Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Challenge

Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Challenge – Episode #688

June 11, 2009

Gary goes outside and deals with the foggy, muggy, ugly day to taste 2 very respected Pinot Noir’s from the Anderson Valley in California.

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Comments on this episode(222) Leave a comment ›

“The weather brings back memories of a dismal June. Catching up several…” by Dan-o
“Fun show, like the change of scenery. We had a fun drive up through A…” by Will Gosling
View all 222 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Claudia Springs Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
2007 Black Kite Kites Rest Pinot Noir

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

222 Responses

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July 12, 2009

Dan-o
The weather brings back memories of a dismal June. Catching up several weeks later.
QOTD1 – I am not a radish or cucumber fan, i could see celery as a replacement for me. However, I would NOT like this after dessert.

QOTD2 – Chocolate chip.
July 8, 2009

Will Gosling
Fun show, like the change of scenery. We had a fun drive up through Anderson Valley on our way to Mendocino (mini-honeymoon after our Napa wedding). A pinot noir from Navarro brought us up there. Lots of good places I’m sure, we only had time for a few.

QOTD: COFFEE ice cream FTW! Hate coffee, love coffee ice cream…go figure.
July 1, 2009

Beth
Wonderful show. Being in Asia there isn’t much access to Anderson Valley, but I’ll be keeping a look out.

QOTD2 – Jasmine tea or Ben and Jerry’s Fairtrade Vanilla.
June 23, 2009

Monique
Haggen Daz Cappicino Commotion ( a masterful blend: chocolate,cinnamon,dark chocolate,toffeed-almond.
Great show. Honestly didn’t know about Anderson Valley, thank you for adding to my to do list. Will look forward to your reporting. Just discovered your show, love your energy and passion, will pick up your new book.
June 21, 2009

Jim in Atlanta
I agree with you on Anderson Valley. I enjoy the cooler climate wines they make there.
June 19, 2009

Michael Steele
Fave flavor of ice cream has got to be Ben & Jerry’s Oatmeal Cookie crunch! I think it’s fairly new (about a year old or so) but it blows me away every time!
June 18, 2009

glenn
dude – you got Mary Elke to comment. her wines are exquisite in good vintages! like she said Scharffenberger really does make a quality sparkler. you come out let me know and we’ll cruise around Hwy 128 a bit man.

QotD: Straus Family Creamery Organic Vanilla Bean
June 18, 2009

Crystal Gustavson
I’m not into sweets either, but do love the tart flavors of gelato. If you’re ever in the Phoenix area, stop by Gelato 64 for their wine flavored gelato: http://www.gelato64.com/
June 18, 2009

Platopoker
Loved the episode Gary. I can’t believe I didn’t make it out to Anderson Valley when I lived in the East Bay for two years. I did, however, get to visit Hess Vineyards in Napa. If you like both Art and Wine there is no better winery there as they have both a vineyard and an art gallery.

QOTD – Ben & Jerry’s Chubby Hubby. How can you go wrong with fudge covered pretzel nuggets, filled with Peanut Butter, in Vanilla Ice Cream swirled with Fudge and Peanut butter throughout. A perfect mix of sweet and salty… YUM!
June 17, 2009

wayno da wino
Yo G, GRRRRRRRRRRRRREAAAAAAAAAAAT EPISODE !!!!! After drinkin’ me
coffee & watchin’ IT, I’m BOUNCIN’ OFF DA WALLS!!!!
Themzzz was some Cooool Pinot Noirs & Anderson Valley is a Cooool Place!

qotd1: Don’t usually eat a “dessert” per say……

qotd2: I DO likes to have me a Haagen Daaz Ice Cream Bar every once
in a while…. YUUUMMM!
June 17, 2009

Thomas Moore
Awesome show!! Such a cool look having the fog creeping all over the back ground. Airplanes, cars, and the outdoors. Only on Winelibrary!!

QOTD – Chocolate Mint
June 17, 2009

JustinL
QOTD2: I LOVE the Fleur de Sel Caramel from Hagen Das.
June 17, 2009

Bobo36
Good show.

Bet that hoodie trapped all the wine aromas coming off. Anderson Val does do some good pinots. QOTD: try eating your salad at the end of the meal for that ’sour fix’. Once you do, you’ll eat it all the time at the end… i like to get some acid after a meal. i eat 2 oranges after lunch just for the acid. QOTD2 banana strawberry.
June 16, 2009

J Crazy
Sounds like my English classes I teach over here. “What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream, J sensei?”
“I HATE ice cream!!”
“Mommy J sensei’s gone fuckin crazy again!”
June 16, 2009

Mary Elke
Hey Gary – As current President of the Anderson Valley Winegrowers, I’m going to hold you to your promise to visit us in the next 12 months and do a couple of Thunder shows. We have many great Pinots, both old and new-world styled; our Alsatian wines are great, and Roederer Estate and Scharffenberger Cellars produce some of the best domestic sparklers – a few days may not be long enough to sample all our “local products”!
June 16, 2009

Adam B
Favorite ice cream: Pistachio Gelato
Mmmmmmm
June 16, 2009

innA
Awesome show – love it that you are back and making the podcast again!

QOTD – Vanilla… with salted caramel a close second
June 16, 2009

Martin E
Strawberry….. plain but trustworthy…
June 15, 2009

JD in DC
QOTD: Fleur de Sel Caramel
June 15, 2009

antony
Can’t remember the first question… favourite ice cream – home made cherry and dark chocolate.
June 15, 2009

Veez
Anderson Valley Gem Navarro Winery enough said
June 15, 2009

Benry
Gary,

I agree on the claim that Anderson Valley Pinots are the best in the US. Also, for recommending tours, rt. 128 is very beautiful and less traveled, which means better service and prices at the vineyards.

QOTD 1: Ice Cream: Salted Carmel
June 15, 2009

Riddler
GV:

Schramsberg, an American producer, makes a delicious Anderson Valley sparkler! But its price is a bit north of the range you were talking about. You should give it a try. The also make some more affordable sparklers under the Mirabelle name, but I don’t know if the grapes come from Anderson.

Thanks for the heads-up about pinots from Anderson – I’ll put it on my tasting list.

QOTD: For run-of-the-mill ice cream, I’d say vanilla because it’s hard for producers to screw that up. But my absolute favorite ice cream is the pistachio they have at Blue Marble Ice Cream on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.
June 15, 2009

JayZee
Nice little show. I’ve had wine from Anderson Valley, but oddly not any Pinot Noir. I will have to check it out next chance I get.

QOTD 1: No, just give me the sweets for dessert. I don’t follow it up with a pickle or anything else like that. On the other hand, I love anything made with dark chocolate which is usually bittersweet at most.

QOTD 2: I’m not a big ice cream person, but since I’m a chocoholic, it would have to be chocolate fudge. I also really liked the chili pepper/dark chocolate ice cream I had at XO Primer Steakhouse in Cleveland. Definitely different. Come to think of it, the green tea ice cream I had while in Japan was also very interesting and not all that sweet.
June 15, 2009

David Keil
Want great Anderson Valley sparkling?

http://www.roedererestate.com/TechSheet.php?Wine=113

They’ve been there awhile.