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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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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June 12, 2009

ChrisNY2
Hey GV.. where do you go for a good pickle? I haven’t had a really good deli pickle in so long — they’re either barely pickled and just taste like a cucumber, or they’re too soggy.

I’m not a big dessert or ice cream person actually — I always forget to save room for it, hah.
June 12, 2009

guymandude
Don’t do dessert, But do like a nice Port afterwards.
Was out to Anderson in Feb. it was awesome.
June 12, 2009

roy josephson
your dessert eating habits made me nauseous. next time try eating a pickle or a clove of garlic while drinking a fine sauterne.
June 12, 2009

jason
sorry for the short comment- good show. good to see some down to earth pinot from cali.
qotd – i love so many but oreo ice cream surely has a soft spot in my heart
June 12, 2009

Chris Lotz
thats a little odd to eat ice cream then a pickle afterwards. but i could see where it comes from. at breakfast i always am stuck with the predicament of if my last bite should be a savory piece of bacon or sausage, or the sweetness of pancakes or french toast. qotd, i alwys go for either haagen daz or ben and jerrys. some of my favorites are new york super fudge chunk, caramel cone, butter pecan, or cherry garcia, man
June 12, 2009

boyd
Oregon says BRING IT to Anderson Valley. Any day. Any time. Any place. Bring it. Gary, you need to come spend 5 shows in Oregon. We’ll show you around. All your requests for AV…already being done in Oregon.

QotD1: If it’s a night where I’m eating dessert, I usually re-hit the main course afterward. Like you, I like the salty, vegetably stuff too.

QotD2: Mint Chocolate Chip Mint. The shizzle.
June 12, 2009

Brian
Loved the Show. I think that I have certain cravings just to clear the palate. I often want water after ice cream just to clear off the cream and sugar, other times something salty to play counter to the sugar.

QOTD: Homemade Vanilla – my Grandmother’s recipe.
June 12, 2009

Phil G
I would follow up dessert with more sweet stuff (cookies and such).

Favorite ice cream: right now, heath bar crunch
June 12, 2009

Sonia
I was sooooo thrilled to see that the show was about Anderson Valley Pinot today, because it’s an area that I’m pretty familiar and totally in love with. I was really excited to see a Claudia Springs wine make an appearance too! Anyone making the trip to Anderson Valley has to stop off at their tasting room, while their Pinot is great, their Zins are AMAZING! And the people who work there are great, ask them about the winery’s story, it’s a wine lover’s dream come true, the first time I heard it was from Claudia herself.
Oh and there are sparkling wines being made there, Roederer (which is probably available everywhere) and Scharffenberger.
QOTD1: I’m usually just fine with sticking to the sweetness of whatever I had for dessert.
QOTD2: Cold Stone Creamery Cheesecake ice cream with caramel and Fudge swirled in… heaven!
June 12, 2009

Jayhitek
Once again Gary you have outdone yourself with these shorter episodes! Excellent.
The second I see anything over 20 minutes I cringe.
Also, people in NY are going to see that hospital tag and not know it’s for Misha.. They’re going to think your either contagious or an escaped mental patient.
I agree on the desert thing. I think your more gravitating to something on the salty side though.
QOTD: Chocolate!
June 12, 2009

Steve
qotd: vanilla and raspberry homechurned.
June 12, 2009

Bobbie Smith
The reason you went outside is because that is what Anderson looks like three quarters of the year. It might get hot for the grapes but it’s cool a lot of the time. Small is right, between Philo and Boone there’s a couple thousand people and great Pinot. If you go, love Navarro and they’ve got animals the kids can check out. I was there on Wednesday and picked up some of their $29 bottle of Mendocino County Pinot. Should age well for 7-10. They have a very flowery table wine too that I like. It is nothing over the top spectacular just an enjoyable wine, like all table wine should be. This is such a great area, and I love that you can have it to yourself. Headed back to take some friends off the beaten path (we will actually be camping, their choice, not mine, at Hendy SP) in August.

QOTD 1: I do not have that urge. I prefer desserts that have a bitter component, like dark chocolate. Although, I do love creme brulee and profiteroles which are mostly sweet. Do not want a radish afterwards.

QOTD 2: Dark Chocolate, no milky stuff please. I do love Daiquiri Ice from Baskin Robbins every now and then in the summer though.
June 12, 2009

Scott EJ
Just picked up 6 pack of the Kite’s Rest from you guys. 94 from WE.

The wife and I are going to AV in the Fall. Which reminds me, I’ve got to get my shyte together. Thanks for the reminder.

QOTD 2. a. Pistachio and b. Dark Chocolate. We just came back from France and let me just say that have the ice cream eating our of their hands…or cone.
June 12, 2009

Chalz
You brought serious thunder to this show GV…clearly your passion!

QOTD: Vanilla Nutella that I make at home
June 12, 2009

Pangaea
QOTD: Acai
June 12, 2009

Manuel
Really good show today Gary! That was just right up my alley. You, us, and good wines. Thank you again for doing the Thunder Show for us.

QOTD1: I can see that, after something sweet you need something sour. I don’t think I do that, but I understand it.

QOTD2: Cookies and cream.
June 12, 2009

Susan B
My all time favorite is from my college days–Butter Crunch, I think is the name from Friendly’s. Coffee ice cream is also good.
June 12, 2009

GP
QOTD 1: I crave something salty after desert (nothing bitter or with a “twang”-flavor), so maybe I’ll fork a slice of left-over meat, or grab a few nuts.

QOTD 2: Praline-pecan or Butter-pecan–plenty of cream and butter-fat; if I’m going to eat ice cream I want the richest, creamiest, thickest, sweetest, mouthful of flavor I can get.
June 12, 2009

gotsha
QOTD….Butter Pecan is numero uno followed by Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Heath Bar Crunch in a close second.
June 12, 2009

Bill The Wrist Watch Freak
Nice show – liked the hoodie-hood!

QOTD1: Gotta have salty with sweet – the two just set each other off.

QOTD2: Ben and Jerry’s Creme Brullee ice cream. I’d smack my mother for some of that.
June 12, 2009

italianwinelover
Like how your mixin’ it up at different locals! The Christmas lights on the railing is hilarious!!!

QOTD1: never had dessert then a pickle? Love deep fried pickles but just by themselves! Ever have them or is it a Midwest only thing? They Rock!

QOTD2: Pistachio Mint – hard to find but delish!
June 12, 2009

Lisa Kennally -lisa ann skincare
Thanks Gary. Haven’t tried Anderson Valley wines and I love Pinoit Noir wines! Great show once again! Enjoy the weekend.
June 12, 2009

Ryan D
QotD1: I do enjoy me some pickles and milk, never really had the urge to do what you said with the ice cream, except for vanilla, which I love to add a bit of hot sauce to. Mmmmmm.

QotD2: Chocolate Chip Mint… specifically Edy’s Dreamery Mint Chocolate Chip which they don’t make anymore.
June 12, 2009

WineWoman
Visited Anderson Valley in ‘98. Loved Navarro and have been on their mailing list since then. Great Gewurtz and up and coming Sparklers. Wanted to visit on last trip to Sonoma—couldn’t fit it in. Had the Black Kite recently–was excellent. Enjoyed the Breggo Cellars even more.

QOTD 1: I do sometimes eat my courses out of order. It’s not always appetizer, small plate, entree and dessert(sweets)I’ll sometimes skip the sweets entirely and go back to something salty (chips) or cheese, a salad or veggie–not a radish or pickle or something sour necessarily.

QOTD: Friendly’s used to make a flavor called Butter Crunch. Don’t know if they still do. Otherwise Butter Pecan. Hagen-Dazz Vanilla Swiss Almond and Cheesecake Ice Cream rate highly. Don’t get to indulge too much with Ice Cream due to cholesterol issues, etc.
June 12, 2009

Richie
Fun episode again Gary!
QOTD 1: When you said that I was really happy. As a matter of fact I am still happy. Because I now know that I am not the only one who does that!
QOTD 2: Raspberry and Vanilla.