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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“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
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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 13, 2009

josh
sorry gary but have been using wined up for a while. all wined up right now btw. would love for u to make it popular. love the show.

after desert i crave lots of water.

coffe or vanilla (breyers)- boring, i know.

pickels after dessert – WIERD- if you didnt just have a baby i would ask if you were pregnant.
June 13, 2009

Michelle P
Hey Gary.. Hitting Napa for a week-long tour in July so really really going to try to make it to Anderson Valley. Loved the scenery today.. All time fav icecream has got to be Thrifty (Rite-aid) Chocolate Malted Crunch.. OMG! Delicious!!

Been following you for a little over a year now and love you more and more each episode! Keep Crushing It!

P.S. Any thoughts on doing a West Coast Thunder Cruise next year?
June 13, 2009

Becky
Congratulations on finding the Anderson Valley…THE BEST! We have been Claudia Springs wine club members for about 15 yrs. Tasted in his shed and Bob wrote our names down to join the club on a napkin. Zins are to die for and so is Petite Sirah. Bob’s wines are incredible! He also makes a wonderful Grenache which is dry and great for summer. He says he gets made fun of but he likes it so he makes it. They already make the best sparkling wine ever anywhere in Anderson Valley. It’s Roderer Estate Anderson Valley Brut. You can buy it for as low as $18.00 at Sam’s or World Mkt in CA. You must go to Anderson Valley post haste. Stay at The Boonville Hotel and love every minute of wine tasting. Also be sure to go to Husch, Roderer, and Esterlina among many others. When you can’t taste anymore, head for Mendocino on the N. coast.
June 13, 2009

C-Lo
Hey GV, I like the scenery in today’s episode; the New York sirens and plane cameos added a nice touch. I admit when it comes to Northern California, I’ve only done the “Disneyland” of Napa and Sonoma. Next time Anderson Valley it is.

QOTD 1: I’m going salt with my sweet every time. A pickle after dessert? Sick! Give me a handful of Fritos and we’re good to go.

QOTD 2: So I really only dig ice cream at about 3:30 in the afternoon as you’re out and about and you wanna stop by Coldstone for a treat. That’s where I swear by the Birthday Cake Remix – cake batter ice cream, an entire brownie mashed up inside, and sprinkles all throughout. American gluttony at its best!

Keep it real.
June 13, 2009

Phillip VanSchoonhoven
Congrats Bob and Claudia!! Long time coming!!! I hope GV stops by your winery for some barrel tasting. Our Kansas City Burnt Ends would love Claudia Springs Wines.
I have first hand experienced the fog layer at midnight from the balcony of the winery, What a beautiful sight and Great Hosts.
Phillip Van
June 13, 2009

Jeff R
Gary – Good show. Love Anderson Valley wines from a variety of producers that I have had. They all do a decent job.

QTD #1 – I look for something salty or savory after the sweetness.

QTD #2 – Cherry Chocolate Chip. A little of the chocolate component – a little of the fruit component mixed with good old fashioned vanilla.

Thanks for the show!
June 13, 2009

Peter Wood
Great show, interested in trying some wines from this region I’d not heard about before.

QOTD – I love Irn Bru (pronounced Iron Brew) Sorbet! Irn Bru is a Scottish soft drink (it outsells Coke in Scotland)and the sorbet is made by a few small ice cream manufacturers in Scotland.
June 13, 2009

Kevin
QOTD2: vanilla. unless you’re including gelato, in which case, pistachio.
June 13, 2009

castello
We go barrel tasting in Dry Creek Valley for big ass Zins and Barbera at Caffaro. Next time it’s a few miles north to Anderson Valley. Not for the wimpy 90 point Pinot’s. Best in the country? It’s so subjective that I’ll stick to the more reliable grapes.
June 13, 2009

Chilemily
Good show!

QOTD: Mint Oreo!!!!

Oh and I think you should have a Chilean episode one of these days….the one bottle the last show wasn’t enough!
June 13, 2009

NY Pete
btw, good show … vanilla
June 13, 2009

NY Pete
where’s daverdude hiding?
June 13, 2009

NY Pete
whatever happened to TampaSteve?
June 13, 2009

NY Pete
cooley’s revenge … :lol
June 13, 2009

Vinny
Yeah, dude – what’s up with the forums? They are coming back – aren’t they?
June 13, 2009

Harry
Good show, and I’ve been a fellow supporter of Anderson Valley for the past year or so since you first spoke about them. I struggle with the intense fruit forward wines from Carneros and Russian River, btu find Anderson Valley resonates well on my palate as well.
I hear your spirit on the balance of bitter and sour, and although i don’t go running for a radish, I appreciate cocktails with more bitter components and wines that have that balance as well. Although not as much in ice cream. I love good peach sorbet.
June 13, 2009

shawnandlu
Free the forums! No forums, no peace.
June 13, 2009

Bugsey34
Great show, Gary, thanks for continuing to introduce the lesser known regions, I really appreciate that.

QOTD: 1) Totally agree, wine tasting is completely subjective and completely based on the so many factors – surroundings, emotions, temperature, what you’ve eaten that day, other wines you are tasting, your mood, your knowledge and opinion of the grape/region, etc. Which is why I agree the scores are pretty silly. Drink what you like.

2) Mint Oreo all the way, preferably Ben and Jerry’s
June 13, 2009

Christopher Scoggin
QOTD: I don’t think I have done the savory following sweet, but savory over sweet is definatly the way I “roll”.

QOTD: Not a clue
June 13, 2009

Kirk
When will the forum be back up???
June 13, 2009

Murso
Anderson Valley. Goldeneye! And others such as Husch, Lazy Creek, Handley.

And nice Roederer bubbles.

Q2- Pistaccio. or plain white Coconut.
June 13, 2009

Erik Marcus
Nice show. Anderson Valley is beautiful, and also home of the Anderson Valley Brewing Company, which makes some of the best beers in the USA.

QOTD: Trader Joe’s cherry chocolate chip soy cream.
June 13, 2009

Scruff
Can we have the forums back?… we will play nicer

QOTD: yes and not – again it depends on the mood. I do love very tart (citrus) deserts every one and a while. I really can’t do overly sweet, makes my teeth curl

QOTD2: too many to choose and it defends on my mood
June 13, 2009

Jack
QOTD: Dairy Queen Oreo Cookie Blizzard

Good episode. Nice to see some fun in the sun (sort of).

Also, does anyone have suggestions for vineyard tours near Cape Town, South Africa? I’m planning a trip there next summer, and would love some ideas!
June 13, 2009

DrT in NC
If the Mean Old Forum Members promise to behave, can we have our forums back?