Time To Look At Serious Chardonnay After A Huge Win

Time To Look At Serious Chardonnay After A Huge Win – Episode #574

November 10, 2008

The Jets romp the Rams and so Gary is excited and this is the perfect time for him to try some serious Chardonnay wines from California and see what he thinks!

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Comments on this episode(139) Leave a comment ›

“Good show. Too bad on the overoaking…. still not my thing either. …” by Dessert Wine Nerd
“My favorite chards this year have been sone acidic ones from Burgundy …” by yowens
View all 139 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Truchard ChardonnaySonoma Chardonnay
2005 Chasseur Russian River ChardonnaySonoma Chardonnay
2006 Sbragia Chardonnay Gamble RanchNapa Chardonnay

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

The Thunder Cruise

139 Responses

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November 10, 2008

Nicholas Lazarus
I love you Gary. hahaha
November 10, 2008

Thomas
Best Chard I’ve had so far this year is the 2006 McRitchie Chardonnay from NC. Worst is probably something forced upon me from the grocery store.
November 10, 2008

Leonard
Wow, I went to the Corkscrew in Houson Saturday. Wine was fabulous, but the food was disappointing.

QOTD:

I don’t drink much Chardonnay – Not my favorite variety. Couldn’t tell you what the last one was that I had.
November 10, 2008

WineWoman
Part 2: Forgot the least fav–that would have to be Murphy-Goode—it was not good. Tasted medicinal like peroxide—didn’t like Windsor chardonnay either.
November 10, 2008

Sammy S
QOTD “Best Chardonnay for 08 so far: Qupe Bien Nacido 06 awesome!!!! Worst Chardonnay for 08 so far: Monkey Bay 06 Marlborough NZ..shocker!!!

Gary when are you coming to Australia?? Let me know.

Cheers

SAMMY S – Spreading the THUNDER DOWN UNDER
November 10, 2008

WineWoman
QOTD: Favorite Chard: Newton Unfiltered(don’t remember the vintage)
Navarro close second
I bought some Fisher Whitney’s and Ice/Li/Bas, but haven’t tried them yet. Also am interested in getting some Lily Chard, only because I love their Pinot.
November 10, 2008

Dominus
Congrats to the Jets! Kick some butt on Thursday. The Colts are back in the hunt with a victory over the Terrible Towels!

God show, I’ll need to seek out the Truchard though Ive read of ton of good press on the Sbragia.

QOTD: The Koehler you reviewed in your book and the Devil’s Lair from Australia were my favs and the worst has to be a Kistler that sat too long in my cellar.

Go Colts! Looks like a Manning Bros Super Bowl to me.
November 10, 2008

NY Pete
As far as Chards go … pazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz … but keep bringing the thunder!
November 10, 2008

Scott S.
Gary, Well I am guess I done!. I can truthfully say I have watched all 574 shows from day one every night and you have finally worn me down. The act is just overbearing drinkng from the bottle, the 1000th time to said you can’t miss the the movie previews. Man, the gimick is going to fall apart. Why can’t you just review the wine with some class. No problem with having some fun but I am telling you the act is going to crash and burn. From wine stardom back to discount liquors. I have been a long time fan and bought over 15 cases of wine from WL. I am just done!. Deleting all signs of WL from my PC . Farewell!
Scott
November 10, 2008

Ozzy
Chard? Nope, haven’t had any yet that really hit my pal… I just have a problem with dry wine, and every chard I’ve had has been just too dry for me.

Keep bringing the Thunder, Gary.
November 10, 2008

Neil
QOTD: Not much of a chardonnay drinker these days however I did pop a bottle of Grgich which didn’t really impress me considering the price. That my friends was the only chardonnay I had all year.
November 10, 2008

Jay
I can’t say that I’ve had that Chardonnay from Truchard, but in years past, I’ve loved their Syrahs.
November 10, 2008

JonE
Show love to the Cali-Chard peeps, good man. I think they were probably starting to dis on the G-Man a little.

QOTD: Best 05′ premier cru William fevres and Varner Foxglove Chardonnay, worst La Crema!!!!
November 10, 2008

JoeD.
QOTD:

Best: 2002 Newton Chardonnay Unfiltered
Worst: 2006 Simi Chardonnay
November 10, 2008

Ray Barnes
In advance Happy Birthday Gary! I share the sentiments of the prior comments about the closing remarks. It is easy to forget that wine is a means to an end and not an end in itself.

QOTD: Best was the 2006 Zind, a proprietary cuvee by Domaine Zind-Humbrecht of (as I recall) 65% chardonnay and 35% pinot auxerrois, both from Clos Windsbuhl. Truly exceptional. The only other chard, which is technically the worst of the year but still excellent too, is the Thomas Kruse 2006 (from Gilroy CA). Made without malolactic fermentation, this had fine acidity and length.
November 10, 2008

Ilse
Not drinking too many white wines really, apart from some Ribeiro (fresh white wine which is drank in cups, also from Galicia in Spain, and very nice as aperitive in summer) and rías baixas (albariño)…also buy a stock of riesling and rivaner in Luxemburg, and this is brilliant wine with food, even more spicey food. Sweet Jurançon for aperitive or with foie gras, and a nice sherry (we prefer fino with food, oloroso as dessert wine) once in a while. Chardonnay only on holidays in regions known for their chardonnay…that’ll do for us.
November 10, 2008

Joe P.
Hey Gary, good show. Funny you should ask b/c I just had a wine tasting party the other night and we blindly tasted six chards/chablis. The winner was 2000 Robert Talbott, Sleepy Hollow. The big loser, although two people scored it high and got my booby prize, was 2006 Martha Stewart Chardonnay, $8 at BevMo. I loved the Talbott – good balance, minerals, floral, lychee smell – as well as liking 2006 Ayama (South Africa) which I picked up for 7 bones marked down from $13.
November 10, 2008

DAve A
Happy b-day, dude! (Friday)It’s not the gifts, it’s the wondering if anyone cares… that counts. smile. haha. We care!

Good walk thru these wines. nice show.
Doing the secret pack tomorrow night with our neighbors! Can’t wait! We will watch, snif and whirl.. thanks for the swag in the box!

Chard? me? Horizon Cellers is excellent North Carolina Chard, not oaked, (neutral barrel, so not stainless either) and real good.

Come to Raleigh.
November 10, 2008

Timinspokane
Monster California chards!!! I will admit… I used to love the buttery oaked-out chards that tasted like canteloupe dipped into a butter fondue. These days, though…. I am too much of an acid freak to deal with those flabby wines. I have had a few very nice chards lately. Last night, in fact, we had a 2005 Belvedere Russian River Valley chard that was very nice. Not heavily oaked, nice acids – not a bomb, but a pretty lady that was great with a very piquant chicken dish. I have also been loving the 2006 and 2007 Townshend Cellar chards (Columbia Valley) and the Rulo Unoaked chard (2006) from the Columbia Valley. My least favorite chard lately has been the Stags Leap Wine Cellars Karia chardonnay. It isn’t bad, but for pushing 30 bones, I would rather buy three of the Townshend Cellars, 2 of the Rulo’s, or hell – 3 Columbia Crest Grand Estates. It is simply an overpriced, generic chard for wayyyyyyyyyyyy too much money. Not my idea of a good time. Cheers!
November 10, 2008

Jason S.
QOTD: Fav chard this year was Domaine Jaeger-Defaix. Can’t recall my least fav.

Heading out to Cali wine country in Dec. Looking forward to trying Truchard now – never had it before. Thanks GV!
November 10, 2008

sam
You guys rock!

QOTD: the best Chard I’ve had as of late was a Chablis Premier Cru. The name escapes me, but definately good stuff.
November 10, 2008

M
QOTD: This year my palate likes Saint Veran Chardonnays.
November 10, 2008

Kevin K
QOTD: Not much on Chard these days. I’m trying more Italian whites.
November 10, 2008

Slushpuppy
I’ll take any euopean white over an over-priced CA Chard any time.
Smell it first! TR
November 10, 2008

AbsolutLahmi
QOTD: I just had a bottle of 2004 Gerard Villet Chardonnay from Jura, and it was A-MAZING!! Gunpowder on the nose, burnt apple on the palate, but still graceful and light on the finish.. it was probably the craziest and most palate-expanding white wine experience i’ve had in a long time..