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EP 838 Tasting Some Bubbles with Brian Solis

Gary sits down with Brian Solis during South by Southwest in Austin. They taste through 4 different Champagnes to celebrate his newly released book, “Engage”.

Wines tasted in this episode:

Duval Leroy BrutFrench Brut Nonvintage
Alfred Gratien Brut French Brut Nonvintage
Charles Heidsieck Brut ReserveFrench Brut Nonvintage
Philipponnat Royale Reserve BrutFrench Brut Nonvintage

Links mentioned in todays episode.


Latest Comment:

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luca bercelli

87/100

line of the day – ‘At 40 US dollars this is borderline ‘I stole your wallet’

Sound quality was a little off and I wasn’t mad about the guest. He was doing his best to please GV with his comments and that’s not what this whole thing is about. You can’t win them all…

Tags: brut, Champagne, review, sparkling, Video, wine, wines

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  • prasm

    Good guest + good crowd = good show. Not legendary, but entertaining none the less.

    QOTD: 1) Pinot Noir 2) Cabernet 3) Grenache based (Southern Rhones & Spain) 4) Nebbiolo (Piedmont Barolos)

  • dsallen

    Favorite varietal? Really? Well, at least he didn't ask us some random trivia question… I can't stand when guests are clearly not “Buying” it.

    GV, I want you to taste some nerd wines on the show and give us some real scoops!

  • scottEJ

    Thanks, guys. Fun little show. I've gotta nice reserva Cava going right now and I wouldn't be surprised if kicked the two shitty Champs. asses.

    QOTD: My palate does not discriminate – I love 'em all.

  • Jay

    says “Hypersomnia” =P

  • laurieinvt

    Good show for a Friday- it kind of feels like I'm out in a bar trying to hear the conversation over the crowd.
    Champagne is always interesting- and fun!
    I also miss Mott (had to scroll down to comments periodically to let my eyes readjust) and as has been said, I wonder why people come out to listen to a presentation and then talk through it, though the crowd seemed to tone it down toward the end.
    QOTD: No one favorite- depends on my mood.

  • Hypersomnia

    hahaha I was referring to the episode, but nice catch.

  • SamKw

    QOTD: Nebbiolo, cab franc, and then pinot noir.

  • plcb

    QOTD: I like to mix it up. But I'll say my cellar has quite a bit of pinot noir from Burgundy for special occasions. And I also have quite a bit of Spanish wine for the “everyday” type enjoyment, Rioja, Bierzo…..shout out for Bierzo!

    Sorry I don't drink enough sparkling wine.

  • Mott

    Aww, thanks Laurie! It's tough to stand as still as possible for 20+ minutes holding a flipcam. Matt did good. Everybody show some Vayniac love for Matt who did a good job under difficult circumstances.

  • WineWoman

    Red= Pinot Noir, then Zin White=Vouvray, Arneis Also love the bubbles–Rose Champagne Difficult to narrow down for me.

  • castello

    Never heard of Bierzo! Where have I been? Gary! Egumucate me!

  • castello

    Can Matt link it up like you do? Good job Matt.

  • Two things. I, though I may be alone, like the longer format. Secondly, I love bubbles. You have done some great Champagne shows in the past and I think you should have Mott link a few. Especially the decanting episode.
    Not to dis you, but Graperadio.com just did a show with Brad Baker. Very Informative.

    QOTD: All of them. I'm a wine geek

  • laurieinvt

    You are absolutely right! I didn't mean to dis Matt – my apologies!

  • Interesting show…got a little SXSW feel in it. Gratien sounds great, though I'm a little disappointed with the Charles Heidsieck. I had a glass of that at Flute a little while ago and I didn't find the lemony-seltzer water thing.

    QOTD: I'm rockin Sierra Nevada 2009 Celebration Ale tonight, though a really broad (and sometimes overused) QOTD. If I had to choose one, I guess it would be Syrah (Rhone).

  • johnfarrin

    QOTD: Couldn't possibly narrow it to one and who would want to? The beauty of wine and WLTV is that there is almost an infinite variety to experience.

  • AaronO

    Brian and co. seemed to really enjoy the tasting! Love to see guests really enjoy these podcasts…

    QOTD. I love chardonnay and riesling, and it just so happens that they both are bubble grapes!

  • johnfarrin

    And you call yourself a Vaniac? 🙂

  • audiofan

    Nice post, especially the nod to the champagne decanting; people really should try it. And drink the better (re: vintage) champagnes in a small white wine glass (Riedel sauvignon blanc, for instance) instead of the usual flute.

  • johnfarrin

    St Estephe is a Left Bank Bordeaux and is north of Paulliac.It's wines are generally 60-70% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest being divided between Merlot and the rest of the Bordeaux varietals. 2004 Charme de Cos Labory is approximately 55% Cabernet, 33% Merlot, 10% Cab Franc and 2% PV

  • teckdeck2008

    Both me and my girl loved the guest. Good job dude. And about the wines today, I really find sparkling wines and champagnes hit or miss because i really hate thin wine. Btw, I think you have a new fan today, check her out at @trouble2013.
    Qotd: Well my favorite varietal has to be south american or australian malbec as for my friend here….she's good at drinking wine but she doesn't drink enough to have a favorite varietal. I'll give a good start though lol.

  • Allan

    Thnx for nerding it up for me ; )

  • Jess

    Fun show
    QOTD: Tried and true: St. Julien, Rioja, Chablis, Grower Champagne
    Always open to the new, and right now, for me: Ribolla Gialla
    High on: Good prices on Brunello

  • Jess

    Second that. Good Cava can wipe out much of the $20-$40 highly marketed champagne
    Cheers

  • QOTD – I am with Gary and given the choice would go with the sparkling and enjoy Champagne, Prosecco and California sparkling.

    Nice entertaining and energetic show. Looks like you had a good crowd.

  • ErieWineGuy

    I find those comments interesting.

    I always wondered about decanting champagne – never tried it.

    I also always wondered about sparkling wine in a chablis-type glass – I will try it!

    Thanks.

  • ONUMello

    QOTD: Tempranillo

  • ErieWineGuy

    Go up top to past episodes and click. Scroll down to Bierzo, Click and find two(2) past episodes containing Bierzo and the Mencia grape!

    I kinda forgot about that region myself, then realized that Gary had done some shows on this.

    It's all interesting.

  • JCN

    Good call on the bubbles today. There are not enough shows dedicated to sparkling wines. I've mentioned in the comments section before that my wife and I also drink more bubbles than still wine at home (mostly Californian: Schramsberg, S Anderson). As far as Champagne goes… gotta love Gosset Grande Reserve

  • ErieWineGuy

    Nice show on the bubbly – fun time!

    QOTD: Tough one. I guess if I were ready to die, on the red side I'd pick a Brunello or a Bordeaux, and on the white side it would be a Champagne, Chablis or a white Burgundy.

  • RhoneDrinker

    Nice show. It nice to see it when wine is fun. IT IS!

    Anyhow. QOTD- A did a double back to back ,, Two Chinons. and Two Cote Rotie(s?).
    Obvisoully on two sepetate occasions. For the latter the Northern Rhone Syrah is a gift from bacchaus. The Cab. Franc (Chinon) is so crazy is throws “seasoned” wine drinkers for a loop.
    Which is always good. my smart wine friends (fiends) can always piick that vegitial smell from far away.

  • Gary, if you haven't tried it already, get a hold of some Casteller Cava. Either 88 or 89 Points from Spectator, under $10!!! This stuff is crazy good for the price. Great, relentless acidity, I think is awesome with something like Cod.

    QOTD: Red, Cab Franc either from Chinon on the light side, or Washington State on the heavier side. There is such good versatility from this grape. It's a utility player on your baseball team. White: Gewurztraminer from Alsace. So refreshing with spicy food.

  • My bad, I said Spectator, it was Jay Miller… 88 Pts.

  • Bonjour Gary,
    I really like the work you have done since the beginning. (Even if as French as you speak a little fast, I need to concentrate to understand all your words. 😉 I am going soon to U.S., I will buy your book, it will be easier to understand!!!)
    Whatever.
    What I mean is that I'd like to meet you one day to tell you about the Champagne. :)))) !!!!
    I'm a winegrower in Champagne, I mean a person who works in the vineyard, the cellar, …and doing my proper Champagne.
    And, please, beware, when you say grower Champagne. We are doing really hard job, starting working in the vineyard by hand all year long. Those Champagnes you tasted Philipponat, Charles Heidsieck, Gratien and Duval Leroy are not Grower Champagnes, they are “Negociant” like Moet, Clicquot or PJ. It means they are buying grapes, and everything from Vine-growers. They are not doing all that passion, laborious and difficult work in the vineyard and after. And then, as you can imagine, the bubbles from a Real Grower Champagne is truly different from those Champagne brands!
    I couldn't come in LeWeb '09, but I really hope we meet one days :)))
    Bubbly Cheers!
    Mélanie Tarlant

  • Richie

    Great show!

  • Anonymous

    You’re welcome 🙂

  • plcb

    Bierzo is in NW Spain. The red grape is Mencia. I believe Bierzo produces white Godello but I haven't tried that yet. I love the Mencia from Bierzo. You can get them for $10-$20. Mencia is light to medium bodied. Heavier than pinot noir, slightly lighter than tempranillo. It's got that nice spanish 'terrior' kick to it.

    Code: 22587 (PA code)
    Description: Bodegas y Vinedos Luna Beberide Finca la Cuesta 2007
    Size: 750 ML
    Price: $17.49

    PALACIOS PETALOS DEL BIERZO (approx $20)

    BODEGAS PEIQUE PEIQUE BIERZO (meh but $15 or under)

  • Bill_Murray

    bubble bubbles everywhere but not a drop to drink

  • kasperhip

    Awesome show. I really like how you guys got weird on each other.

    Anybody who has not seen the champagne decanting episode should watch it NOW!

    Go: http://tv.winelibrary.com/2009/10/21/a-master-o…

  • kasperhip

    Oops.
    QOTD: Syrah. Simply because of it's versatility.

  • DCaragher

    GV – I always like the Bubble shows, but there was just too much distraction going on. To many photos, too much talking, etc! I get it though SXSW! I am sure it was a blast!

    QOTD: I am really digging the white wines as of lately…Riesling, Gruner, Chard, etc…

    FREE WEEZY!!!!! Go to http://www.mrbrownstoneindustries.com and help support the “let's get Lil Wayne out of Riker's” campaign!

  • missatiejacket

    I'm not a fan of these live shows. There's too much crowd noise for me. Even though I always complain about the guests who aren't wine professionals, I liked this guest. At least he had something to say about the wines. Thanks for the episode.

  • Good job Matt

  • thewinebuff

    Great Episode Gary – now watch mine – my comic take on wine temperature – top of my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Letterkenny-Ir…

  • Beeper

    QOTD: Grenache, or lately…Garnacha!

  • judis

    good show, but who was that clown in the blue shirt? very annoying the way he kept going in & out of the picture!

  • nickcaruth

    GV called out by Tarlant, AWESOME. Thank you for representing the true growers in Champagne.

  • MDSmitty2488

    Good show overall, Brian was a bit more on the ball than some guests you've had in the past.

    QOTD: I don't think that I have one overall favorite varietal, it changes for me all the time. Right now I'm really into nebbiolo and riesling but a month ago I was big on tempranillo and merlot. Can't wait to get Mott back, that camera guy was struggling a bit.

  • tcatjo

    Cab Franc

  • Good show Gary. NIce to see other champagne choices then the typical. I am not that big of a champagne/sparkling person, but enjoy them occasionally. But I have only had one in the past two years I really liked, and I spilled half the bottle of that ;(

    As an aside note to this episode. Anyone else ever notice the “shuuusher” person was 10 times louder then the ones making the noise? Quite annoying.

    QOTD: Variety. I just cant pick one.

    Jason

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