Moderators: Jenise, Robin Garr, David M. Bueker
John B. wrote:I have a few bottles from the Gainey winery in California of chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from 1998 and 1999. When do these wines start going bad? I know that my reds mature nicely over time, but I do not want to srve these if they are past their prime.
Help anyone?
Paul Winalski
Wok Wielder
8016
Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:16 pm
Merrimack, New Hampshire
Paul Winalski wrote:But I've yet to see a CA chardonnay be vibrant and alive at 14 years, as was true of the 1993 Le Montrachet from Gouzotte d'Or that I had recently. But that's rather exceptional even for French white Burgundy.
-Paul W.
Howie Hart
The Hart of Buffalo
6389
Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:13 pm
Niagara Falls, NY
but it is the rare CA Chardonnay that improves beyond age 5 (not so for white Burgundy, though) and even rarer for a Sauvignon Blanc from anywhere, except for those few with some residual sugar in them
David Creighton
Wine guru
1217
Wed May 24, 2006 10:07 am
ann arbor, michigan
Hoke
Achieving Wine Immortality
11420
Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:07 am
Portland, OR
Hoke wrote:had a bottle of SB from Gaillac that was ten years old and brilliant. Exception to the rule.)
Hoke
Achieving Wine Immortality
11420
Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:07 am
Portland, OR
Rahsaan wrote:Hoke wrote:had a bottle of SB from Gaillac that was ten years old and brilliant. Exception to the rule.)
An exception to many rules. As I believe there is not much SB grown in Gaillac. Sounds great.
Hoke wrote:Then promptly disappointed us when he told us there was only a barrel or two made, and he had it all. There are geeks, and there are uber-geeks.
Paul Winalski wrote:As Mark said, California chardonnays don't often live as long as French white Burgundies. This is mainly due to the lower acidity of the California product.
That being said, I've had CA chardonnay from Chateau Montelena and Matanzas Creek that was delightful in the 6-10 year old range.
But I've yet to see a CA chardonnay be vibrant and alive at 14 years, as was true of the 1993 Le Montrachet from Gouzotte d'Or that I had recently. But that's rather exceptional even for French white Burgundy.
-Paul W.
Alan Gardner wrote:Only 14 years? ... Those vineyards planted "pre-Davis" have a lot longer aging potential. For example, the Mount Eden Chardonnays (Santa Cruz) are extremely long-lived. ... And the mid-80's Chardonnays from Central Coast (Eberle in particular) are also excellent (again now plateaued but still drinking very well).
John B. wrote:Mark,
Thanks for the advice. My wife and I have really started drinking more red wines and sometimes we forget about the Whites we have in the racks.
Thanks,
John
Max Hauser wrote:I'm surprised though at how categorical are some of the responses here about California (just as I was recently about 1997 red Burgundies in view of several recent posted positive examples). Mark L, for instance, I assume you're reporting particular experience.
Mark Lipton wrote:... my statement ... wasn't categorically dismissing California Chardonnay as incapable of aging. Far from it.
If you'd like to place a wager on whether the Gainey Chard in question has survived to this date, I could probably arrange something for my next visit to the Bay Area
Users browsing this forum: ClaudeBot, Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], Google IPMatch, SemrushBot and 2 guests