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EP 819 Head to Head California Chardonnay Tasting

Gary picked out 2 Chardonnays that had high scores and tasted them side by side to see if they lived up to the hype.

Wines tasted in this episode:

2007 Highland Estates Camelot Highlands ChardonnayCentral Coast Chardonnay
2006 Maldonado Chardonnay Los OlivosNapa Chardonnay

Links mentioned in todays episode.


Latest Comment:

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luca bercelli

90/100

Good show with delicious sounding wines. Even Mott comes to the party with his newly discovered tasting skills

Tags: california, chardonnay, Head to Head, review, Video, white, wine, wines

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  • MarkFitzpatrick

    Good pull on the Candy Maldonado

  • laurieinvt

    I think Nutella without the chocolate is, well, hazelnut….

  • NY Pete

    frack twitter

  • Roland

    Hi Gary

    The one thing about california chardonnay is the use to much amercian oak.If they use just a little less oak and changed to french oak the wines would have more elegance.I would go with the Maldonado because it has more acidity and would do better with food.

    Thanks

    Roland

  • NY Pete

    this comment is for Tim F, if he still watches WLTV …. traffic on I95 sucks … that is all.

  • I second that! (the laid-back couch)

  • NY Pete

    I'm with ya brother … but like I said yesterday, don't hold your breathe … 🙂

  • adrums

    Nice show, although the pronunciation was kind of hilarious (see below for more detailed criticism).
    QOTD: the 2000 election was basically a tie…

  • laurieinvt

    QOTD: I honestly can't recall the last tie I saw, because overtimes take care of that. What I think is a tie is Starbucks coffee and any decent quality store brand coffee- sorry, the emperor has no clothes….

  • QOTD: something I never wear unless I am in the wedding party.

  • gotvino

    Camelot = best value among the two. $40 for the Maldonado, give me a break…

  • NY Pete

    fwiw GV, for me cali chards are a pazz … now to watch the latest Thunder Show.

  • jamesculp

    Sorry to bring the sophomoric thunder, but I, too, laughed when I heard Gary mention the nuts in his mouth. Did you do that on purpose, Gary V? Have a bet going?

    Tie: Lindsey Jacobellis Olympic performance, 2006, vs. Lindsey Jacobellis Olympic performance, 2010.

  • lordsauvignon

    QOTD: Most of the Olympic figure skating performances. Unreal cross between athleticism and art.

    For the price Camelot would have my vote. Not that we vote, but if we did…

  • yacoub

    That name is usually pronounced Mal-da-NAH-do. 🙂

  • sitting here sipping Macon-Village Chardonnay wine. Not that much oak and vanilla, more mineral and citrus play, white pepper and a dry sensation mid on and to the back end.
    Liquid silver I would say 🙂
    A draw!!! That's OK, different styels can be good. I like to diverseify
    QOTD: A tie? Well, work or play seems always to be a tie.

  • Was it? One man one vote, go figure 🙂

  • It is!

  • Gary,
    Great head to head battle royal! Iron Chef with Paul Vivant from Chicago and Mario B.

  • theslats

    QOTD: My kids and which is the most awesome…always a tie.

  • Bravo Gary!!! i really want to try the Maldonado. Excellent intro love the description of the wines. Love the word play and the miss pronunciations. Hi Mott. you rock. makes me want to go try the Maldonado right now. sherry, nuts,carmel,butterscotch scotch. old world eastern european. Tie, last time i witnessed a tie. hmm, well lets see????????????? tuff one to answer. im not big on fights gambling so unable to give you the answer . good show good subliminal messages . peace. ill read th eother commentaters comments peace and love to all .

  • Haha, Thank you. We were sitting here correcting Gary the entire time. Good stuff.

  • scotty b

    I knew someone would jump on this early. Too funny. GV – you need to get some latino homies to hang with.

    QOTD: tic tac toe. That's why that game sucks. btw, I thought for sure you'd go with the Maldonado simply because of the less oak factor.

  • The Maldonado sounds amazing…definitely will keep an eye out. WTG MOTT!

    QOTD: Last tie? Double focus for my MBA. Wish I had watched that ManU/Aston Villa game.

  • Love U as well!

    Peace!

  • We're semi-blind tasting 9 Chardonnay's in our tasting group this Sunday. You're always one step ahead GV. Nice work.

    QOTD: Not a big fan of ties. Not in sports, not in life…I went as far as quitting a job where I had to wear ties. Now, I'm doing the job I always wanted to do, which just goes to show that there is always a definitive winner. Cheers!!!

  • viggo21

    Sounds like a great 2-pack for Cindy Wine! I had a Sans Permis 05 Chard that tied a Kistler at about 1/4 of the price. Too bad Sans Permis is out of business.

  • yacoub

    what a fantastic answer

  • mattgmann

    I wonder what kind of wine NIN and Tool drink……..boone's farm?

  • mattgmann

    your right, ties do suck. I think ties should be eliminated from sports, and both teams should take a big L

  • carlo10

    hello, vaynernation…have a good weekend everyone!

  • cowz

    Really thought you were going to go with the 2006 Maldonado Chardonnay Los Olivos but ties a tie.

    QOTD: Cant really remember last time someone tied.

  • CharlieTN

    People I want to hang out with:
    1. Gary Vaynerchuk
    1. Mark Bittman (does a food blog for NYTimes)

    Tie!

  • Kayla28

    lol… Yeah the nuts in my mouth part was definitely funny. Great show GV! I have never tried chardonnay, but I sure will soon. Does any one know of a great wine shop in the Los Angeles area? I have been to some small ones that have little selection and seem really overpriced (comparing prices from Wine Library)

  • carlo10

    QOTD: (this wasnt a tie…but close) LAST NIGHT Canada vs Switzerland for mens hockey. I really wanted switzerland to win. Hiller was playing out of his mind. whenever something goes to a shoot out, i consider it a tie…except for italy winning the world cup, cause they are the best ; )

  • maxinvegas

    GV- I have to say to hear someone quote the biggest farce in the history of boxing officiating made my day. Pete is my favorite of all time, not to mention a really funny person. Love the boxing quotes.

  • Kayla28

    NYPete where is ur favorite best value chardonnay from?

  • NY Pete

    fwiw, that is a very old school thunder show remark rehashed by the Vaynermeister … 🙂

  • This would be mine as well. I would say also my two favorite podcasts on iTunes are these two guys. It would be great to see Gary get Bittman on as a guest one day.

  • QOTD: Definitely a tie between which recent episode I liked the most. Love the head to head battles always, but really like when cheese or any other food for that matter are introduced on the Thunder Show. And maybe a three way tie if you throw in the blind tastings.

  • guymandude

    About time some CA wines get away from Oak Monstering. Good to see.

    qotd; McNabb,”end in a tie” ?

  • Kayla(28):
    Here are a bunch:
    Beverage Warehouse and Los Angeles Wine Co. on McConnell in Marina del Rey
    Woodland Hills Wine Co. on Ventura Blvd in WH
    Wine Country in Signal Hill (excellent newsletter)
    Wine House in West LA
    Wine Exchange in Tustin
    K&L in Hollywood
    Tarzana Wines on Ventura Blvd (near Wilbur?)

    Carlo P.

  • NY Pete

    well Kayla, if I were to buy a chard, it would the trevor jones virgin chard from down under.

  • QOTD: I am tongue tied for an answer to this question.

  • Really intrigued by the flavor profiles described in the MAL-DO-NA-DO but for $24 the Camelot Highlands is really piquing my interest. Great show!

  • missatiejacket

    Thanks for another good episode. Too bad I'm not buying expensive bottles right now (except for the occasional crazy deal) or I'd be interested to try that Maldonado. I'm not sure what I have thought to be a tie recently.

  • StevenL

    Great Show- love the h2h. No more moneychangers in the temple- no more guests.
    QOTD- Its like the last digit in pie- there are no ties.

  • Graeme

    Hey Gary, really digging these under 15 minute episodes as of late. Quick, concise, insightful as always. Really appreciate how you always manage to push me out of my comfort zone, broadening my virtual palate.

    QOTD: Bacon and Eggs and Pasta Carbonara for dinner.

  • Cool_Dave

    Hello all,
    Haven't posted in a while. Work is crazy and all my spare time has been focused on the olympics. Great shows this whole week!!
    QOTD — *shrugs*

    My new favorite red – La Torre Toscanna (not the brunello). Wow! Neal Rosenthal.

  • I had you pegged the entire time for the Maldonado! No one wins on a tie.

    QOTD – bow tie pasta

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