Comments on: The Chardonnay Chronicles! http://blog.ridgewine.com/2009/11/13/the-chardonnay-chronicles/ Hosted by Christopher Watkins Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:35:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: David Tong http://blog.ridgewine.com/2009/11/13/the-chardonnay-chronicles/#comment-968 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:01:38 +0000 http://blog.ridgewine.com/?p=1068#comment-968 It does seem odd that someone writing for the San Jose Mercury News can find examples of distinctive, interesting Chardonnays from all over the state, but apparently can’t cite any from the AVAs that she can see from her own front door.

The state may be awash with boring, formulaic examples, but few if any are coming from here.

]]> By: christopherwatkins http://blog.ridgewine.com/2009/11/13/the-chardonnay-chronicles/#comment-958 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:16:04 +0000 http://blog.ridgewine.com/?p=1068#comment-958 Brilliant TomHIll, I love it all! And heaven forefend this is the last we hear of you on wine writers!

]]> By: TomHill http://blog.ridgewine.com/2009/11/13/the-chardonnay-chronicles/#comment-955 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:13:52 +0000 http://blog.ridgewine.com/?p=1068#comment-955 SameOl…SameOl…
I generally like Laurie’s writings. But this one is just the same old tired rehash of a common theme that probably every wine writer in the country has written on in the last few yrs. They’re too alcoholic…they have too much oak…they taste like buttered popcorn…yada yada yada.
My response to the time-worn diatribe is “If you think Calif Chard is so bad…then you’re drinking the wrong Chards”. I find that there are plenty of formulaic Chards out there, but it doesn’t take much searching to find one that is interesting and tasty. The Ridges, of course….but there are plenty of others as well. And…some even from…gasp….Lodi.
Part of the problem is that Chard is really a rather neutral grape. I don’t think it reflects much the terroir, despite SteveHeimhoff’s statement. And when all the winemakers use pretty much all the same winemaking techniques..voila..they often taste much the same.
I find the claim by many of the wine writers that all Calif Chards taste the same as rather amusing. But, then, these very same wine writers decry the poor sales of Calif Syrah as being due to the great range in styles and character they display..that the poor/dumb consumer never knows what to expect when they open a Calif Syrah, they get so confused and, therefore, don’t buy them.
So…which do they want??
End of rant on wine writers!!!!
Tom

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