California Chardonnay on Display

California Chardonnay on Display – Episode #337

October 19, 2007

Gary Vaynerchuk tastes three Chardonnays that he’s excited to try.

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Comments on this episode(225) Leave a comment ›

“QOTD: I like burgundian flavours over the oak….” by richardvinifera
“Fun show. I loved the references and the struggles with whether or no…” by Phredd
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Acacia Carneros ChardonnayNapa Chardonnay
2005 Sonoma Cutrer Sonoma Coast ChardonnaySonoma Chardonnay
2004 Petaluma Chardonnay PiccadillyAustralian Chardonnay

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Vayniac Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Forum

225 Responses

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October 19, 2007

JamesW
QOTD: I was too infatuated with Alsace to care about Chardonnay. I prefer whites that are minerally, bright clean. Most Chardonnay is not that…although; I do enjoy stainless-steel aged Chards.
October 19, 2007

Tristan
QOTD: I’d take a sauvignon blanc 9 out of 10 over a chardonnay, but I think thats just my own palate.
October 19, 2007

Jennifer
p.s. I agree with Luke. More spit, please. And maybe just a little more cowbell.
October 19, 2007

RieslingRon
I second Kelly’s motion…………certainly most of the other managers in MLB don’t share your opinion, so I think you are off base (no pun intended).

As for Chardonnay, it’s not my favorite. Give me Riesling and SB, but I don’t mind a smiggen of oak and butter in Chardonnay, when I have one.
October 19, 2007

Jennifer
Just sending ya love, GV. Good to have you back.
QOTD: I like what tastes good to me. Some chards I like, an’ some I don’t.
October 19, 2007

Karol
Sorry, meant to edit before sending Vay-ner-chuk (and no C)!
October 19, 2007

Karol
Great show – nice to see the energy back, I was missing the Van-er-chuk!
QOTD: Chards – not my favorite. Usually turned off by the oak but Kim Crawford has an Unoaked Chard that is pretty good.
October 19, 2007

Micha
QOTD: I’m mostly a white wine fan. I really like the fruity flavours of Chardonnay. So i mostly prefer “naked” Chards. There a very few oaked chards that i liked so far.
October 19, 2007

Luke B
Gary, next time, i want to see spit.
You’re tasting wine, and spitting it out, what do people expect.
October 19, 2007

John P
QOTH: I was out in Steamboat last year (mid Dec.) and a friend said try some
St. Jean Chard. It was great, so I don’t think all Chards are bad but you have
helped me try many different types of “white” wines so Chards are out…..
October 19, 2007

chenrys
Guess we’ve been down on Chardonnays, especially heavily oaked ones. We do tend to avoid them. However, we did have one at a tasting recently that was quite tolerable. I suppose we should give them a chance.

BTW, we found a Primitivo today and we’re trying it while watching the show. 2003 Salento from Rosa Del Golfo. Not Bad.
October 19, 2007

KW
Haven’t tried the Cutrer Sonoma Coast – usually drank Russian River and Cutrer versions.
Russian River has been one of my favorites for being a good and consistent fruity Chardonnay with nice tannins and more readily accessible for purchase from wholesalers. The Cutrer version, somewhat more earthy and Burgundy like. I have a half dozen bottles of the 2003 Russian River left which I think is quite a nice Chard and better in my opinion than your review of the 2005 Sonoma Coast today. Since Sonoma Cutrer is now selling directly to the public, I can’t say that I have tried the new versions yet. Cutrer were stored in Stainless steel tanks so I can’t understand the “oakyness” which you noted. Maybe they have changed their process since the winery was sold.

QOTD: I still like a good Chardonnay or Burgundy with light foods. A few extra years cuts the sharpness in some of the Chards and make it very smooth.
October 19, 2007

Greg B.
Big G. What can I say? I enjoyed that one quite a bit. Ya know what? I think I’m going to start giving your shows scores. Hmmmm, Hell i’m in the entertainment field, I know what’s Tasty! Now, I want everyone who reads this to trust your own amusement level. Don’t let Gary come at ya with free shipping or something. Only you know what has good Entertainment Vaule….GEV
Todays Chard Show gets a …….89+ rating. A nice rant would have put it over the top, but I guess GV is saving that for next week. Well, there you have it a new ratings scale for WLTV.

Oh yeah QOTD: Chards, just like all Wines have a time and a place. For me they are better with warm weather.
October 19, 2007

Saftig
Firstly, Hey KELLY, you might want to relax on the whole Torre thing. It’s baseball for chrissakes, get a grip. Think Iraq and find some perspective.
QOTD: I take each new wine on its own merit and look forward to being surprised.
October 19, 2007

sk-HAWT from Salt Lake
QOTD: I have a love/hate relationship with Chardonnay. I love it so much that my mini-cellar seems to have too much of it. I hate the fact that I never drink it fast enough and my cellar is overstocked with it. I’m NOT down with the butter spread on a 2×4 and prefer restrained crisp, cool climate chardonnays.
October 19, 2007

Robert F
I have no problem with chardonnay. It’s called Chablis. Burgundian style chardonnay is pretty much the only way I’ll drink it. So if the question is “are you down on california style chardonnay”, then the answer is most definitely yes.
October 19, 2007

Marc
When I drink Chardonnay I like the oak and butter, though I rarely drink it unless someone puts it on the table. Not to sound like a broken record but you really should try the Grace Vineyard Taysa’s reserve from China. Matter of fact, when I go back to China next month I’m going to bring home a bottle just for you Gary V!
October 19, 2007

Ralph-E
I still love Chards but I can’t seem to get the same flavors with an extremly long finish that continues to evolve for over 2 minutes like the Chards of the mid to late eighties unless I willing to spend a small fortune. Oaky or not, butter or not; it’s all good. I just don’t care for Chards that taste like a Sav. Blanc because that’s not what my taste buds are expecting.
October 19, 2007

Taco John
I’m down with the Oak Monster. You can tell when a wine has a lot of oak, and you can tell when a wine has a lot of oak in order to cover up flaws, where the wine tastes like oak and butter because otherwise it would taste like nothing or taste bad. I would love to see big jammy “desert-flavored” Chardonnays, where the butter, vanilla and oak don’t dominate, but make the fruit taste like it’s in a pie, cake, or tart. Find me a wine that tastes like cheesecake and I’d be in heaven.
October 19, 2007

Linda M
Mott! GV!
Great show! And on behalf of the guys and gals on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt, THANK YOU!

I haven’t found a Chardonnay I like yet. But I guess I’ll give the Aussies a try. It sounds like it may have a little more personality.

Happy Trails…….
October 19, 2007

jesseeley
QOTD: definitely prefer the unoaked chardonnays, and even then it’s hit or miss.

I hope the Butter Bandit has a cape and eye patch.
October 19, 2007

wtvLurker
qotd – i am down on chardonnay but not because i think im supposed to be.
i dont care if it has butter or oak or both or neither as long as i enjoy it. and i do enjoy it sometimes. i just dont seek it out. i have avoided chardonnay for years because it is so overwhelmingly prevalent that it annoyed me and my first reaction to chardonnay usually is – is there anything else i can have? i will encounter enough chardonnay at restaurants, functions, friends homes etc… that i feel no drive to stock up on chardonnay or seek out “great” chardonnay.
if you lined up ten white wines (1 chard and 9 others) and offered me a glass of only one of them, the chard would probably be the last one id pick.

give me riesling, gewurz, viognier, falanghina, vermentino, chenin, sauvignon blanc, vernaccia, verdejo, fiano, greco, pigato, vidal, seyval, jacqueres, vinho verde, aligote, torrontes, muscadet, prosecco, cataratto… or almost any red before chardonnay.
October 19, 2007

Deano
Gary good episode i know a lot of people that love that acacia.

QOTD:
-I dont really drink Chard at all
October 19, 2007

Karl Laczko
Sedate show, nice and friendly. Have a nice weekend yourself.

QOTD – Chardonnay, no, doesn’t generally do it for me. I’ll keep coming back to try, but so far nothing is blowing my mind.
October 19, 2007

Dominus
Ehhhh, I was wrong about #2 though I must try some of the Acacia. Sounds like my cup of tea.

QOTD: I absolutely adore Chardonnays and I have my favorites such as Devil’s Lair, Girard, Kistler and some low-end types such as Summerfield. I think the likes of Kendall-Jackson, Sutter Home and Gallo has given Chard a bad rap plus the varietals have stepped up their game. That being said, I pick and choose my Chards but love them and am man enough to admit it.

Go Fins (beat the Pats) my upset pick of the century!

TGIF and cheers to all!