California Chardonnay and Questions.

California Chardonnay and Questions. – Episode #306

August 31, 2007

Gary resets after the whole Vayniac wine. We do some questions and taste some Chardonnay.

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Comments on this episode(218) Leave a comment ›

“GV…I think that getting the reviews or pts from other reviewers besi…” by Adrian aka AnGkEr
“Another classic in my mind. I love the rants. I feel like a Gary ran…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Chappellet Chardonnay NapaNapa Chardonnay
2003 Vineyard 7 & 8 Vineyard 8 Chardonnay ReserveNapa Chardonnay

Links mentioned in todays episode.

218 Responses

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September 2, 2007

Jeff Cleveland
QOTD: Twitter! I’m having a blast with it.
September 2, 2007

Tommy Vernieri
Glad my Dolcetto comment made you happy, Gary.

QOTD: Maple Bacon Cupcakes! You heard me right, bacon, in a cupcake. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tommyvernieri/1304374137/

I have to say, I agree with some of what Sassodoro said. There are no stupid questions; that said, I do love your intensity and attitude and I’m sure any regular viewers will realize that you don’t want to talk to JayO’s friends on the phone to tell them they’re stupid but instead to convince to expand their wine world.

Keep it fun and make some cupcakes!
September 2, 2007

AlisonD
Too bad these Chardonnays werent very good..I am always looking for a new one.
September 2, 2007

jason
SHOULDERS!!!!!!! it also a term that can be used to describe a wine that is large in stature, masculine and has weight a muscle. for example a hermitage or cote roti are wines that have shoulders and a wine form say chambolle musigny is not a wine that has shoulders.
September 2, 2007

jason
laid back friday was real laid back.

QOTD: Kaefferkopf Riesling from Alsace. I have had a bottle or two of wines from Kaefferkopf ( it is a village in alsace that is sort of rare and produces good quality wines) but over the weekend, i had a great bottle of 2005 for 9 euros that was really good. there was a nice tension between acidity, fruit and minerals. loved it.

also l *_* l for a tape cassette
September 2, 2007

*/^_^\*
qotd::: WLTV
September 2, 2007

Lawrence Leichtman
First time I have listened and not agreed with you at all Gary. I read, watch you, taste, and read some more. Problem is there are thousands of wines out there. Maybe you who have access to any wine you want to taste can get to thousands of wines but neither I nor the giant majority of your watchers can. Yes, I agree, I hated the Chapallett but don’t really want to taste it again as the wine you tasted is what the last 5 vintages of Chapallett have been. But all of us need someone to point a direction. Wine really is an expensive hobby and one that I’m not fond of wasting a lot of money on drinking bad wines on purpose. I have had more than enough bad wines to know the smell and taste of a bad wine. I think that you can quite quickly fall into the same trap of all of the elitist wine advisors but in a reverse way. Don’t forget that we buy the wines. No one hands us 30 bottles to sample. Also, I find in my business, medicine, there are no stupid questions, just the unasked ones so when someone asks a question that you feel is stupid either don’t answer it or don’t put them down. So continue to advise. Scoring is only a guide obviously but there need to be some guides somewhere that people can rely on. Hoping you will continue that. This is about the first episode from the begining that I have been totally disappointed with.
September 2, 2007

Greg B.
Big G, I like it. Nice friday show. Too bad about the 84’s.

QOTD: For the last six months my new discovery has been WLTV and I just have to say thank you Bro!
September 2, 2007

Kent Benson, CSW
Garrett,

Please…her name is JANCIS, JANCIS, JANCIS – that’s Jan’-sis…not Janice!!! Sorry, but that drives me crazy.

Kurt
September 2, 2007

Daniel O
QOTD: My new wine discovery is Spanish wines! Had tapas last night and experimented with a Rioja Crianza and a Rueda. Yummy!
September 2, 2007

Greg Schimizzi
Gary,

I loved the dolcetto episode. This is a wonderful grape with tremendous palate ‘tonality’ depending upon producer as well as vineyard location and seasonal variations (nature + terroir = nattoir). I am so glad to hear that you appreciate this wonderful wine and I too am sorry that it is not as readily available. I like to think of it as a hidden treasure also.

I enjoyed your Chardonnay show today also. California chardonnays have always intrigued and befuddled me. I have a kind of love – hate relationship with them and it is not the fault of the grape, the land or mother nature. It is what has been done to the juice. This grape has been prodded, primped, jazzzed, oaked, buttered and at other times completely disrobed. (I personally prefer the naked Chards best.) I know that the California Chardonnays are my choice for a party white wine, but I have great difficulty pairing some of them to foods and considering it a serious food wine. I tend to go to old world white wines when serious food is involved. I think that California has the most to gain by refocusing Chardonnay into a true expression of the grape given the wonderful land, climate and expertise available.

Greg S

PS Consider episodes on;
Wines made from the garganega grape and trebbiano: As you had in episode 220, the Soaveâ€™s can be subtle, elegant, refreshing and delightful.
Would it be over the top to do an entire episode on Soave? You loved the Gini La Frosca – right up your alley with bake shop, floral, fruit and mineral on one hand. Others can be packed with fruit and honey in the recioto versions.
And an epsiode on desert wines made by different techniques: Botrytis, Eiswine, recolta, passiti, fortifying.
September 2, 2007

Nathan
QOTD:
Smoking a pipe.
September 2, 2007

Justin S.
My .02; The wine world is changing and the producers seem to be listening, I’ve noticed a big shift in Chardonnay lately.

QOTD: I am going to have to say my new Gravely Hydro mower, it’s manly. And in the wine world, wines from the Lodi region seem to be kicking ass.
September 2, 2007

Shotgun
Disagree with you on the Chappellet. While I prefer non-ML and subtly oaked chards from California like Mayacamas or Stony Hill, the Chappellet is a nice example of a well-mannered “California-style” chard. Haven’t tried the 8.

Sorry to say but the bobble head looks nothing like you. Looks more like Nick Faldo the professional golfer. Plus they needed to throw in a few spikes into the hair, like you are fond of wearing from time to time. I have to give the GV bobble head a 78, and for that, a huge PAZZZZZZZZZZZ…
September 2, 2007

Rani H
Great show GV.

QOTD: A new discovery for myself is that I am finally beginning to enjoy different styles of white wines. Listening to the way you describe the nose or the taste opens my mind up to a much wider variety of scents/flavors I may not immediately think of due to my slowly maturing palate. I have a much better appreciation for these wines now that I previously did not know how to enjoy. Thanx GV!

–Rani H
September 2, 2007

wmole
Gary, pumping Albarino one day as the new chard and then bashing two cali chards soon after? tsk, tsk.

Nonetheless, tried an Albarino for the first time and loved it! Thanks bro.
September 2, 2007

wmole
Pretty scary post Jen. Why? Me too! Thanks for the recommendation. Have the Tom’s deodorant and it makes my pits smell like wet dog fir. Did you catch that aroma profile? I was thinking about “secret unscented” as a replacement until I read your post and was thinking…..

“Two vaynians, unoffensive, and desiring to remain so, find odor protection in an unexpected place. Their quest for fine wine has brought them to a place where “nose” takes on a new meaning, they ask the question, does my human aroma overtake, surpass or in any way trump the enjoyment of this wine or affect my personal relations with other beings? Am I offensive?

Two different people, one has the answer, the other? has just seen that Target sign post ahead, and has entered the twilight zone.

Thanks Jen! You smell great!
September 2, 2007

wmole
I love it Gary when you throw corks and talk to Chris Mott. Every great show has a sideman, and he’s yours… Your press portrays you as the wine world’s everyman, talking to your cameraman cinches it, great stuff, how many stars do that? (Julia Roberts?) Keep bringing it bro G. Also, yeah, I love your tasting descriptions and ratings because you put so much life, energy, and reality into them, it’s what makes this show so enjoyable.

Discovery? I’m a champagne/sparkling wine slut, haven’t had one I’ve disliked yet.
September 2, 2007

Seth Zuckerman
A suggestion on how to improve your rating system. err.. :”changing the wine rating system world”.. I think that you should rate wines based on 3 categories 1. Smell 2. Taste 3. Finish..

seth
September 2, 2007

Happy Wine Guy
QOTD: That Gary rates wine he doesn’t like 84. Doesn’t leave much wiggle room for ones that you do like, does it?
September 1, 2007

Kristen
Nice show, I’m glad you rated the chardonnays the way you felt and weren’t influenced by the “big boys.”

QOTD: Pinot Auxerrois 2003, a nice change to the everyday American white.
September 1, 2007

Annapolitan
GV, good show! QOTD: Montevina pinot grigio from CALIFORNIA ! Awesome!!
September 1, 2007

BK
Great episode Gary,
And i have to say, contrary to Sassodoro’s lengthy diatribe, i love how you responded to the shoulder question.
There are lot of wine videos on the internet…lots of opinions.
Why do we all choose to watch Gary? Why do people who have NEVER been into wine choose to watch Gary and maybe try new things?
Because of the originality, passion and personality that he brings into an old, dusty, crusty, snobby, elitist pastime.
I would HATE to see winelibrary tv degenerate into a nice, polite, don’t-offend-anyone, freakin CASTRATED, buttoned-up version of what it once was.
Gary throws things at the camera, spits into a jets bucket and has thunder cats on the table for god’s sake. Everyone should know what they’re getting into 30 seconds into the show.

Gary, we love you. We love the thunder. If you make any change at all….MAKE IT LOUDER!

QOTD: Really had a nice discovery with Gravner’s wines. Very unique and interesting.
(also, WLTV is probably my favorite wine discovery lately!)
September 1, 2007

Vinsant
WTF, you don’t ship to WA?! What up wit that?
September 1, 2007

Chris Turyk
Gary, I would like to order The Vayniac Cab, but the order form only ships to the US, and I am in Canada. Problem?