Hey GV,
I’m a lurker no more… Watched the show for about 100 episodes and love it! You’ve taught me so much, Thanks!
QOTD: Fav # – 10
QOTD: I drank Aqua de Piedra 2007 Malbec from Argentina. I’d give it 82 points. Not impressed, a bit watery.

Greg

Gary — first, I need to say thanks for all the useful info. With your help I’m learning the difference between simply drinking wine and truly understanding/appreciating the different attributes of wine in general.

I have a question (perhaps more of a challenge) for you. You talk a lot about expanding one’s palate. Okay … trying lots of different fruits, spices, eating dirt, sticking a dirty sock in my mouth … this I understand. However, you also regularly use descriptive terms such as ‘acidic’ or ‘metalic’ or ‘rustic’ or ‘focused’. These I am less certain about.

So … my question/challenge is … could you put together a list of 10 or so wines ($20 and less) where each is a quintessential example of a key attribute that one should be able to call-out when tasting. For instance, what wine should I try if I want to understand what rustic means? What is the perfect example of a jammy wine? What is the perfect example of an acidic wine? What should I try if I want to understand what ‘really focused’ means? What should I try if I want to understand what it means for a wine to ‘fall apart’.

I know each palate is different, but this is definitely not about figuring out how to like the same wines you like. This is about understanding some of the less-quantifiable characteristics of wines. I imagine this being a DYI tasting that forms a good foundation on which to start exploring more. What do you think? Looking forward to your reply. Thx again for opening up the wine world to us novices.

Don’t really have a favorite number, never saw the need. As for the wine, I had the MAN vintners from South Africa Cab Sauv, and it was pretty solid, so I would do an 87. I also had their Shiraz, which was a little more boring, so an 85.

Also, the guy who is saying you act like a drunk is insane. If the entire Russian nation were like you (ridiculous I know), then Russia would be the greatest place on Earth!

QOTD: 2002 Crauford Cabernet with Porterhouse. I give the Crauford 92 points. The Porterhouse gets a 96. It was amazing.
Number 13. Loved this episode. It really shows that people have very different taste.

Great show! I’m not surprised about the Mount Eden. I know they get high scores from Parker and Spectator and I know what their style is like. I don’t find it unacceptable as you do, but I would rarely want to drink it and certainly not for that price. I don’t have a favorite number. I had a 2006 (Antinori) Guado Al Tasso Vermentino from Bolgheri over the weekend and scored it 90 points (same as you, though I didn’t check until after I scored it). I thought it was one of the best Italian white wines of any kind that I’ve had. Delicious.

Been watching for a couple months now, fairly religiously. I absolutely love the brown paper bag episodes. I’m dying to try the Mt. Eden now just to get a reference point.

Just tried a Rudolph Muller “Shine” riesling and I would have scored it low 70s. It disappears so fast that I thought I was drinking Vitamin Water.

I really don’t understand why people that don’t like what you (or anyone else is doing) don’t just leave the podcast/page/site?! Why going into this racist tirade. Good for you for being drunk on…

Love the number 6 and 8.

QOTD: Rondan Rioja Riserva 2001 and Sagrantino di Montefalco Goretti (2003)

Love the blind tastings. Learn a lot.

The commenter speaking about your ancestry was way way way out of line. That is his karma he is playing with, he is asking someone to come say the same about where he comes from. Your understated response was more than he deserved.

I have had Catena Chardonnay, the regular vintage for about $11 and loved it, so not surprised that Catena made a tasty Chard.

QOTD: Okay, I’m not a big player when it comes to wine, so that understood I’ll say I had a Beringer California Collection Merlot over the weekend, which cost $5. For that price it was fine. An 85.

My favorite number is any multiple of 7 or multiple of 3, and I also like the number 44 because it is Willie McCovey’s jersey number.

Great show. Love the blind tastings!

3 7 and 21

qotd – a ginjo sake from cali that I cant remember the name of, 10 bones for a half bottle. humor you? hmmm, not my thing, but for you, 88.

GV – AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME show. Always love the brown paper bags and I think as a great equalizer, it shows that price does not equal quality.

QOTD1: ‘5’ – it’s a magic number after all
QOTD2: 2005 Beckmen Big Hand Syrah – I give it 91 points. For $15 bucks, this wine kicks serious arse and drinks like a much more expensive wine.

Is most planted grape Thompson Seedless? As in table grapes.

QotD: Goosecross Syrah 92 points

Great show, love the blind tastings. Favorite number: 34 (Walter Payton) QOTD: Rene Barbier Mediterranean White (Catalunya) to celebrate Tour De France stages to and from Barcelona, I give it an 87.

Airen, baby, Spain bringing it.

Perfect show! It reminds me of the 1976 Blind Tastings in Paris when the Americans kicked the 1st growth French’s asses. My favorite number is 11:11 on the clock. Ever since I was a little kid I used to catch that number on the clock and think it was lucky. My big wine PLAY recently has been wines from Toro Spain(Tempranillo), I think they offer a big value.

Ciao
Matteo

Don’t worry about the haters Gary. Your style brings an exciting “play” to the wine world that brings in the Average Joe. You break the paradigm that’s out there that makes people think that wine is only for rich, snooty types, and lets people know that’s it’s OK to like wine if you’re a blue collar guy. I love the shows.

qotd 1: number 17 if I had to choose only because that was my jersey number when I played ball hockey (aka Floor Hockey with the hard orange ball)

Qotd 2: Domaine de la Roche, AOC Costieres de Nimes 2006. Unoaked I think fantastic Fruity but not over the top easy to drink a drink everyone would love I assume. 90pts because I would buy it again

Peace~

The blind tasting shows are good stuff. I’m waiting for an opportunity to try one myself.

QOTD: GatoNegro 2008 Merlot Cabernet from Chile and I give it 89. Balanced taste, not too much or too little fruit and I enjoyed the hint of chocolate in both the sniffy sniff and on the backend.

Great show! Love the blind tastings, and love that your score was SO FAR OFF from Parker’s! He’s just one dude. Remain vigilant.

QOTD: Drank lots at my brother’s wedding, we were on a budget, we like to drink, scores are vague. Cht de la Vieille Tour White ’08 – 88. Ken Forrester Petit Chenin Blanc ’08 – 89. Lot 205 Chard ’07 – 83. Crios Malbec, ?? – 88. L’Ombre des Fontaines CDR ’08 – 86. Red Tree Pinot Noir ’08 – 86. These were all very enjoyable value wines, though I’m sure my humor affected my palate.

Kendall Jackson Riesling 2003 Crap is 65 points too much alcohol and too long sitting out!

Hey Gary,

The brown bags are always fun to watch. One question though: You always seem to mention that Ian might be trying to trick you with an “off topic” wine. I have seen 90% of all your shows and can´t seem remember he ever did that!? Here´s a challenge for you: Can you refer me to an episode where he actually did that?

Keep up the good work.

Best regards,

Kapers

QOTD: Charles Smith Boom Boom Syrah- 89-90 pts
fav. # is 45.

Be less russian? Wow! The way you react to such meaningless critizism is inspirering! I would have gone crazy over that one! Sorre dudes, but that was borderline racist! “Excuse me mister black man, you’ll get more friends if you bleech your skin”. Come on now – be who you are, and don’t take anyones crap!

Fantastic episode. I love the brown begs because it avoids all kinds of prejudice against winemakers and regions.

Number: 9
QOTD: another great Argentinian wine – Brioso 2002