California Chardonnay Tasting

California Chardonnay Tasting – Episode #224

April 25, 2007

Wines tasted in this episode:

Gary Vaynerchuk checks out for $20 Plus California Chardonnay’s. Sit back and enjoy WLTV, cause heck that’s why it is here!

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197 Responses

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April 25, 2007

Randy
Dude, Chateau St. Jean 2002 Cinq Cepages (http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=2656) – 92 points Robert Parker, and I’ve personally tasted the ‘94 and ‘95 (still have a bottle of 2000 Cinq Cepages in my cellar).

QOD: I’d have to say vanilla is probably my favorite wine flavor profile. I don’t end up drinking a lot of wine that has it, but it’s always a pleasant surprise when I do.
April 25, 2007

cruster
What about some Tokaj?
http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=3206
April 25, 2007

dougiefresh
I’ve always found vanilla to be an enjoyable flavor to happen upon, both in whites and reds. Always seems to smooth things out.

dying to find a nice barolo with a good QPR. (I still can’t get over that Convento Cappuccini Barolo 2001 from the taste-along episode back in December. 19 Bones!)

How about trying one of these less expensive Barolos?
http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=28583
http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=4286
http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=5628

Cheers,
April 25, 2007

Lars
QOTD: dark berry

Did da Wine Guy actually see the Oak Monster? I think he has an imaginary friend in the office. Perhaps a couple that he talks to.

Enjoyed the ep.
April 25, 2007

Caren
QOTD: whites, grapefruit / reds, liquorice

white…http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=7686
red…..http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=26948
April 25, 2007

Grasshopper
Sensei,

My wine request for tomorrow…

http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=9332

Fife Zinfandel – tasting notes from Wine & Spirits sounds wonderful. Would like to see if you agree.

QOTD – First, when have you ever descibed anything with only one flavor….my answer is black fruit covered in leather that was soaked in cedar and tobacco juice then rolled in cocoa dust and finished off with a touch of vanilla behind both ears……:)

Grasshopper
April 25, 2007

Kevin
QOTD…Strawberry/raspberry/Brown-grey olive/Malted milkball. Can I call that a flavor?

Please try the first wine I got interested in…Rosso 04 Zin, Cab, Syrah blend
OR my second …..Yuleca Castelanno 05 I might have have spelled this spanish rioja incorrectly.
ORRRRR try a Robert Bailly, Black Chicken Zinfandel.

(:
April 25, 2007

Ryan D
QOTD: Your Cerro Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2004. Thanks!!

Great job as always Gary. Love what you do.
April 25, 2007

Craig
QOTD: Apple

http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=28247
April 25, 2007

mike m
How bout some zins? The M2 old vines comes to mind.Give him a call!!
April 25, 2007

Garret Nagle
My favorite flavor combination is the darkest dark chocolate smeared with nearly over-ripe blueberry. You know, the blueberries that are large and sweet, with lots of smoothness and not much acidity.

If that is cheating, I would say the back palate cheesey flavour found in red wines similar to the aftertaste of aged parmagiano reggiano.

You gotta love the back palate… I love the back palate as much as the front, middle and side palates, but the back palate is a lonely guy sometimes… He gets left out of the fun in enjoying wine sometimes, and I find wines lacking the back palate element more often than other palate areas.

The back palate looks at the front and mid palate like spoiled rich kids who are fed with a silver spoon, but he was born of humble background, and he smells like smelly sock, is covered in soil, and likes to roll arround in stinky truffles and licks rocks.

Like you, I have compassion for this fellow. Let’s have back palate appreciation day sometime.

Garret Nagle (the sheisty little dissapointing guy from episode 206)
April 25, 2007

Autoproxy
Wine request: Penfold’s Cab/Shiraz Bin 389 http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=29209

QOTD: Tobacco/Leather combo in a good Zin. Nothing beats it.
April 25, 2007

DryDrew
My pick for the show is Carmel Kayoumi Shiraz 2003 of Mount Meron especially with the holiday of Lag BaOmer coming up and its strong ties to mount Meron.
April 25, 2007

Chris
I was in California last summer visiting friends. We made it up to Landmark to taste their wines. The setting was charming, the people were really friendly, and the wine was great. The Overlook is now a personal favorite of mine.
April 25, 2007

Krey Aerlson
Owen Roe Lady Rosa Syrah 2005

http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=29873

Let’s put owen roe on the map
April 25, 2007

Cameron P
Thanks for exploring Cali Chards in this price range. I’ve been wanting to try Pessagno since you first raved about them, I need to get on that!

QOTD 1: I’ve been wanting to see an episode on wines from the Jura, though this is the only one you have in stock, so please taste it:) 2005 Clos Lepeyre Jurancon Sec Vieilles Vignes: http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=31071

QOTD 2- My favorite flavor in wine is probably chocolate-covered fruit. A lot of new world fruit bombs seem to possess this, where it tastes like red or black fruit with that chocolate essence behind it. Garretson’s “The Bulladoir,” which you profiled on here before, would be a good example.
April 25, 2007

Jen
Eric Kent 2004 Kalen’s Big Boy Blend Syrah
http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=31538
(no this is not a conspiracy, huh Harold? I actually want you to taste the ‘05 Pinot from Eric Kent but I see you don’t CARRY it yet! If you can locate a bottle, please do taste for me. We sell it at my shop but I can’t afford to drop 39 bones on it right now… I HAVE tasted Kalen’s, and I LOVE IT! Want to see what you think…
QOTD: raspberry pie!
April 25, 2007

RandyB
Library Code: 31422 Frank Family Chardonnay. My wife and her friends love this and Rombauer Chardonnay. What’s the big deal? I need to know.

QOTD: Sorry, but I can’t give you a single flavor. My palate craves something more integrated. Blackberry/Black Currant and Smoke. You know that cabernet flavor that starts about mid-palate, ends up banging against the top, back portion of the palate and then sits there an obnoxiously long time after you have swallowed your sip.
April 25, 2007

Clifford James
Hey Gary … Nice episode … I’m still trying to truly “get into” white wines, and your show is helping, as are local tastings, esepcially now as the warm weather is setting in, as you have noted. I have yet to pop a bottle of Carina Cellars 2005 Viognier I bought, which is available locally, and I would like you to taste it on your show tomorrow, since you are looking for ideas of what to taste! Interesting that I paid $20 for it locally and you guys offer it for $16, which is yet further proof that perhaps — PERHAPS — it is worth the shipping charges to buy my elixir from y’all!

Here it is on your site: http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=31362

Thanks Man …

Keep it up!
April 25, 2007

Harold
Eric Kent Bennett Valley Syrah http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=31537
Favorite flavor? I’d have to say “pear” which is odd because I prefer red wine to white wine. Go figure.
April 25, 2007

Pauly
nice seasonal episode…looking forward to popping a couple bottles of white this weekend with the weather we’ve been having in NY.

QOTD: An intense, dry Blackberry/Currant flavor.
April 25, 2007

Elliot
My favorite flavor to taste in a wine is Vanilla, which reminds me, if anyone knows a wine under 20 bones that has a ridiculous amount of Vanilla in it please let me know.

As for the wine I would like to be on tomorrow’s show:

It’s a $10 Cab that was recommended by the wine guy at my local World Market, and since I’m a starving student I thought I’d get your opinion on it before I blow my lunch money.

http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=20380
April 25, 2007

MBG
My favorite flavor in wine: Cat Piss!!!!

Gary, how about tasting any PN from AP Vin or Loring?
April 25, 2007

geespot
Good call on a Chard ep. I found an under the radar bottle not too long ago that you may enjoy. It’s called Hawkstone 2004 McMullens Lightning Rod California Chardonnay. It’s a rich, structured, full bodied chard without too much oak monster, very nice vanilla and apple tones. Sadly, it was only about 1200 case release and it’s a pain to find.

QOD: I think my flavorite combo is coffee + cocoa. This blew me away when I had The Heretic 2004 petite sirah from Four Vines. Seek this out if you haven’t tried it yet. I put full a TN on the forum recently.
April 25, 2007

dublin
Great show Gary, good descriptions; sometimes Chards are hard to break down. I also had the same experience as you with the ZD Chard 05′, which was disappointing because I have really liked them in the past too.
A wine I’d love to see you taste is the 03′ Mouton, dying to find out what’s going on in that bottle: http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=23452

QOTD: I love when a Cal Cab has a good plum factor, like a 95′ Opus, has amazing plum nose and pallet.

Cheers!