,
I continue to be amazed at the freshness of the show after so many episodes. There is always something new to learn or enjoy about wine.

I do have one request. Can you mic your guests better? There is usually a big difference in volume between you and them. I like to listen at work during lunch, so I keep it turned down.

Chris

Thanks for reviewing CH Wines. I find that many are in the 85-88 range with the occasional exceptional wine. But I’m paying $12-$14 most of the time and the value is there.

It seems they are sourcing really good fruit, but don’t always get all the components of the original wines and/or don’t have time to barrel or bottle age the wines before release.

The lot 100 Cab does sound like a good value and I’m sure I’ll pick some up in the near future.

Thanks,
Scott

Great show, Thanks again!! Ordered a mix case from you and really enjoying it, especially the Saint Jean Du Barroux!

Just got around to seeing this after being out of town with my wife for our anniversary.

I will have to see if TN has any of these in the local stores. Especially the zin and cab! I wonder if we have a costco???

My SOTD is a QOTD. It may have been answered before but. What happens to all of the 1/2 – 3/4+ bottles of wine once you are finished tasting Gary? Does the staff at wine library get to come by and help “finish” them off? Hmm I have wanted to know that for a while and thought I would ask.

Jason

Gary – thanks alot for keeping up with the show with your busy schedule! I look forward to every episode.

SOTD- I know you fit in a few Finger Lakes wines from time to time. Love those episodes. It would be nice to see some more from time to time. I don’t know if you ever have, but you should also visit some of wineries out here in NY sometime. Finger Lakes rieslings are pretty nice in the summer time!! (they also do a few other grapes pretty nicely too)

Thanks,
Doug