Chardonnay Blind Wine Tasting

Chardonnay Blind Wine Tasting – Episode #703

July 13, 2009

Gary Vaynerchuk goes in a few different directions to find a few good men or Chard’s.

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Comments on this episode(392) Leave a comment ›

“btw Gary, you handled that that racist b.s. comment that guy made abou…” by John J.
“just saw this episode today, but airen is the most planted any mainly …” by John J.
View all 392 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2007 Gunn Estate Unoaked ChardonnayNew Zealand Chardonnay
2007 Defaix Chablis Cote De LechetChablis
2006 Jean Chartron Chassagene Montrachet Les BenoitesChassagne Montrachet
2007 Hamilton Russell ChardonnaySouth African Chardonnay
2006 Dunham Lewis ChardonnayColumbia Valley Chardonnay
2005 Mount Eden Estate ChardonnayNorth Coast Chardonnay
2006 Catena Alta ChardonnayArgentine Chardonnay

Links mentioned in todays episode.

392 Responses

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September 7, 2009

John J.
btw Gary, you handled that that racist b.s. comment that guy made about russian heritage with perfect grace. Love the humorous line you made about not being too russian for him in the end lol. Hat’s off to you sir.
September 7, 2009

John J.
just saw this episode today, but airen is the most planted any mainly found in spain. didnt cheat and google, but read it a while back. of course hundreds have answered this question by now im sure. unless back when the episode aired it was a different grape then, but i would doubt it.
August 18, 2009

franklin
jeez gary,
don’t be so passionate! real americans are bored with life and we would never produce something day in and day out unless it makes us feel really empty, and, importantly, postal. that’s just 101. my fav. number isn’t the Super Bowl Shuffle, but i’ll say that anyway! (and great show)
August 15, 2009

Sonia
Catching this episode kinda late… gonna make today a WLTV marathon day. Should be fun!
QOTD: Last weekend I was on vacation so indulged in quite a few wines, but the one I enjoyed the most was a Phillips Hill Oppenlander Pinot Noir… I’d say 92pts.
August 12, 2009

Jeff
long time viewer; mostly lurking; catching up on episodes; but felt compelled to comment on this one regardless.

the post concerning russia; while I agree in principal that stereotypes and profiling exists and works for a reason; the comments were not only off base, shallow and self ingratiating; they were just inaccurate. This is particularly the case with the show, it is passionate, fun, insightful and the nerd episodes are the best by far! Just a little encouragement (late) from Florida. You rock! (in the old school progressive scene that I grew up in).
August 2, 2009

SoCal
G,
That comment that you read was the most ignorant, racist, pile of crap I have ever heard.
Please don’t give people of his filth a forum on your show.
I was angered just listening to it.

QOTD: 8, 2005 Chocolate Block, 89 pts
August 1, 2009

Kristopher Murata
The “last” weekend before this show I was on my engagement party and I had two amazing wines (from a set of 10):

- 2005 Santa Helena Vernus, it’s a blended (Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot and Carmenère) from Chile. Score: 93.
- 2006 Alamos Pinot Noir from Agertina. Score: 92+.

My favorite number is 7!
August 1, 2009

tarheel17
Favorite #: 17

Awesome show! I’ve missed you, GV. Been out of the loop, but catching up (as I always do).
Isn’t Hamilton Russel great? I visited the winery a few years back. Their chardonnay made me reconsider my intense dislike of the varietal. I’ve never looked back. I love chardonnay (when done right)!
Super fun. Do more episodes like this!
July 29, 2009

Wine_Racer
I love the blind tasting shows, but wish you would find a greener product. I use re-usable bags from a company called Bagged Wine. Their website is http://www.baggedwine.com

Brad
July 26, 2009

Dan-o
GV – love the brown bag shows. I also really like SA Chard – I had a Ruppert & Rothschild a number of years ago that I have not seen since and I really liked it.

QOTD1 – number 7 or 27, the latter being an old football jersey of mine.

QOTD2 – I had a Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rose that I found uninspiring. I would rate it in the low-to-mid 80s. I am trying to get into Rose this summer and this was a mediocre start.
July 25, 2009

ODK
GV – For some reason, it’s number 7. No idea why its so popular. Finally catching up after a Thunder Show hiatus, but I am back… Loving the knowledge dropping shows lately and the 37 minute-7-bottle blind tasting…. love this S@&t. Thanks for putting it together.

QOTD: Tried the Catena Alta this weekend, liked it. Little oaky and hot for me, but spice came through well and the apricots in the back were nice for me. Thanks for putting it on the show, Ian. I would go 88-89….. I haven’t had a ton of chardonnay lately so I am trying a few this weekend.

Miss the German wine shows… been a while.
July 25, 2009

gibert peralta
side question of the day: Yes, I do like #7. I am a huge John Elway fan, that should explain why I love #7!!!! Great show!
July 24, 2009

Scott McReynolds
Hey Gary,

I’ve had many great Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from Mount Eden, but I had a similar reaction last year at about this time to the Mt Eden Chard you tasted.

I have an annual golf/wine event in Pebble Beach for my birthday where I break out my top wines. One of them was the Mount Eden Chardonnay you tasted. It was the only wine that weekend that I really didn’t like because of the excessive butteriness. My geek friend who owns a winery (Tryphon Vineyards) tells me it’s from malolactic fermentation rather than oak, but either way, after a couple of their Pinot’s and Chardonnay’s this one was disappointing.

As it so happens, I’m leaving tonight for my annual soiree and hopefully the only surprises this year will be pleasant ones. Keep up the good work. I watch you religiously via podcast while I workout, so don’t comment as much as I should, but want to thank you for how much you’ve taught me over the last year and a half I’ve been watching your show. You’ve taught me to trust my palate and the more I practice and trust myself the better and better I get at finding the flavors and smells in wines and learn what I like.

Regards,
Scott aka @grillgod
July 24, 2009

Martijn
Gary, I’m crushed to see your reaction to the jackass who commented about your Russian heritage. You’re awesome and a real gentleman for reading this person’s comments. I always admire you for reading both positive and negative commentary about your show. This was over the top though and not even remotely representative of how viewers perceive you. You’re top! I like your “Russian” style and hope you don’t adjust your delivery one bit for this a-hole. Enough said.
If you’re ever in the Monterey area, drop me a line and I’ll take you out to dinner, it would be an honer.
Keep up the solid work my friend.

Best regards,

Martijn Samsom
July 22, 2009

swaflyboy
Gary. Couldn’t help but comment on the comments this show. Specifically about the jerk that rambled about the Russians. My mom had a saying that comes to mind. ” If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. ” My father-in-law had another good one. ” Class will tell and shit will smell.” You don’t even need a “sniffy sniff” to tell which category this guy falls in.

swaflyboy
July 21, 2009

Russ J
Favorite # is 11
This weekend, the 2005 Torbreck Juvenile, 90 points.

Love when the bags come out!
July 20, 2009

dcpatton
Awesome show Gary. Love the brown paper bag.

You’ve previously told us Grenache is the most highly produced grape varietal, so I’ll go with that.

QOTD: 2007 Santa Carolina Reserva Merlot — 90 points.
July 20, 2009

Daria Kushmelyn
Loved this blind chardonnay tasting show, you learn a lot when there are no signs to lead the way. I was very sad to hear that completely cruel and unnecessary diatribe of Deedyk’s – you were humble and generous in your response to him, yet did not need to be with someone like that. Who knows what possessed him to attack a particular ethnic group like that, but there’s no excuse for such shabby behaviour.

I would guess (without Google) that the world’s most planted grape is the Cabernet Sauvignon, with Chardonnnay as it’s white second. I’m too late to win any race or contest, but that’s my guess.

Daria K from Toronto
July 20, 2009

Brittany
GREAT EPISODE!!!!!!! i love the blind tasting…and really fascinating results…I definitely have not explored the South African wine world enough…

QOTD: Bordeaux wine by Rothschild, 2007 ABC, Cabernet, merlot and cab franc… it was a decent wine esp for the price, which was 6 euro, but nothing groundbreaking or earth-shattering…i think i’d give it and 84 or 85…and at that prive I would def recommend it
July 19, 2009

Chris G
BRILLIANT episode
One of my new favourites
Haven’t googled it but I’m pretty sure the most planted grape is actually in Spain and is an obscure varietal used for blending/brandy etc. Can’t remember the name but I think it begins with ‘A’!!
July 19, 2009

bachus'n'ariadne
just saw the episode:awesome…..love the fact that u r one self confident man:both as regards slanders directed at you and point swings between you and other wine critics.
GV i reckon you should add the word “FREE” in your intro line,just to remind some people who seem to forget and begin to take you and WLTV for granted!

QOTD:too much liquid went down my throat this weekend,but the chartreuse we had last night takes 99+ points:IT GOT THE JOB DONE!!
July 19, 2009

Jason Coffee
I love the blind tastings, this Episode was fun and the look on your face when you saw the difference in score on the last wine was priceless. I think I will do some blind coffee reviews in the future, I think it is a great way of breaking down all preconceived notions.

side qotd?: my favorite number is 33
July 18, 2009

JJ
Fav # 29 It was my football number in high school! (Eric Dickerson)

QOTD: Ghost pines Cabernet by louis Martini 90+ points We really enjoyed it!
July 18, 2009

Miguel Javier Ayup
Hi from Argentina!! Realy amazing results. I enjoyded the episode and it was pretty clear for me to simpathasize with the words Gary used to describe these Chards (got to admit sometimes I dont´get some words to describe reds).
Thaks and see you next time episode.
July 18, 2009

Richie
Nice job Gary. I had fun on this.
My favorite number is 2.
QOTD:
1. 1989 Theo Loosen Riesling Kabinett from the Mosel. I would score it about 90 points. It was great to have a Riesling which was that old. It’s a real shame that everybody here in Germany dricks wine so young. Totally ridiculous in my opinion

2. 1997 Theo Loosen Riesling Spätlese. I would score this one about 92 points. Again a very nice aged Riesling. So all in all very nice wineweekend.