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Chateau St. John - 2006 Sonoma....
I found a wine I really like and can't isolate exactly what to look for in other wines...
Chateau St. John - 2006 Sonoma....
I found a wine I really like and can't isolate exactly what to look for in other wines...
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SF Bay Area
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Re: What compares to this Chardonnay?
Fri, January 18, 2008 - 11:57 PMI haven't tried many chardonnays, but at that price point, Estancia's Chardonnay is sort of similar, as well as the Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay, imo.
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Re: What compares to this Chardonnay?
Sat, January 19, 2008 - 1:01 AMWell, the two main traits of this wine are the oak and butteryness (which comes from the malolatctic fermentation).
Rombauer makes a very good Chardonnay that has the buttery notes, but may not have quite as much oak as the St. Jean. Ridge makes a good one too and their latest Chardonnay was on the Wine Spectator Top 100 for last year, I believe. Cakebread also makes a very nice Chardonnay that is pretty oaky and buttery. if you can find it, I'd really recommend a Martinelli Chardonnay, but they can be hard to find. Also the Martinelli may have some herbal notes to it. Not sure if you'd like that, but I do.
Hope this helps. -
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Re: What compares to this Chardonnay?
Sun, January 20, 2008 - 1:56 PMthank you mark!
yes, its the oak that is the quality i like the most. -
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Re: What compares to this Chardonnay?
Mon, January 21, 2008 - 2:40 PMSee I'm the opposite. I can't stand oaky whites, hence my distaste for most CA chards. You might like White Hall Lane chardonnay, though it's a bit pricier. Or if you want to splurge, give Flowers a try. -
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I can't stand oaky whites
Mon, January 21, 2008 - 5:54 PMYeah, I kinda lean on the non-oaky side with whites as well. A lot of CA Chardonnays are really over-oaked.
The aforementioned Martinelli is less oaky than most CA Chardonnays. In fact, I've seen reviews comparing them to French Burgundies.
Also that Rombauer I mentioned, while oaky, is very well balanced. It was a really pleasant surprise when I found it. -
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Re: I can't stand oaky whites
Mon, January 21, 2008 - 7:53 PMI agree with Rombauer! It's one of the few CA chards I kind of like. -
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Re: I can't stand oaky whites
Tue, January 22, 2008 - 3:16 PMhuh... is it gauche to like oak? -
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Re: I can't stand oaky whites
Tue, January 22, 2008 - 3:39 PMI don't think so. I think in general many California Chardonnays tend to be overly obsessed with oak, so I tend to get a bit tired of it. Also they tend to make it the dominant flavor. I just prefer a well balanced white. It's really just a matter of personal preference. I don't despise any white with oak, but it certainly doesn't excite me as much as a more complex Chardonnay.
It's not like oak is an evil thing or anything. I just think some California Chardonnays are a little too aggressive in this regard. But that's just my personal tastes.
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Re: What compares to this Chardonnay?
Wed, February 6, 2008 - 11:41 AMIf you like the "buttery" type of chard, look for Sanford ... they also make some very tasty pinot! -
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Re: What compares to this Chardonnay?
Thu, February 7, 2008 - 9:45 AMi like aussie chards ... the ones aged in stainless steel and NOT wood ... "un-wooded" is the term they use down there ...
they're sweeter smoother and sexier ...
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Re: What compares to this Chardonnay?
Fri, February 8, 2008 - 9:53 AMAnd Chablis is totally stainless steel fermented. That's MY kind of chardonnay.
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