Sunday, June 11

Chateau duh Winetasting --My Wine Tasting Journal: First Entry

1. Chateau St. Michelle - 2003 - Chardonnay
Columbia Valley [Woodinvale, Washington]
Notes:
-low acidity, perhaps too low?
-fruits: apple, melon, citrus [note: not to ctrl-freak, but to drinking companion]
-teensy oaky fragrance; not much in mouth
Cost: $12.00/$9.00

2. Chateau St. Jean - 2003 - Merlot
Kenwood, California
Notes:
-to eye: pretty thick/dark
-to nose: cordouroy, alcohol-y
-to mouth: somewhat tart; lighter bodied than expected
finishes quicker than expected
tannic: not very
Cost:$15.00/$9.00

Summary:
Chardonnay was forgettable; Merlot was fun, light, good starter for $;
I have a feeling that pricier Chardonnays will end up being more 'rewarding'
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4 comments:

drM said...

Try the Beringer Chardonnay, which is about 15.00. I know it sounds mainstream, but it's quite buttery and very yummy. Make sure it's a warm day and you've just cleaned your house. I find that's the best way to enjoy it.

Pinot noir - try the La crema, which is about 15.00. I'm still trying to develop a taste for pinots, but this one is very light and breezy. Perfect for a warm summer evening, but you don't want to drink white because you're barbecuing salmon or something.

And then a couple great cheap reds are the Bogle petite syrah and the Seghezio Zin (which won our last wine tasting party and it was by far the cheapest wine there). Oh, and if you want to splurge (i.e., $22.00), try the Green and Red Zinfandel. Humuhnuh. I bet you can find it at Bristol Farms.

sorry for the too long comment. I'm drunk. (jk)

Monday, June 12, 2006 11:07:00 AM
LFSP said...

I don't know that she's joking. It *was* after 11 when she posted that comment.... ;-)

She's right about the Beringer. Tastes pretty damn good for a $15 chardonnay. But you know what? It is one of the stinkiest wines. Very "barnyard." Every time I lift the glass to my nose, I think things like, "Whoa! takes me right back to running that paper route past the pig farm at 5 a.m." ... But it *is* buttery and has a great viscosity, which is important for a gal who gargles with motor oil every morning. yumyum.

OK, maybe *I'm* the one who's drunk right now. But it *is* after 2.

Monday, June 12, 2006 2:31:00 PM
ctrl-freak said...

Damn, I suddenly realize I am the neophyte here at this wine tasting soiree...

Some observations/questions for both of you:
1. Can a wine be 'buttery' but not an oak-bomb? I don't like overly oaky chardonnays.

2. to what extent does the year matter? For example, I was loving this cheap-ass Concannon Chardonnay but only the 2003 was doing it for me -- the 2004 was pedestrian, and I don't really like it. The '03 was really quite nice.

3. Some rules here at ctrl-freak:
3a. You never have to apologize for long comments
3b. You never have to apologize for being drunk.

Monday, June 12, 2006 2:51:00 PM
drM said...

Hmm, I think of buttery as being almost the opposite of being oaky. Everyone is so into oaky and grassy chardonnays (and yes, although the beringer is stinky, that stink doesn't turn into a stinky taste, oddly enough), but if I can find a good one like Beringer (and believe me, my internal wine snob is horrified), I stick with it.

Years can be important. And so 2003 can taste different than a 2004, although next year, that 2004 may have improved quite a bit. Or not. sometimes, garbage in, garbage out.

You just have to keep on drinking and start writing down what you really like. Or, if you're a daily drinker, you'll just start recognizing the labels.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006 1:56:00 PM

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