EP 574 Time To Look At Serious Chardonnay After A Huge Win

The Jets romp the Rams and so Gary is excited and this is the perfect time for him to try some serious Chardonnay wines from California and see what he thinks!

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Truchard ChardonnaySonoma Chardonnay
2005 Chasseur Russian River ChardonnaySonoma Chardonnay
2006 Sbragia Chardonnay Gamble RanchNapa Chardonnay

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

Latest Comment:

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Luca Bercelli

90/100

line of the day – ‘I’m going to Foxboro on my anniversary night…Big shout out to Lizzie’

Positive vibes after massive Jets victory. Good wines, good show.

Tags: chardonnay, napa, review, Sonoma, Video, white, wine, wines

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  • Rowland

    YEA THEY DID! YEA THEY DID!

    One of the Great? NAH you are the Greatest wine swirler ever!

    wow gary? did you seriously compliment a heavy bottle?!?!?!? For real? come on, you of all people know a heavy bottle = exactly nothing! dont make slips like that bro,your suppose to be the wine anti-snob, dont teach bad perceptions!

    BRINGING THUNDAAAAAA!

  • Rowland

    YEA THEY DID! YEA THEY DID!

    One of the Great? NAH you are the Greatest wine swirler ever!

    wow gary? did you seriously compliment a heavy bottle?!?!?!? For real? come on, you of all people know a heavy bottle = exactly nothing! dont make slips like that bro,your suppose to be the wine anti-snob, dont teach bad perceptions!

    BRINGING THUNDAAAAAA!

  • Rowland

    when you finally go to australia you can say “bringing thunder to the land down under”!!!! it works!

  • Rowland

    when you finally go to australia you can say “bringing thunder to the land down under”!!!! it works!

  • wayno da wino

    Yo G, Nice Chardonnay Episode!!

    QOTD1: Loved me batch of 2004 Kistlers, especially the Kistler Vineyard
    Cuvee. Had the Sbragia Home Ranch Chard 2004, a bit of a Oak-Bomber, but
    i liked it. The Talley Vyds. Arroyo Grande Valley 2004 was also Yummy!

    QOTD2: Mount Eden Vyds. Edna Valley 2004….pretty much tasteless…PAAA
    AAAAAAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ….. 🙂

  • wayno da wino

    Yo G, Nice Chardonnay Episode!!

    QOTD1: Loved me batch of 2004 Kistlers, especially the Kistler Vineyard
    Cuvee. Had the Sbragia Home Ranch Chard 2004, a bit of a Oak-Bomber, but
    i liked it. The Talley Vyds. Arroyo Grande Valley 2004 was also Yummy!

    QOTD2: Mount Eden Vyds. Edna Valley 2004….pretty much tasteless…PAAA
    AAAAAAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ….. 🙂

  • I think you’ve used that movie theatre comparison for smelling wine too much!
    It’s not even that great actually because the previews aren’t even a part of the movie so they’re not necessarily important- to me, not sniffing a wine would just be like missing the first half of the movie!

  • I think you’ve used that movie theatre comparison for smelling wine too much!
    It’s not even that great actually because the previews aren’t even a part of the movie so they’re not necessarily important- to me, not sniffing a wine would just be like missing the first half of the movie!

  • Brad

    Great episode. I am not a huge fan of any chardonnay. But two that I liked were the Schug Heritage Reserve and Neyer’s Napa Valley. My least favorite was the La Crema.

  • Brad

    Great episode. I am not a huge fan of any chardonnay. But two that I liked were the Schug Heritage Reserve and Neyer’s Napa Valley. My least favorite was the La Crema.

  • Jeff

    any chablis from 02; 05; or 06 !!!
    rare california chard; Morgan metallico or Davis Family Vineyard
    wonderful wines!

    don’t drink bad ones; stay away from them; not enough time; haha.

  • Jeff

    any chablis from 02; 05; or 06 !!!
    rare california chard; Morgan metallico or Davis Family Vineyard
    wonderful wines!

    don’t drink bad ones; stay away from them; not enough time; haha.

  • Brock

    Just had Quinta Ferreira (2006) Chard and Township 7 (2006) Chard (both Okanagan, BC). The QF was a fair bit Oakier, but nicely balanced. The Township 7 had more nuttier flavours and was a bit spicy on the nose.
    Going on customer service, Township 7 staff were friendly. The man who owns QF was a bit snobby and paid far more attention to people who obviously had more money.

  • Brock

    Just had Quinta Ferreira (2006) Chard and Township 7 (2006) Chard (both Okanagan, BC). The QF was a fair bit Oakier, but nicely balanced. The Township 7 had more nuttier flavours and was a bit spicy on the nose.
    Going on customer service, Township 7 staff were friendly. The man who owns QF was a bit snobby and paid far more attention to people who obviously had more money.

  • QOTD: Some recent local great ones: 2006 Church Mouse, 2007 Road 13, 2007 Laughing Stock

  • QOTD: Some recent local great ones: 2006 Church Mouse, 2007 Road 13, 2007 Laughing Stock

  • Benj

    I’ve not drunk a lot of Chardonnay this year. Back at my family home it’s pretty much the only white varietal we drink, so while I’m here at university I drink as many other white varietals as possible, particularly Riesling, Gewurztraminer & Chenin Blanc.

    That said, I have had particularly good and particularly bad Chardonnays this year. It’s hard to get interesting California Chardonnays here for a decent price, so I haven’t actually had one this year!

    The best: A 2005 Montmains Chablis – can’t remember the producer, but I do know that wines I’ve had from this vineyard have been consistently good. The reason it was the best though, was because I had it with my girlfriend on our anniversary dinner earlier this year. And that, as you said, is what made it the best Chardonnay of the year.

    The worst: 2006 Paul Cluver Chardonnay. Completely dominated by something like burnt rubber and tar. I got almost no fruit from it. Couldn’t drink more than 1/2 a glass.

  • Benj

    I’ve not drunk a lot of Chardonnay this year. Back at my family home it’s pretty much the only white varietal we drink, so while I’m here at university I drink as many other white varietals as possible, particularly Riesling, Gewurztraminer & Chenin Blanc.

    That said, I have had particularly good and particularly bad Chardonnays this year. It’s hard to get interesting California Chardonnays here for a decent price, so I haven’t actually had one this year!

    The best: A 2005 Montmains Chablis – can’t remember the producer, but I do know that wines I’ve had from this vineyard have been consistently good. The reason it was the best though, was because I had it with my girlfriend on our anniversary dinner earlier this year. And that, as you said, is what made it the best Chardonnay of the year.

    The worst: 2006 Paul Cluver Chardonnay. Completely dominated by something like burnt rubber and tar. I got almost no fruit from it. Couldn’t drink more than 1/2 a glass.

  • I loved the 2004 Tolosa “1772” and hated the, I think it was called Two Hands not sure, it was some dirt cheap Aussie chard. first comment out- Lurker status gone! I also had a William Fevre chablis 2006 which was great…

  • I loved the 2004 Tolosa “1772” and hated the, I think it was called Two Hands not sure, it was some dirt cheap Aussie chard. first comment out- Lurker status gone! I also had a William Fevre chablis 2006 which was great…

  • Rick W.

    QOTD: Cuvaison, Rombauer, Newton Unfiltired (Best)
    All expensive over 50 bones (worst)
    Spend the big bucks on Reds!!!

  • Rick W.

    QOTD: Cuvaison, Rombauer, Newton Unfiltired (Best)
    All expensive over 50 bones (worst)
    Spend the big bucks on Reds!!!

  • none

  • none

  • Elyse best, worst I was given Yellowtail nearly made me sick. I, for one don’t like oaky Chardonnay.

  • Elyse best, worst I was given Yellowtail nearly made me sick. I, for one don’t like oaky Chardonnay.

  • Dr. Mike

    QOTD: Ramey Chards: Hudson and ritche. particularly 03 05 06. Get on it GV these are very burgundian, nice acid and minerality.

  • Dr. Mike

    QOTD: Ramey Chards: Hudson and ritche. particularly 03 05 06. Get on it GV these are very burgundian, nice acid and minerality.

  • Derek F.

    Very very nice Gary, I really love Chard.

    QOTD: I just went to a wine tasting last Saturday and found a naked Chard. from a local vineyard called “In The Buff” from Newport Vineyards, this wine blew my socks off!!

  • Derek F.

    Very very nice Gary, I really love Chard.

    QOTD: I just went to a wine tasting last Saturday and found a naked Chard. from a local vineyard called “In The Buff” from Newport Vineyards, this wine blew my socks off!!

  • Wow, I want you to have a nice anniversary and b-day, but I want the Pats to beat the Jets MORE. I mean, losing at home to our division co-leader would SUCK.
    QOTD: Had an atrociously oaky Kendall-Jackson Reserve chard. Still extracting splinters from my mouth. My best chard I have yet to open – a 2006 Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard. It’s gonna be a good ‘un !

  • Wow, I want you to have a nice anniversary and b-day, but I want the Pats to beat the Jets MORE. I mean, losing at home to our division co-leader would SUCK.
    QOTD: Had an atrociously oaky Kendall-Jackson Reserve chard. Still extracting splinters from my mouth. My best chard I have yet to open – a 2006 Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard. It’s gonna be a good ‘un !

  • Dan-o

    Decent show – I am not part of the ABC crowd (Anything But Chardonnay). I love Chardonnays and I do tend to lean more toward the Chablis and Burgundian style – minerality and fruit in harmony.

    QOTD – August Briggs Chard from CA, Corton-Charlemagne from Olivier Leflaive.

  • Dan-o

    Decent show – I am not part of the ABC crowd (Anything But Chardonnay). I love Chardonnays and I do tend to lean more toward the Chablis and Burgundian style – minerality and fruit in harmony.

    QOTD – August Briggs Chard from CA, Corton-Charlemagne from Olivier Leflaive.

  • unknownwine

    Gotta answer this one.

    2005 Olivier Leflaive Deux Rives Chablis

  • unknownwine

    Gotta answer this one.

    2005 Olivier Leflaive Deux Rives Chablis

  • unknownwine

    oops, wasn’t done.

    Visited Panther Creek in Oregon last week and had their 2007 Chard, unoaked and no malolactic treatment. It was yummy.

  • unknownwine

    oops, wasn’t done.

    Visited Panther Creek in Oregon last week and had their 2007 Chard, unoaked and no malolactic treatment. It was yummy.

  • Rex

    QOTD: Best chardonnay for me in 2008 was a Joseph Drouhin Beaune “Clos des Mouches” 2000 (still room to evolve but delicious right now). Not very far behind but a better QPR is the “Les Graviers” 2004 chardonnay from Domaine Andre et Mireille Tissot. Any Tissot wine is a must try.

  • Rex

    QOTD: Best chardonnay for me in 2008 was a Joseph Drouhin Beaune “Clos des Mouches” 2000 (still room to evolve but delicious right now). Not very far behind but a better QPR is the “Les Graviers” 2004 chardonnay from Domaine Andre et Mireille Tissot. Any Tissot wine is a must try.

  • Weston

    QOTD: Hmm British Columbia has some nice Chards (whites in general especially Gwertz / Rieslings) The Therapy Chard is always a favorite and nice to fall back on but once the bottle has been opened for over an hr all the acid goes and its not that great.

    The other one I had I loved was Pac Breeze 05 Chard it was like the Oak Monster Butterscotchness. delicious in my books

  • Weston

    QOTD: Hmm British Columbia has some nice Chards (whites in general especially Gwertz / Rieslings) The Therapy Chard is always a favorite and nice to fall back on but once the bottle has been opened for over an hr all the acid goes and its not that great.

    The other one I had I loved was Pac Breeze 05 Chard it was like the Oak Monster Butterscotchness. delicious in my books

  • SurfCityJay

    Another great show… going to look for the Truchard tomorrow…

    QOTD: Best = Melville Clone 76 INOX… Worst: some bad chard poured in Temecula… won’t say the winery…

  • SurfCityJay

    Another great show… going to look for the Truchard tomorrow…

    QOTD: Best = Melville Clone 76 INOX… Worst: some bad chard poured in Temecula… won’t say the winery…

  • Shawn_944

    Good, Solid Show GV!

  • Shawn_944

    Good, Solid Show GV!

  • Claus

    QOTD:
    Best chard was a gorgeous, completely surprising Au Bon Climat 2007 Chardonnay at a wedding in Santa Barbara. I love that winery, but have only had the Pinot previously. Perfectly balanced, great with food as an aperitif (we had it as both.) At around $17, a great great value as well.

  • Claus

    QOTD:
    Best chard was a gorgeous, completely surprising Au Bon Climat 2007 Chardonnay at a wedding in Santa Barbara. I love that winery, but have only had the Pinot previously. Perfectly balanced, great with food as an aperitif (we had it as both.) At around $17, a great great value as well.

  • Brian Barrick

    Good to see California Chardonnay getting some respect on the show. I don’t drink many of them, but I do keep them in the rotation. My favorite is probably the Chalone Estate Chardonnay. Very Burgundian, with layers of fruit and minerals and just enough oak – everything in balance. Ages extremely well, too.

    I’ll have to pay a visit to Truchard, that one sounds like a winner.

  • Brian Barrick

    Good to see California Chardonnay getting some respect on the show. I don’t drink many of them, but I do keep them in the rotation. My favorite is probably the Chalone Estate Chardonnay. Very Burgundian, with layers of fruit and minerals and just enough oak – everything in balance. Ages extremely well, too.

    I’ll have to pay a visit to Truchard, that one sounds like a winner.

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