EP 688 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Challenge

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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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.

Latest Comment:

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luca bercelli

89/100

line of the day – ‘that’s the dynamics of the bullshit of scoring’

Good, passionate al fresco episode. Nice stuff

Tags: Anderson Valley, california, Pinot Noir, red, review, Video, wine, wines

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  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Anonymous

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

    And nice Roederer bubbles.

    Q2- Pistaccio. or plain white Coconut.

  • Murso

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

    And nice Roederer bubbles.

    Q2- Pistaccio. or plain white Coconut.

  • Kirk

    When will the forum be back up???

  • Kirk

    When will the forum be back up???

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • shawnandlu

    Free the forums! No forums, no peace.

  • shawnandlu

    Free the forums! No forums, no peace.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Vinny

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

  • Vinny

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

  • NY Pete

    cooley’s revenge … :lol

  • NY Pete

    cooley’s revenge … :lol

  • NY Pete

    whatever happened to TampaSteve?

  • NY Pete

    where’s daverdude hiding?

  • NY Pete

    whatever happened to TampaSteve?

  • NY Pete

    where’s daverdude hiding?

  • NY Pete

    btw, good show … vanilla 🙂

  • NY Pete

    btw, good show … vanilla 🙂

  • 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!

  • 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!

  • Anonymous

    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.

  • 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.

  • QOTD2: vanilla. unless you’re including gelato, in which case, pistachio.

  • QOTD2: vanilla. unless you’re including gelato, in which case, pistachio.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • 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!

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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?

  • 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?

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Becky

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

  • Becky

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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

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