Another of my favorite episodes.

- The Wine: I think the point of putting the poison in the opener was to ensure that regardless of which wine Vittorio drank, he would be poisoned. Gerard suggested a cabernet, which Vittorio rejected in favor of a merlot, adding further credence to Gerard's alibi (not that there would be much way to collaborate it with Vittorio dead). I'm sure, having dined many times with Vittorio, Gerard knew he would have some kind of wine with the dinner.

- Mario character: The scene at the funeral drives me crazy, the way he stares askew while Columbo is watching the check being passed along.

Mario is such a broad Italian character, I wonder whether that was some inside joke, since the Alda's are Italian-American.