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
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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 15, 2009

Neil
Plain Vanilla (with chocolate sauce) and I never follow it up with a pickle chaser.
June 15, 2009

Leif
last week i ate a green tea ice cream at a small sushi reastaurant.
it was very nice n refreshing best was that its taste wasnt artificial and not really sweet… very nice would order it at any italy ice store instead of my normal fav pistazie. the asians not only invented pasta maybe icecream too….
June 15, 2009

VioletRuby
Liked the urban feel of the city sights/sounds in the background. I’d love if you took us on a “field trip” to California wine country. My fiance and I are staying in Sonoma for a week of our honeymoon in November and are always wanting insider info.

My fav. ice cream flavor is cake batter from Coldstone, preferably with brownie chunks and bananas mixed in!
June 15, 2009

Harry
Woodsy Lord made a good point. 07 will be a fantastic year for most CA pinots, especially northern climates, so putting the 06 next to the 07, which was just released wasn’t very fair. While it may be logistically tough, putting together tastings with vintages in mind might be more informative and you could help enlighten the vaynernation on how the weather can affect the vino.
June 15, 2009

Jason S.
QOTD2: chocolate peanut butter

Great show GV. I went up to the Anderson Valley in Dec. and was a little underwhelmed. I think there are not enough tasting rooms up there yet and about half of what I had was just “meh.” Looking forward to your Anderson Valley shows when you explore the hidden gems I wasn’t able to find!
June 15, 2009

NY Pete
yo Vinny … http://tv.winelibrary.com/forum/
June 15, 2009

looper
Great show! Love anderson valley pinot. Caught this one a little late but great setting, foggy day in NY. Reminds me of the summer mornings in chicago, when you are right in the heart of the city and yet you can’t even see the buildings around you.
QOTD: I would rather eat dark chocolate and cheese for desert than cake or sweets any day!
QOTD2: Pistachio flavor gelato on the streets of venice. Doesn’t get any better.
June 15, 2009

Pete
Gary, really love the show… I am in the Air Force and live in Italy so I have gotten to travel all over the country learning about Italian wine. My favorite thing to do is before I go to a region I watch all your past episodes about wines from that area to give me something to look forward to. I am now in Sardinia (for work I promise) for the next two weeks and was disappointed when you didn’t have any episodes about Sardinian wines like Vermentino di Gallura or Cannonau di Sardegna. Any chance you have some around the Wine Library you have been dying to try? Thanks.
June 15, 2009

kent
sky high mud pie!
June 14, 2009

Neal
I’ll nominate Cherry Garcia.
If you are coming to Anderson Valley (great idea), swing through Redwood Valley, and I will give you a taste of my homemade grappa!
June 14, 2009

Travis
chocolate mint

peace.
June 14, 2009

Woodsy Lord
Hi Gary,

I live about 20 minutes from Anderson Valley and I used to work in the wine biz out there, I still drink and collect many A.V. Pinots. I don’t think this was a very relevant tasting because ‘06 and ‘07 vintages were so drastically different. In ‘06 the vines were heavily overcropped and many producers turned out watery, hollow mid-palated wines, (you picked some of these characteristics up in the ‘06 Claudia Springs) The ’07’s were back to the more typical small yields of A.V. and more concentrated and ripe flavors. I think you should have tasted both producer’s wines from the same vintage.

Thanks.
June 14, 2009

rowland
wow, how the hell can you live in NYC, especially manhattan. uck.

anyway, gary i got to call you out on this cali crap, cause we (Clinton Vineyards) make some awsome $35 champagnes (yea we been making them so long we are legally granfathered in to call them champagnes). Maybe ill ask my boss if i can bring you some.
… F**K Anderson Valley, how many times do i got to tell you to come to the Hudson Valley (80 miles north of NYC? not as Disney land as other places? more home towny? come on, we got all that and the wine to boot)

what was qotd #1?
qotd 2; raspberry sherbet.
June 14, 2009

Lawrence Leichtman
Enjoy Anderson Valley and Anderson Valley wines quite a bit and I have been going there since the early 90’s. Great show for a flip cam.
June 14, 2009

Dr T in NC
Pete: if the label don’t fit, then I must acquit!

We are bored little lambs,
With no forums to stray (to). . . . .
June 14, 2009

samwe
the forums ??
June 14, 2009

Cuse Wino
Who needs Mott when you can just flip it……..

Nice episode and I loved how your perspective changed on the first wine- scores are shite! But don’t stop rating please

QOTD- Favorite ice cream is either Mint Chocolate Chip or Oreo Cookie
June 14, 2009

SurfCityJay
Home run! Enjoyed the Pinot love…

QOTD1: Hmm… gotta have sweet…

QOTD2: Mint chocolate chip…
June 14, 2009

Vinny
1 week without any info and I’m starting to think the forums are gone for good. BOOOOOO. No warning and no explanation means double BOO and negative feelings harbored towards WL and WLTV.

So – where is everybody going to now? I have been looking for you guys on CT boards and ebob but haven’t seen anybody yet.

Kahuna – get a board for your site!!!!
June 14, 2009

hugh
ok, totally unrelated to the show but, when u throw that hoodie on it looks like you’re prepping for an MMA showdown….and are u still wearing the hospital band from Misha’s birth?? that’s cool and nerdy at the same time
June 14, 2009

NY Pete
this is for Dr.T in NC … I always behave.
June 14, 2009

YoungDave
QOTD: Maybe espresso…
June 14, 2009

Shyam Mehta
dude-that hospital tag is not going to come off on its own. and when you cut it off, it’ll feel really weird.
June 14, 2009

Clemclone
Love Anderson Valley! We’re members of a couple winerys there and will be stopping by in August after the Silver Oak release in Alexander Valley. I try to get up there at least once or twice a year.

QOTD: Baskin Robbins – Gold Medal Ribbon
June 13, 2009

Becky
I almost forgot….Ben & Jerry’s White Russian SM…..Sm…Sm…Smmoooooth!