California Chardonnay’s

California Chardonnay’s – Episode #112

October 20, 2006

Wines tasted in this episode:

Today Gary tackles oaky, over the top Chardonnay’s. Watch today and see how Gary reviews these three Chards. Gary then answers more viewer questions and has a new QOD. Have a good weekend and we’ll see you next week.

283 Responses

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October 23, 2006

volcom
Brendon

Is that a record for total # of posts

or a record # of posts for Brandon M
October 23, 2006

Brandon M
It’s a NEW RECORD!!!!!
October 23, 2006

Julius
With respect to bottle shock from shipping, Colgin puts a note in the case saying that if you insist on drinking the wine in its youth, wait at least 3-4 weeks after receipt before doing so (to allow the wine to settle back down).
October 23, 2006

lizv
you guys are hysterical-no vaynerbabies just yet. not to worry though of course we’ll make the big announcement on WLTV!!!! lol -did our parents put you all up to this??!
October 23, 2006

jon777
J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets. Big fan of the Jets and the “overoaked”, big buttery Chardonnays.

QOD: Two favorites are Matanzas Creek Chardonnay (Sonoma) and Merryvale Starmont Chardonnay (Napa).

Gary: The “over-oaked” Chards you tasted were all in the 35+ price range — any recommendations on that style in the $15-$25 range? The two I like best are above…

Question #2: I was at Game #7 for the Mets and just recovering. What do you drink after one of those brutal losses? I can’t see enjoying a top notch wine after a painful loss… Personally, I move to the hard stuff — numbs the pain…
October 23, 2006

Bill Ross
Free shipping for anyone posting 2017th comment on a thread?

Like the idea of posting on what we are drinking. Recently enjoyed a Talbott Vineyard ‘Logan’
‘04 PN. Great stuff at $17.xx (bought locally). WL carries their Chard (got several kudos on QOTD), hope they will stock some Talbott PN’s for us red necks.
October 23, 2006

phig
Sorry but the oaky Cali chards kind of make me retch, all the more so because they don’t have to make them that way. They just found a flavor profile people don’t have to think about. OAK=GOOD. BUTTER=GOOD. Of course, they also kind of screwed themselves up a bit in the process since the effect of butter and oak can be created artificially and for the untrained the difference between a $10 and a $50 bottle is not that clear.
They did not have to do this. Once again, I give you Kalin whose 1991 cuvee LD is excellent. It lacks a bit of personality when compared to a top notch burg because he (Terry Leighton) uses cultivated yeasts (of his own design)but the wines last for two decades (you can still find some floating around), it isn’t excessively priced, and you can actually eat with it. As for a white to drink without food, I’d rather have a German riesling or a vouvray.
October 23, 2006

Brandon M
Well…I understand bottle shcok at bottling, and do believe in it, but bottle shock from shipping?
I’m just not to sure that a little bottle shake is gonna throw a wine out of balance.

B
October 23, 2006

MarcT
Thanks Kahuna
October 23, 2006

Matthew L
TimF…This weekend, I finished off a bottle of Rock Rabbit 2003 Syrah (87% Syrah, 12% Cab, and 1% Petite Syrah). It had nice nose and mouth feel, but I found it a bit hot on the finish initialy. It did settle after being open for a while. Yesterday I tried my hand at decanting (WLTV is influencing me as this is, honestly, my first time ever decanting wine) a Montpezat 2004 ‘Les Enclos’ 2004 (70% Merlot 30% Syrah). It had a very faint nose, but had a nice mouthful of berries. The tannins were a bit too strong for me, though.
October 23, 2006

MarcT
This weekend…
2004 Luzon Jumilla Verde (organic from Spain)…not bad. Nice color, some decent fruit on the front. Not a lot of body and not a long finish.
2003 Tamarack Cellars Firehouse Red…Good color. Earthy, with dark fruits on the nose. Needed some air time to calm down the heat but after a while it really opened up. Nice dirt, berries, and leather on the palate. Smooth medium to long finish. Good price.
October 23, 2006

KAHUNA
Bottle Shock-
I know it takes place after bottling-Being a home winemaker just last month we were bottling 15 gallons of wine- Naturally we were drinking it while bottling and it was amazing. After Bottling three days later I drank a bottle and was out of balance(for lack of a better term) the fruit had seemed to disappear. I opened another bottle just to check to see if it was a miscleaned bottle same thing-

I called my friend who I gave a case too for helping and he said to me that the wine tasted different of course he drank three bottles anyway- I told him not to touvh it for a few weeks to a month. He tried it again before me and said it was back to its pre-bottling self.

I will get wines from wineries that I am members of and if they bottled close to the ship date they will put stickers on the bottle to say let sit for a month due to bottle shock.

That being said I just translate it to shipping also and let them sit for a few weeks.
October 23, 2006

MarcT
Gary, what do you think about Cleveland on Sunday? Maybe a blow out. The Browns are playing like “brown” so I think your boys will be on top of things…
I predict 24-3.

Now give my Falcons some love for beating the Steelers (my second favorite team)!!!
October 23, 2006

Russ J
This weekend, 2001 Coturri Pinot Noir Lost Creek. Tony Coturri was a WLTV guest way back in Episode #35. This NOT your standard California Pinot. The winery notes the “Burgundian” nose of damp earth and mushrooms. That’s pretty close to what I got, but at 15% alchohol, I did not confuse it with Burgundy. There was fruit, but it was more sour than sweet. 89 points, absolutely needs food to go with it. last night, choked down my last bottle of ‘04 Falesco Vitiano. Seemed to taste worse after it was “Vayner-chucked”.
October 23, 2006

Rick W.
Rombauer & Cuvasion

Rick W.
October 23, 2006

MarcT
I say we all leave it alone for now and let Gary decide what he needs. If he needs us then by reading these comments he knows he has our support.
I still feel that he just had a rough day/week and it got to him. It happens to all of us. He’ll be in full force today after the Jets win no doubt.

Gary, I still want to know…Bottle shock. What is your opinion? And what about vibration? If you have a wine cooler that has vibrations when the compressor turns on/runs how much damage is being done to the wine really?
October 23, 2006

Lawrence Leichtman
Yahoo, never thought I would be the 215th post on this blog. Great work Gary.

Couple of things to Tony Chalone just got bought out the winemaker is the same guy as always and he says the European owners aren’t making him change anything.

To Paul Rafanelli makes a great Syrah still though like you I miss Petit Syrah.

My favorite Cal Chardonnay is Kalin from 1990 Livermore Valley, Ramey Hyde Park any vintage.

Gary don’t stress. Since I am posting on Monday I hope you are a betting man. I think you hit the score exactly.
October 23, 2006

Rich Uft
QOTD – Best chard ever? 1992 Ferrari-Carano Alexander Valley – Very eclectic, loads of tropical fruit.
Best more recent? – 2003 Staglin Rutherford – Big, creamy, buttery
October 23, 2006

SS Chris
VaynIACS,
My apologies to all of those who believe that I was blowing Gary’s stess out of proportion and somehow actually adding to it.

GARY,
If my “campaign” that started with #161 added to your stess, I certainly apologize…I hope you know that this would be the opposite of my my intention.
October 23, 2006

Joe Po
Gary,

Monday to celebrate the Jets wins, Wednesday ’cause it is Hump Day, and Friday to predict the winning Jets’ score!! For the Vayniac’s sake Take Time OFF!!
October 23, 2006

hinrgman
mwf

Try – http://www.winelegend.com/ for Frank Family

and
http://www.winechateau.com/ for the Daruiosh

Both east coast suppliers
October 23, 2006

Sam Zen
G- I gotta give it to your Jets. They’re really putting together a nice season. Play off bound???? I’m psyched for you.
October 23, 2006

Bill Ross
I go along with Kahuna (see comment #5) and sit on my mail-order wine a few weeks. I don’t know if bottle-shock is truth or fiction, but don’t find it necessary to risk it. My Rocky Creek/Can Blau/Costeras/Juan Gil are resting nicely, arrived Saturday.
October 23, 2006

TimF
Not Pinzar — Pindar.
October 23, 2006

TimF
What did everyone drink this weekend? I had that Jonesy Port we discussed, a port from Pinzar (not nearly as good as it was in the tasting room — serious peppery, geranium taste), and the Corte Riva Merlot (great tip from Gary).