EP 469 Chardonnay That You Can Find At The Store

Gary Vaynerchuk tries 3 Chardonnay wines that are available in most stores around the country. People have asked for more reviews of wines that are OUT THERE! Here you go.

Wines tasted in this episode:

Stonehedge ChardonnayOther California Chardonnay
Estancia ChardonnayOther California Chardonnay
2006 Acacia A ChardonnayNapa Chardonnay

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John__J

qotd: most recent was Summer’s “La Nude”

Tags: california, chardonnay, review, white, wine, wines

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  • Dan-o

    On a show a while back, you picked a Chard that turned out to be my house favorite – Four Vines Naked. I have had the Acacia products before and I will try the A series Chard.

    QOTD – Last night I had a bottle of Martinelli Chardonnay from one of their single vineyards – Martinelli Road, I think. It was a nice wine, very balanced and full bodied.

  • Thanks for the show GV. I’ve cut way back on drinking supermarket Chardonnays not just for fear of an over oaked product, but because I am more into exploring with other types of varietals from other parts of the globe.
    QOTD: 2006 Winery at La Grange Fletcher’s Chardonnay

  • Thanks for the show GV. I’ve cut way back on drinking supermarket Chardonnays not just for fear of an over oaked product, but because I am more into exploring with other types of varietals from other parts of the globe.
    QOTD: 2006 Winery at La Grange Fletcher’s Chardonnay

  • teckdeck2008

    QOTD:
    the last chard I tried was the Lobster Cove Life’s a Beach 2005 Chardonnay. The name may sound stupid but it was good light fruity wine. i tend to prefer more full bodied wines than that, but it was something I could see myself drinking sun bathing on a beach or taking a girl on a dinner date. For times when you want to avoid an over the top kind of wine. Interestingly enough, it was one of the producers that ages chardonnay in a metal barrel instead oak.

  • teckdeck2008

    QOTD:
    the last chard I tried was the Lobster Cove Life’s a Beach 2005 Chardonnay. The name may sound stupid but it was good light fruity wine. i tend to prefer more full bodied wines than that, but it was something I could see myself drinking sun bathing on a beach or taking a girl on a dinner date. For times when you want to avoid an over the top kind of wine. Interestingly enough, it was one of the producers that ages chardonnay in a metal barrel instead oak.

  • Porter

    Oak Knoll Unoaked…. super ripe fruit, it was DELICIOUS

  • Porter

    Oak Knoll Unoaked…. super ripe fruit, it was DELICIOUS

  • cma82

    QOTD: Shhhh..don’t tell anyone. But my guilty pleasure is a bottle of the Bonterra Chardonnay. It’s ripe, oaky, and organic.

  • cma82

    QOTD: Shhhh..don’t tell anyone. But my guilty pleasure is a bottle of the Bonterra Chardonnay. It’s ripe, oaky, and organic.

  • Phil M’Glassup

    Tha Estancia made a fine wine lover out of me. I bought it for a girl who had made a lovely fish dinner. I opened it and it literally smelled like stale piss. One swig and I vowed I would never cheap out and drink swill like that again. Since then,it’s been only the good stuff.
    Abd soeajubg of chepo disappointments, the fam cracked a bottle of that Alamos Chard on Mom’s Day. What a disppointment. Really green, pissy nose, not as vomitous as the Estancia but undrinkable nonetheless. I think the ugly truth of the matter is that the Alamos wines have been wildly overpraised. Why, I don’t know.
    Love those crisp white bugs. And am looking forward to that Rully you touted that I grabbed from freewinelibrary.
    And as unhip as it may be, I’ve got to say, I’m in the pro-Newton chard camp. Classic, plush, soft butttery Cali flavors at a remarkable price. I also like their claret which some of you may deem too oaky.

  • Phil M’Glassup

    Tha Estancia made a fine wine lover out of me. I bought it for a girl who had made a lovely fish dinner. I opened it and it literally smelled like stale piss. One swig and I vowed I would never cheap out and drink swill like that again. Since then,it’s been only the good stuff.
    Abd soeajubg of chepo disappointments, the fam cracked a bottle of that Alamos Chard on Mom’s Day. What a disppointment. Really green, pissy nose, not as vomitous as the Estancia but undrinkable nonetheless. I think the ugly truth of the matter is that the Alamos wines have been wildly overpraised. Why, I don’t know.
    Love those crisp white bugs. And am looking forward to that Rully you touted that I grabbed from freewinelibrary.
    And as unhip as it may be, I’ve got to say, I’m in the pro-Newton chard camp. Classic, plush, soft butttery Cali flavors at a remarkable price. I also like their claret which some of you may deem too oaky.

  • Harry

    QOTD: Louis Blanc Chard VdP d’Oc. Nice straw and grassy component to the wine, with subtle lemon fruits.

  • Harry

    QOTD: Louis Blanc Chard VdP d’Oc. Nice straw and grassy component to the wine, with subtle lemon fruits.

  • David Masi

    The last one was a Mark Ryan Chardonnay 2006 Conner Lee vineyard, clean crisp and quite tasty!

  • David Masi

    The last one was a Mark Ryan Chardonnay 2006 Conner Lee vineyard, clean crisp and quite tasty!

  • The Oak Monster

    6th highest ranking according to whom?

  • The Oak Monster

    6th highest ranking according to whom?

  • Had a Josef Drouhin 2005 Bourgogne. Really nice. A bit more oak than i expected, but well integrated.

  • Had a Josef Drouhin 2005 Bourgogne. Really nice. A bit more oak than i expected, but well integrated.

  • Kevin C

    My son brought some wines home from a visit to western Canada, and in teh mix was a Sonora Ranch Chardonnay, the low end label for Mission Hill. Interesting thing was this was a non vintage, retails around $12. Definitely drinkable, nice medium body, tropical fruits, pineapple, mango and papaya. Had it with roasted chicken and simple pasta & olive oil.

  • Kevin C

    My son brought some wines home from a visit to western Canada, and in teh mix was a Sonora Ranch Chardonnay, the low end label for Mission Hill. Interesting thing was this was a non vintage, retails around $12. Definitely drinkable, nice medium body, tropical fruits, pineapple, mango and papaya. Had it with roasted chicken and simple pasta & olive oil.

  • JayZee

    QOTD: It was a 2005 Chablis, but I cannot recall the producer. It was very goodv – nice mineral aspects to it.

  • JayZee

    QOTD: It was a 2005 Chablis, but I cannot recall the producer. It was very goodv – nice mineral aspects to it.

  • Vinophile

    First post, but I’m a lurking Vayniak in PA. And my hubby’s Mother’s Day gift to me was your book. My “pal” likes the butter and the oaky of Chards. Last one I had was from the Finger Lakes, either Lakewood or Rooster Hill…both do a pretty nice job.
    P.S.: Gary, do you ever sleep?? I just can’t imagine that!

  • Vinophile

    First post, but I’m a lurking Vayniak in PA. And my hubby’s Mother’s Day gift to me was your book. My “pal” likes the butter and the oaky of Chards. Last one I had was from the Finger Lakes, either Lakewood or Rooster Hill…both do a pretty nice job.
    P.S.: Gary, do you ever sleep?? I just can’t imagine that!

  • right now i’m drinking 2007 banrock station chardonnay + quite frankly i’m a little underwhelmed. really tastes like a sauvignon blanc to me instead of a chardonnay.

  • right now i’m drinking 2007 banrock station chardonnay + quite frankly i’m a little underwhelmed. really tastes like a sauvignon blanc to me instead of a chardonnay.

  • JACK

    Last was a 2005 Stuhlmuller Vineyards Chardonnay and a 2006 Ramey Chardonnay Carneros.

    Next will be a Wyncroft.

    (first post, but a longtime lurker)

  • JACK

    Last was a 2005 Stuhlmuller Vineyards Chardonnay and a 2006 Ramey Chardonnay Carneros.

    Next will be a Wyncroft.

    (first post, but a longtime lurker)

  • kylemiller3975

    sadly–a bottle of the ’05 kj.i know im not supposed to, but i cant help mahself–i like it.its good economical chardonnay.damnit.

  • kylemiller3975

    sadly–a bottle of the ’05 kj.i know im not supposed to, but i cant help mahself–i like it.its good economical chardonnay.damnit.

  • simi chard was the last chard I had that I enjoyed.

  • simi chard was the last chard I had that I enjoyed.

  • The last chard? Marques de Casa Concha Chard ($20 ish). paired it initially w/ some havarti, but we had fresh sashimi, and that was a beautiful pairing. I am officially no longer a lurker.

  • The last chard? Marques de Casa Concha Chard ($20 ish). paired it initially w/ some havarti, but we had fresh sashimi, and that was a beautiful pairing. I am officially no longer a lurker.

  • SoCal

    QOTD: I don’t drink a lot of Chard….not unless you count Blanc de Blanc Champaign 😉

  • SoCal

    QOTD: I don’t drink a lot of Chard….not unless you count Blanc de Blanc Champaign 😉

  • QOTD:

    the last chardonnay was a TERRIBLE and HORRIFIC bottle that my grandfather got at the drugstore in 1978 (or so) and it sat in the refrigerator in the basement of my grandparents house for 18 years or so. Curious my parents and I tried it.

    Gary: I’ll be honest: It left scars.. To this day I’m actually afraid of chardonnay. Terrified actually. It was horrible. It was so beyond fruit juice – wet, stanky, bananas and pineapple, that horrible mouthfeel of flat warm fruit pop and splenda – terrible.

  • QOTD:

    the last chardonnay was a TERRIBLE and HORRIFIC bottle that my grandfather got at the drugstore in 1978 (or so) and it sat in the refrigerator in the basement of my grandparents house for 18 years or so. Curious my parents and I tried it.

    Gary: I’ll be honest: It left scars.. To this day I’m actually afraid of chardonnay. Terrified actually. It was horrible. It was so beyond fruit juice – wet, stanky, bananas and pineapple, that horrible mouthfeel of flat warm fruit pop and splenda – terrible.

  • Michael H.

    QOTD: 2004 Medlock Ames Chardonnay — wonderful!

  • Michael H.

    QOTD: 2004 Medlock Ames Chardonnay — wonderful!

  • MattUD

    QOTD: Can’t really recall at this moment, been a while since I have had one. Trying to get into other grapes.

  • MattUD

    QOTD: Can’t really recall at this moment, been a while since I have had one. Trying to get into other grapes.

  • littlemama

    the last chardonnay I had was Folie a Deux. ($16) Very drinkable, a little too much acidity though. Apple tones, faint vanilla, strange finish, kind of lingers. I prefer a more buttery chard.

  • littlemama

    the last chardonnay I had was Folie a Deux. ($16) Very drinkable, a little too much acidity though. Apple tones, faint vanilla, strange finish, kind of lingers. I prefer a more buttery chard.

  • Dessert Wine Nerd

    Love the move by Piper there! Pip for the win, always. How weird is it that one of the top moments in WINE library tv has to do with wrestling? God youre a nerd. I love it. QOTD: A Chateau St. Michelle Chardonnay. Nothing fancy. In fact I didnt care for it that much.

  • Dessert Wine Nerd

    Love the move by Piper there! Pip for the win, always. How weird is it that one of the top moments in WINE library tv has to do with wrestling? God youre a nerd. I love it. QOTD: A Chateau St. Michelle Chardonnay. Nothing fancy. In fact I didnt care for it that much.

  • Pangaea

    Good. Ive been passing by the Acacia for awhile now.

    Will give it a try next.

    QOTD: Firestone Vinyard’s 2005 Chardonnay. It was slightly too oaked for me but pretty good, imo.

    GV if you could please, please, please, review Red Bicyclette & Fat Bastard Chardonnays. Not only do I think they are good wines but very important to the French export scene. I think a little light should be shed on these 2 “brand names”.

  • Pangaea

    Good. Ive been passing by the Acacia for awhile now.

    Will give it a try next.

    QOTD: Firestone Vinyard’s 2005 Chardonnay. It was slightly too oaked for me but pretty good, imo.

    GV if you could please, please, please, review Red Bicyclette & Fat Bastard Chardonnays. Not only do I think they are good wines but very important to the French export scene. I think a little light should be shed on these 2 “brand names”.

  • richardvinifera

    QOTD: Frederic Magnien white burgundy, really great grip, touch of oak, great stuff.

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