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EP 827 California Thunder- Serious Cabernet and Pinot Noir Tasting – Epiosode #827

Gary picked out three iconic wines from California with big scores and put them to the test.

Wines tasted in this episode:

2007 Drew Mcdougall Ranch Pinot NoirSonoma Pinot Noir
2006 Beaulieu Vineyard George De Latour Private ReserveNapa Cabernet
2005 Crocker & Starr Stone Place Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet

Links mentioned in todays episode.


Latest Comment:

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luca bercelli

90/100

line of the day – ‘I can’t taste this I just had a breath mint (Mott). Good, a couple of shows ago you almost knocked me out….just joking’

Monster wines, happy show

Tags: cabernet, california, napa, Pinot Noir, red, review, Video, wine, wines

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  • K is for Kate

    I don't eat mammals (just a personal preference, I don't object to people doing so on principle), but I like my tuna steak as rare as possible with just the outside seared. I would definitely like to hear more about what you think would pair well with the wines you taste on the show, but it would be really great if you could throw in some non-meat items that would work well with the reds.

    Also, while I'm making random suggestions, I have been wanting to try some wines from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, and WL carries a number of them, but I can't seem to find any info or reviews on those particular ones so have no idea how to select one I might like. I would love to see an episode on Georgian wines.

  • Saltiedog

    My Steak with a good char and med rare.

  • Just go for it! Trust you own palate! That's what i did, and i have learned alot 'bout wine that way. Forget those stupid ratings. They are not important.

  • K is for Kate

    I'm not really looking for ratings per se, just reviews that would give me more of an idea of what they are like in comparison to each other. For instance, if one has more acidity to balance the sweetness or has some similarity with something I would be familiar with. I would love to just be able to taste them all and decide what I think, but I just don't see any showing up at a local tasting any time soon and there are a lot of things on my list of things I want to taste. It's hard to decide to invest my money and time on tasting those particular wines rather than others that for instance I have seen on this show. I keep putting them in my cart and then taking them out in favour of things I feel I can make more informed decisions about.

  • gesticulador

    QOTD: Medium rare, but I recently decided to become a vegetarian…

    Gary, you should do a show with some wines that you recommended cellaring back in the early episodes of WLTV and see how they've aged since then.

  • Nothing wrong with life being good, brother

  • The hard way is still the best….. we only live once anyhow, as far as i've heard ; )

    Wine takes a life time to really understand, i'm only 29,,,, so long way yet….?

    Have a great weekend! Go nuts, i know you won't. Just try some different things allright?

  • KyleLikesTies

    Food goggles: I like it.

    QoTD: Absolutely bloody — totally uncooked, room temperature. Yummy yummerson. I'll have to give 'black and blue' a go, though; sounds intriguing.

  • “You can't hurry love, you just have to wait…”

  • cwpeters

    GV,

    Love Napa cab as that is what I have grown up on. What do you think about 2005 as a underrated vintage? Most people I talk to see '06 as not very strong but the last 4-5 '05 cabs I've tried have been outstanding. Had the '05 BV Latour a week ago and it was spectacular 94+ spectacular. I do not see how Laube can give it a low 80's rating. As you said with the inferior '06 vintage it is still a 90pt wine even if it is over oaked. I like the oak but can definitely see how some people do not. Give the '05 a try I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

  • alienrelic

    QOTD:

    Start with a martini, Bombay Sapphire gin, straight up with a twist of lemon. No olive.

    Wine, a zin or cabernet, maybe. Something kind of “big”.
    Cesar salad, lots of ground pepper. No anchovies.

    Filet Mignon, medium rare.
    Mushrooms on the side.
    Baked potato with the works.

    Damn. Now I'm hungry.

  • I'm hungry as well,,,, for a new episode!!!

    Couch time!!!!

  • MDSmitty2488

    QOTD: Glad to see some high-hype wines that came through! I prefer my steak either black and blue or medium rare depending on my mood. I definitely like some pink in the middle though.

  • I hate waitin' ; (

  • castello

    I saw Alton Brown on Food channel cook one right on the charcoal chimney with a grill on the top of it. I've also seen it where they put the meat right on the coals of some special wood after it's been burnt like coals. Hot Hot.

  • Warren

    I've had to start ordering my steaks Medium Rare as they usually over cook them. I like them Medium at home.

    Funny story… I was in Venice and we sat down in a tiny cafe. I was starving and noticed they had Filet on the menu so I ordered it. It came and my mouth was watering… I sliced into it and it was raw. Cooked just a bit on the outside but raw in the middle. I apparenlty did the unthinkable because I asked if they could cook it just a bit more. When they brought it back the chef was the delivery guy and he didn't look happy. They had butterflied my filet and barely cooked it again. His look said “I dare you to aske me to cook it some more”. I ate my very first raw filet. It was pretty good actually.

  • winecounts

    Gary great show, speaking of big wines.'d like to invite you to my steakhouse. How about
    coming to mortons in hackensack and partaking in some great food paired with some big
    wines. i happen to be the sommelier at this location.

  • Carl

    BIG,FAT Fillet-medium-rare …if you please!!!

  • Cool voodoo doll Gary, does it work? ; )

  • And now the weather: No thunder this evening! otherwise fine all around!! ; ) ……………

    ; (

  • presley burroughs

    Charred herbs and spices outside, warm center.

    great site. CRUSH IT will change my economic life.

    Check out African American owned wineries, especially Brown Estate. Chaos Theory….OMG!

  • Kayla28

    WOW no lay back friday!!…sad!!

  • Augustus

    Medium rare, with LOADS of salt and pepper. Great show. I've been having SOOO much fun with CW. Thanks for that.

  • JiminAtlanta

    It's Friday and we are drinking good wine. QOTD – I like my steak to be medium rare or rare. It has to be red (moo).

  • Bentheman

    I definitely like my stake medium rare. And more food to wine references would be awesome! And please oh please oh please interview Maynard James Keenan from Tool about his winery and his wine movie Blood into Wine. C'mon Gary he has a movie about wine who can say they have that.

  • Bentheman

    I definitely like my stake medium rare. And more food to wine references would be awesome! And please oh please oh please interview Maynard James Keenan from Tool about his winery and his wine movie Blood into Wine. C'mon Gary he has a movie about wine who can say they have that.

  • Bentheman

    I definitely like my stake medium rare. And more food to wine references would be awesome! And please oh please oh please interview Maynard James Keenan from Tool about his winery and his wine movie Blood into Wine. C'mon Gary he has a movie about wine who can say they have that.

  • Bentheman

    I definitely like my stake medium rare. And more food to wine references would be awesome! And please oh please oh please interview Maynard James Keenan from Tool about his winery and his wine movie Blood into Wine. C'mon Gary he has a movie about wine who can say they have that.

  • Bentheman

    I definitely like my stake medium rare. And more food to wine references would be awesome! And please oh please oh please interview Maynard James Keenan from Tool about his winery and his wine movie Blood into Wine. C'mon Gary he has a movie about wine who can say they have that.

  • waynoooo daaaaaaaa winoooo

    NUUUMEEEROOOO UUUUUUNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAW!!!!!!!!!!

  • QotD: Very very rare.
    A side of blue cheese doesn't hurt, either.

    On the wines, red wines haven't been appealing to me much lately. These didn't really spark much for me. Eh.

  • yacochuya

    QOTD Very Rare

    It is time for a Baja Cali wine episode???

  • dmcgee984

    Chicago style, charred on the outside rare on the inside, great show Gary…

  • K is for Kate

    I do try a lot of different things on a regular basis, I guess I'm just used to some of them being a bit dangerous and thus requiring sufficient research ahead of time to be aware of the risks. Ok, and I like researching things. But there is very little risk to a $10 bottle of wine, so I probably should just pick one and buy it. I don't dye my hair purple anymore, but hopefully that doesn't mean I've grown boring and set in my ways. 😉

    I'd still be really curious to see what GV would have to say about Georgian wine, though.

    You have a great weekend, too! Don't go too nuts, alright? 😉

  • Jennifer

    Medium to medium rare.

  • Kayla28

    No show sooooo sad!!

  • QOTD: Carpaccio with Truffle Oil. Hey, It's How I'm Rollin'!

  • castello

    Cali cabs rock the world! I'll be at Rafanelli on Sat if you want a bottle let me know. OOps, they'll only sell me 2 and my GF 2, and maybe a zin or 2.

  • castello

    How come I've never heard of it? I feel left out. I'll see if I can Demand it.

  • K is for Kate

    There has, in fact, already been a 2-part episode with Maynard James Keenan. Part 1 is here: http://tv.winelibrary.com/2008/12/08/tasting-wi…

    I have Blood into Wine in my Netflix queue, but the way it's listed makes me doubt they will ever actually send it to me.

  • manpod

    Medium Rare with a good California Cab – yum.

  • NY Pete

    where's that slacker SS Chris?

  • Anonymous

    Almost word-for-word (about decanting) what I said a page earlier – but somehow I’m never answered. Also had question(s) for GV on other subjects; guess he’s asleep. Hey, he probably NEEDS it, with job, new baby, writing the next book, etc.

  • Waits

    A bit sad that we don’t get a new ep for the weekend! Is Gary slackin’ a little bit?

    Oh well,,, Have great weekend anyhow, see ya!

  • Waits

    I’m not promising anyone anything ; )

    Purple, eh? That sounds cool!

    You see me, i’m old (well just look at my pic) If i did that, it would look daft….

  • Awesome show man. A little to rich for me but maybe for a special Occasion.

    QOTD: Medium rare over an open fire, latkas and red cabbage slaw with a balsamic vinergarette reduction.

  • Ozzy

    QOTD: I love big Cabs with my steaks med – well, great show Gary.

  • Tnx Ozzy!

  • I know someone who made a Cali Cab. I think it was called Vayniac. It was pretty good and I have another bottle that I'm saving for a special occasion. Nice show!

    QOTD: I'm with you, black and blue. There's a restaurant over by me that's actually called Black and Blue.

  • jagron11

    GaryV…damn good show. I like seeing the wines from around the world, the old the new, the obscure, but what really got me on to wines was steak house dinners and amazing Cabs. QOTD – Medium Rare. Liked the reference to Shafer and HS, a personal fav winery. BTW, I'm an SC alum from SoCal, so definitely backing Sanchez. Try and get him on a show (just make sure he doesn't catch wind of the face caught on TV when he was drafted 😉 Florham Park isn't far from the store. Great show.

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