Chardonnay tasting featuring Australia, California and France

Chardonnay tasting featuring Australia, California and France – Episode #614

January 29, 2009

Gary Vaynerchuk picks 3 Chardonnay wines to go head to head for a battle royal. Which of these 3 93 point scored Wine Spectator and Robert parker wines will win?

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Comments on this episode(135) Leave a comment ›

“QOTD: Gary Farrell, 2003 Cresta Ridge Vineyards

Bingo.
Not a huge …” by RobT
“sorry this is late; great show; been loving on some austrialians latel…” by Jeff
View all 135 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Louis Latour Morgeots Chassagne MontrachetChassagne Montrachet
2006 Dehlinger Estate ChardonnaySonoma Chardonnay
2007 Shaw And Smith M3 ChardonnayAustralian Chardonnay

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

135 Responses

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March 30, 2009

RobT
QOTD: Gary Farrell, 2003 Cresta Ridge Vineyards

Bingo.
Not a huge Chard drinker… tend to like dry/acidic/minerally stuff (currently expanding french/austrian/aussie palate), but every now and then a bling’d out chard makes an impression. This is one. Beautiful wine. A Russian River chard, before Gary Farrell was purchased…

Ps. Nice to see Dehlinger represent… How bout a show on Dehlinger Pinot…!
(vs. Williams Selyem… Battle Royal…?)
March 2, 2009

Jeff
sorry this is late; great show; been loving on some austrialians lately!

favorite is basically ANY premiere or grand cru CHABLIS from a good year (like 02/05/06) true CHA-BLISS!
February 7, 2009

JayZee
I’ve never been much of a Chardonnay fan, I must admit. I certainly haven’t had any Aussie Chard that I liked so I need to try the Shaw & Smith for sure.

QOTD: Cakebread Chard was decent a few times when I’ve had it, but so far only Chablis has been the Chardonnay that I have really liked.
February 7, 2009

Andrew D
Hey Gary

Great show, have you had the Shaw and Smith Sauv Blanc or Shiraz, both good and I think you’d love the Shiraz. I’ve said it before in comments, but drinking Adelaide Hills wine (or Yarra Valley or Hunter or Mornington Peninsula or Grampians or King Valley or Claire or Coonawarra or Tasmanian or Margret River) is what you should be doing. “Try new things” – correct; get over the Barossa Shiraz and move and sample the great wines that Australia makes.

QOTD: Defiantly Australia’s greatest Leeuwen Estate Art Series Chard

Cheers
Andrew
February 6, 2009

Sonia
I NEED to get that Australian Chard… bad. It sounds great.
QOTD: I think it was more the experience than the actual wine… it was an ‘06 Rombauer last July. I was working over night and got home in the morning tired, but it was too hot to sleep… Popped that bottle and it was so cold and delicious. Had the ‘07 a few weeks ago and did not like it.
February 4, 2009

Lord Nouda
Mmh, I could do with some cheese, and Gary, I missed you doing the oak monster. Been a while if I’m not mistaken. BTW, how do you decide on the glass to use for an episode?

qotd: cannot tell you what the last ‘really’ good one was. But the last one I remember (well added to corkd) that was okay was the Gallo 2007 Sycamore Canyon Chardonnay. The small blend with Gewürztraminer just did something interesting.
February 3, 2009

Devin M.
QOTD: Leeuwin Artist series 1998 Margaret River.
February 2, 2009

KMurph
That’s funny you mentioned quince. I had it for the first time last week. It was interesting. Not as cool as persimmon, but neat.

QOTD: As a CKC, I’ve never had an extremely expensive chard. Working on it.
February 2, 2009

Brian Barrick
For premium Chardonnay I generally look to Burgundy, where the best balance of acidity, minerality and just the right touch of oak can be found. The best one I’ve tried was a Puligny-Montrachet from Saint-Aubin.

That said, I rarely come across any Chardonnay that I consider worth the premium price. California Chards are the most disappointing in this respect, though I did recently pick up some Pessagno Sleepy Hollow based on your recommendation.

Good to hear that Australia made such a good showing in this category. I’ve been meaning to try some of these.
February 2, 2009

Kelly Goff
Gary, I have to agree with Heather W, you were totally going to say baby girl! Awesome, you will make a GREAT girl dad. Having one of each, I can appreciate both sexes equally but there is something sweet about a girl and her dad!

Good show and as for QOTD, I would not spend money on premium Chardonnay. If I were to buy something premium, it would not be a chardonnay.
February 2, 2009

Nick Hewitt
Hey Gary,

The Shaw and Smith kicks ass doesn’t it, their sauvignon blanc is also fantastic.

I noticed you have been giving subtle diggs towards wines from NZ and Aus with screwcaps?

You did it with the selaks ice wine and now with the Shaw and Smith. When will americans catch up do you think? Is it still a representation of quality in the US.

Whether you know or not there are several wineries around the country who are prohibiting corks with cork free zones. My uncle lost well over $40K to bad corks on a ‘99 Hawkes Bay Chard and with such bad bottle variation with other wines which suppliers try to get me to stock

Can you please do on air a comparitive vertical tasting of one or two new zealand or australian wines from vertical years with crewcap Vs cork. I think it will make for interesting viewing. I have done so twice with:

Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir – 4 screwcap, 4 cork from same years
Clearview Estate Hawkes Bay Reserve Chardonnay – 2 screwcap, 2 cork from same years.

Episode 364 rocks by the way

Nick the Kiwi
February 2, 2009

YoungDave
QOTD: Lately? Chateau Demessey 2005 Meursault Les Criots.
February 1, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
Great show. Shocked the Aussies took it. Me and my preconceived notions thought France would take the crown home. QOTD: Never had a premuim chard yet.
February 1, 2009

Ditch
I have been away for a while as the mother board on my lappy blew up during a WLTV episode – the bill is on its way to you Mr G.V as we speak.

Had a great chardonnay the other day but the name fails me….think it was called Back to Back.

QOTD – Never
February 1, 2009

Murso
G – NPR spot was good. Been a Scott Simon fan for many years.

Does Cakebread and Far Niente belong on that list (stylistically)? Far Niente most often seems way austere (for my PAL)- but most def. ageworthy…
Cakebread is simply a pazzz (sic).

Fave MIGHT have been some of the older Mer Soleil’s , c. 90’s.
February 1, 2009

Robin C
QOTD: Just had the Domaine Drouhin Arthur – loved it. Creamy; candied orange peel; 50% cask, 50% stainless steel. Had to go on a long, winding, dark, scary, snow packed road with 9 foot show drifts to get to the restaurant with the wine tasting, but since I didn’t have to drive it was doable.
January 31, 2009

Dan-o
Enjoyed the show GV. I like the idea of comparing and contrasting varietals from different parts of the world.

QOTD – this is a tough one, but I will try by region:
- France – Domaine Leflaive Corton Charlemagne
- US – Martinelli single vineyard
- Australia – Leeuwin Estate Artist Series Margaret River
January 31, 2009

Smahlatz
QOTD : none really – but I’ll have to try the Shaw and Smith and support my fellow countrymen – C’mon Aussie C’mon C’mon !!!!!
January 31, 2009

Pete G
Gotta love those new and improved Aussie chards. Movin away from the oak
bombs and really bringing out some great balance.

QOTD: Remoissenet Montratchet 1997. Phenomenal balace of oak and acid with
black wlanut skin for days on the nose.
January 31, 2009

Bill Williamson
G, love what you are doing. an honest review, what a concept! try my Williamson Wines Amourette Chardonnay. Its smack in the middle of Montrachet and Aussi, (which I am) wins golds every year $38 locals here call it the “Kistler Killer” Only available from us directly. Let me know if you want one to try.
January 31, 2009

wayno da wino
Yo G, Cooooool seein’ Dehlinger Vino in da Hizzy !! The Dehlinger
Pinots are me FAAAAAAAAVOOOOORITE Pinots of AAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL
TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME !!! Been drinkin’ ‘em since the 1992 Vintage….
January 31, 2009

Jim in Atlanta
QOTD – The best chardonnay I have had was a Puligny Montrachet – not sure which one. My favorite California chardonnay is always from Navarro.
January 31, 2009

Andy
QOTD— a Kistler Chard 2005 ….. a great wine
January 31, 2009

parisjulian (france)
happy to see chardonnay show.
QOTD: my top 3 chardonnay
1/ corton charlemagne 1996 coche dury
2/ Meursault Perrières 1er Cru. Comtes Lafon
3/ Kistler Chardonnay Cuvée Cathleen 1998
January 31, 2009

jjmabaseb
QOTD: Melville 2005 Estate Chard. great juice…