Dinner on Dec 27th with friends, 3 couples and 7 kids running around. Started with 2008 Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand with marinated goat cheese and marinated green olives. Completely brought the thunder, absolutely beautiful match, the olives surprisingly better matched with it than the goat cheese. Great QPR at 20CN$. 6 adults need something else while they wait for prime rib and the eats mostly gone, and I have some hard core Mosel Riesling converts over so we opened with much excitement the 2007 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett, beautiful presence, minerally, slatey, light and lifted by beautiful precise acidity. $49, better than Markus Molitor at $25 but not twice as good.
On to the beef and 2004 Culmen Reserva from Rioja, Bodegas Lan. 96pts from Thomas Matthews of WS. At $79 CAN a little pricey. Decanted 3 hours and really opened in that time. Powerful and Dark. Served side by side with the 2006 Mitolo GAM Shiraz from Mclaren Vale, 95pts from Jay Miller. Absolutely beautiful fruit upfront and silky texture, gorgeous throughout, very smooth and hedonistic and preferred by 5 of 6 of us and only $40. I don’t ususally like Aus Shiraz but this is totally different. Too full for desert. This has been fun and I have enjoyed reading every comment Gary. Joel

Dinner on Dec 27th with friends, 3 couples and 7 kids running around. Started with 2008 Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand with marinated goat cheese and marinated green olives. Completely brought the thunder, absolutely beautiful match, the olives surprisingly better matched with it than the goat cheese. Great QPR at 20CN$. 6 adults need something else while they wait for prime rib and the eats mostly gone, and I have some hard core Mosel Riesling converts over so we opened with much excitement the 2007 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett, beautiful presence, minerally, slatey, light and lifted by beautiful precise acidity. $49, better than Markus Molitor at $25 but not twice as good.
On to the beef and 2004 Culmen Reserva from Rioja, Bodegas Lan. 96pts from Thomas Matthews of WS. At $79 CAN a little pricey. Decanted 3 hours and really opened in that time. Powerful and Dark. Served side by side with the 2006 Mitolo GAM Shiraz from Mclaren Vale, 95pts from Jay Miller. Absolutely beautiful fruit upfront and silky texture, gorgeous throughout, very smooth and hedonistic and preferred by 5 of 6 of us and only $40. I don’t ususally like Aus Shiraz but this is totally different. Too full for desert. This has been fun and I have enjoyed reading every comment Gary. Joel

I wish you shipped to Georgia so I could taste the wines. I am wearing my sniffy sniff wrist band with the show. QOTD – I opened a magnum of 2002 Navarro Anderson Valley Pinot Noir on Christmas Eve. It was earthy and more old world than most California pinots. We drank a very nice Napa Cab on Christmas that my sister brought (I think it was called Sequoia). It had cedar box tastes and went well with our beef tenderloin. We were very lucky to have good wine, good food, and wonderful family and friends for the holiday. Thanks for sharing your time with us during the holiday.

Hey Gary, What do you think about this wine holder for wine storing? A lot of people say you should store wine bottles up side down! Is that true? and why?
You can check it at http://www.wuslu.com

Hey Gary, What do you think about this wine holder for wine storing? A lot of people say you should store wine bottles up side down! Is that true? and why?
You can check it at http://www.wuslu.com

Hi new relative,

I am loving this show it’s really explains flavour it makes sence to me ^^

Congrats to the G-Man and the Jets.

Win next week and you’re in. Good luck

Dom

Congrats to the G-Man and the Jets.

Win next week and you’re in. Good luck

Dom

With all the tough luck losses this year, its amazing the Jets get a last minute break and control their chances on making the playoffs. Gary, what’s your thinking, do the Bengals go all out, or roll over and wait for a chance to beat the Jets in Ohio?

QOTD – day-after-Christmas dinner was two kinda lasagna: one veg, one meat. The veg lasagna was paired up with D’Arenberg’s The Hermit Crab Viognier/Marsanne, a white that continues to win converts with almost everyone I serve it to. It’s got good acidity and a pleasant green vegetable component from the Marsanne that plays well with roasted veggies. The meat lasagna was served up with the Villa Maffei Valpolicella Classico Ripassa. Earthy, tobacco-tinged, meaty, and bone-dry, it cut through cheese, meat, and sauce just fine. The plain Valpolicella Classico is a steal for my palate at under $10 for a medium-bodied dry Italian red, and the Ripassa adds some depth and extra tannic oomph that just pairs nicely with meat and tomatoes.

QOTD – day-after-Christmas dinner was two kinda lasagna: one veg, one meat. The veg lasagna was paired up with D’Arenberg’s The Hermit Crab Viognier/Marsanne, a white that continues to win converts with almost everyone I serve it to. It’s got good acidity and a pleasant green vegetable component from the Marsanne that plays well with roasted veggies. The meat lasagna was served up with the Villa Maffei Valpolicella Classico Ripassa. Earthy, tobacco-tinged, meaty, and bone-dry, it cut through cheese, meat, and sauce just fine. The plain Valpolicella Classico is a steal for my palate at under $10 for a medium-bodied dry Italian red, and the Ripassa adds some depth and extra tannic oomph that just pairs nicely with meat and tomatoes.

JETS WIN!! JETS WIN!! JEEEEEEEEEEETS WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!!!!!! 🙂

qotd: Tanights tastin’ note: Dehlinger Goldridge Vyd. Syrah 2000 –
Gamey leather & tar aromas, full-bodied, chewy, earthy black licorice &
tar flavor.

Yooo G, How dooo Ya like MEEEEEE JEEEEEEEEEEEEETS NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 😉 🙂 😉 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

QOTD: Had some sparklies on Christmas Eve provided by some friends Cliquot and Korbel; Cliquot was in the classic style however the Korbel was much sweeter than I had recalled it was coming off as an “Extra Dry” and pushing towards a “Demi-Sec”.

Then I had a $10+/- merlot the other day, nothing special just “meh” decent tannins but had an artificial flavor and not a super great finish it was decent enough to wash the steak down.

Congrats on your Jets W GV, I know you’re on cloud 9

QOTD: Had some sparklies on Christmas Eve provided by some friends Cliquot and Korbel; Cliquot was in the classic style however the Korbel was much sweeter than I had recalled it was coming off as an “Extra Dry” and pushing towards a “Demi-Sec”.

Then I had a $10+/- merlot the other day, nothing special just “meh” decent tannins but had an artificial flavor and not a super great finish it was decent enough to wash the steak down.

Congrats on your Jets W GV, I know you’re on cloud 9

Solid. wish i could get my hands on some of that white. So for Christmas i had a Palmina Sangio 2006 i belive. It was a nice mediumk to full body with a great cherry note up front. A nice spice component as well, touch of light roast coffee. I did get a bit of heat though but over all i give it 90 pts. I also got to enjoy a domaine Barat Chablis, that wine was WOW. Sharp focused acid structure. and great coplex fruit from tropical to lemon and some apples too. the minerality was on point and the lengthy finish made me crave another sip. The Palmina was $37 and the Chablis was $21. I give the Chablis an easy 92 pts. it is where my palate is at right now. Thanks for your commitment to the show and have a great new year, oh and J E T S JETS JETS JETS!

Hey Gary,
Merry Christmas a few days late. I was working on Christmas and will be offically celebrating on Tuesday, so I’ll send a comment then. That evening I cracked open a sparkling syrah by South Coast Winery in Temecula, not bad not great, for my full tasting notes search “South Coast Ruby Cuvee” on Cork’d. It was my first review on the site so I’m excited about that. Congrats on the big win.

Hey Gary,
Merry Christmas a few days late. I was working on Christmas and will be offically celebrating on Tuesday, so I’ll send a comment then. That evening I cracked open a sparkling syrah by South Coast Winery in Temecula, not bad not great, for my full tasting notes search “South Coast Ruby Cuvee” on Cork’d. It was my first review on the site so I’m excited about that. Congrats on the big win.

Christmas eve went down with the Alentejo (portugal) flagship, Pera-Manca (branco) vintage 07.
Nose of honey, flowers, and distinct tone of green almonds/hazel.
Nicely balanced with an apple/pear thing going on, ending with a finish of hazel. One would guessed chardonney….great wine.

Christmas eve went down with the Alentejo (portugal) flagship, Pera-Manca (branco) vintage 07.
Nose of honey, flowers, and distinct tone of green almonds/hazel.
Nicely balanced with an apple/pear thing going on, ending with a finish of hazel. One would guessed chardonney….great wine.

GOOD SHOW GARRY

CAN YOU SEND THE WINE PACKS TO TOKYO? I WANT TO ORDER THEM.
I’LL DO QOTD IN A MINUTE.

MIKE
TOKYO

GOOD SHOW GARRY

CAN YOU SEND THE WINE PACKS TO TOKYO? I WANT TO ORDER THEM.
I’LL DO QOTD IN A MINUTE.

MIKE
TOKYO

Merry Christmas Gary (a bit late)

Had some great wines over the Holidays, capped off by the Veronese party last night.

Christmas Eve:
-Bought a 1.5L bottle of Peter Mertes Reisling admittedly because the bottle looked awesome and I knew my father-in-law would get a kick out of it. (and it was only $10).
-Rapet Bourgogne Aligote – A lousy wine, but I wanted to try Aligote, and I wanted to make Kir, Pretty good with the Creme de Cassis.

Christmas Day:
-1990 Ch. Lalande-Borie St. Julien. Very excited about this one as it’s the oldest wine I’ve ever had. It was fantastic! Very well balanced, smooth wine. Fruit has faded into the background, but still a nice blackcurrant/dark berry presence. A very nice mineral/metallic element like a rusty penny. Paried with beef tenderloin, it was a special experience.

27th: Veronese Wine Party – main course was a gnocchi and beef passtissada
-2008 La Cappuccina Soave – Best sub $10 white i’ve had in a long time.
-2007 Masi Valpolicella – Bonacosta – Nice fruity little number
-2005 Masi Campofiorin – First Ripasso wine, a bit more bite and chewiness than the reg. Valpo
-2004 Begali Amarone – Ever been punched in the mouth by a chocolate covered raisin?
-Mionetto Valdobbiadene Prosecco Brut – I can’t argue with great sparkling like this for only $13

Merry Christmas Gary (a bit late)

Had some great wines over the Holidays, capped off by the Veronese party last night.

Christmas Eve:
-Bought a 1.5L bottle of Peter Mertes Reisling admittedly because the bottle looked awesome and I knew my father-in-law would get a kick out of it. (and it was only $10).
-Rapet Bourgogne Aligote – A lousy wine, but I wanted to try Aligote, and I wanted to make Kir, Pretty good with the Creme de Cassis.

Christmas Day:
-1990 Ch. Lalande-Borie St. Julien. Very excited about this one as it’s the oldest wine I’ve ever had. It was fantastic! Very well balanced, smooth wine. Fruit has faded into the background, but still a nice blackcurrant/dark berry presence. A very nice mineral/metallic element like a rusty penny. Paried with beef tenderloin, it was a special experience.

27th: Veronese Wine Party – main course was a gnocchi and beef passtissada
-2008 La Cappuccina Soave – Best sub $10 white i’ve had in a long time.
-2007 Masi Valpolicella – Bonacosta – Nice fruity little number
-2005 Masi Campofiorin – First Ripasso wine, a bit more bite and chewiness than the reg. Valpo
-2004 Begali Amarone – Ever been punched in the mouth by a chocolate covered raisin?
-Mionetto Valdobbiadene Prosecco Brut – I can’t argue with great sparkling like this for only $13

Merry Christmas to all.

QOTD: No wine consumed on Christmas Eve or day, but if you look in the place that you call forum’s I am sure that you can find some notes there GV ;).

Merry Christmas to all.

QOTD: No wine consumed on Christmas Eve or day, but if you look in the place that you call forum’s I am sure that you can find some notes there GV ;).