Chanin Wine Company

2008 Chanin Chardonnay "Bien Nacido Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley
This wine evoked images of the Walt Disney bobsled movie "Cool Runnings". You might exclaim what one of the members of the Jamaican Bobsled team said, "Feel the rhythm. Feel the rhyme. Get on up, it's bobsled time!!!" Why would I say that? The wine is intense and exhilarating. It has crisp acidity and is clean like a Chablis, but doesn't have as much minerality. This un-oaked beauty is like an austere woman that's beautiful and prefers not to wear makeup. Rombauer drinkers wouldn't like this, which is why I do.

White Trash

2009 Trader Joe's Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, CA ($7 at TJ's)
This one was too crisp and lean. Normally the words crisp and lean are associated with fresh wines that cleanse the palate. However, this was austere, but not like that of a refreshing Chablis.

2009 Copa Del Rey Chardonnay, Rapel Valley, Chile ($10 at Trader Joe's)
With a strawberries and cream texture, the drink delivered. Initially, this wine was like a Starburst or Mamba candy. It might have been cheaper to get the candies--but then you wouldn't have been left with a buzz.

Why isn't everyone into orange wine?

2009 Simčič Ribolla, Slovenia ($30 at Passionfish) 12.5% alcohol
The Ribolla offers a waxy texture and almond aroma that entices the palate. Sexy? Yes. Worth the experiment? Sure. The price? Ok.

Clearly the Ribolla blew us away, but the Copa Del Rey Chardonnay seduced us--the price was good.

Montrachet

1986 Montrachet, Bouchard - canned pineapple with honey. The wine had some amazing acidity for being such an old wine. I liked the butterscotch candy nuances a midst the other three-thousand descriptors I remember. I woke up the nest day and the wine was lingering on my palette. The number of nuances listed on paper would have resembled the "Scroll of David". My manager Ray Bertolino almost had a heart attack; he thought it was so good. Still, more interesting than drinkable a touch over-the-hill. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

Chassagne Montrachet

2005 Chassagne M. "Les Vergers" 1er D. Fontaine Gagnard 8/30/07 - angelus brought this and I was impressed by their ability to pick good wines that are "under the radar". This would be on the list for under $100 and I recommend it to anyone who likes a good chard that's got finesse without being overly sulfur rich like some Pulignys. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Chevalier Montrachet

1999 Chevalier Montrachet - Jadot - Really drinkable. So drinkable, that I wanted to drink a whole bottle or six. I wanted to savor it for its cerebral qualities and pound it for its balance. Probably, one of the best chardonnay's I've ever had. The sulfur had mellowed out just enough to slake anyone's thirst. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 

Puligny Montrachet

2005 Louis Latour –Chardonnay - Puligny Montrachet, (Burgundy) France
It’s super-rich but not flabby. The list of characteristics in this wine is unending. Please, experience the nuances of popcorn, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey, butter, vanilla, eggnog… and more. The township of Puligny Montrachet is home to such Grand Cru vineyards like: Le Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet. If your customer likes a full-bodied chard like Pahlmeyer but are willing to try something new, tell them to taste this. If they’re gun-shy, tell them that if they don’t like it, you’ll drink it. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2011 

2004 Latour, Puligny $85 (9/26/07) – it’s really tight, but there’s a blossom marigold effect that won’t make sense to anyone but me. It’s like a sunflower that closed and then opens in your mouth. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

2003 Puligny Montrachet - Latour "Les Folatieres" - I blind-tasted Casanova's Wine Director Kris Harriman on this wine and he thought it could pass for a grand cru Chablis by Ravenau. The chalky minerality and high acidity surprised me in such a ripe year. It was a little tight but a nice rich edge on the mouthfeel. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

1995 Puligny Montrachet "Les Chalamaux", Chateau de Puligny Montrachet - gold in color, but not brown. It had a bromelaide pineapple character integrated with brioche toast, nutmeg, all-spice, caramel, honey, and steely gun-barrel minerality. This was like a ray of sunshine covered with spiky pineapple ooze. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

Meursault

2004 Chateau de Puligny Montrachet, Meursault - The light gold color and fleshy popcorn and apple aroma's were present. It was real fat and approachable but had enough back-palette acidity make you wonder, is this a Granny Smith? Then the more of that loosely-goosey instant gratification lures you in for another sip. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2011 

2004 Meursault "Les Clous" Bouchard (7/30/07) - nice lean acidity with a fat richness. It gets you here than it gets you there. It was refreshing, but a little closed in terms of its tartness. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2011 

Corton (White)

2005 Corton Charlemagne, Louis Latour – the gold color indicated that it was getting a bit old and it had that brioche nuance. For $125 a half bottle, this wine was disappointing. Although interesting, the wine is headed downhill. Maybe the wines just weren’t stored or shipped properly? Last tasted winter 2010 Drink now

2005 Corton Charlemagne - Henri Boilot - $125.00 Great citrus minerality that was real clean with nice weight on the center of the tongue. It had a nice bite and was pure. I felt like a deer drinking out of a brook. Had a loosely-goosey, friendly approachableness that a Meursault might have and had backbone. It wasn't sour, but made you salivate—a real hot blonde with a bright future. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2011 

Chablis

2005 “Les Clos Grand Cru”, Jean Marc Brocard– The guys on table seven bought this one and it was beautiful. It was exotic in that it had lemon and passionfruit minerality and had nuances of wet stones. It had a perfect zing of acidity without being green and lean. Last tasted summer of 2010 Drink now-2013 

2005 “Les Clos Grand Cru” Frederic Magnien– There’s no gun-barrel and is not as intense for Chablis. For $145, there’s nice flavors, but not as austere as I’d like. This year must be too hot, because there’s not enough acidity. Last tasted 10/15/07 Drink now-2013 

2004 “Valmur Premier Cru”, Domaine Ravenau – There were nice hazelnut and almond aromas, but it seemed like it was getting old. I thought it was rather fat for Chablis, but had nice acidity. There was a nice lemon curd aroma, but I expected more. Was there too much oak for this wine? Last tasted fall of 2010 Drink now-2013 

1998 Chablis "Les Blanchots" Laroche (7/30/07) – It had a gold color. There were some rich marshmallows, brioche, hazelnuts, and all-spice nuances. This was real fat and a little on the edge but had a little acidity left to make it drinkable, for now. I don't think it has a long life. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

Pouilly-Fuisse

2005 Drouhin – Chardonnay -Pouilly Fuisse, (Burgundy) France
It’s lean and crisp but it has nice weight on the tongue. This displays nice allspice nuances. Because there’s less sun in Europe than California, Pouilly Fuisse has enough acidity to create a long finish. The region of Cote de Beaune, Burgundy (Fr.) only grows chardonnay. Beneath the soil, the vines are enriched with the remains of animals that were driven off the cliff by Stone Age hunters. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2010 

Bourgogne (White)

2004 Leflaive Bourgogne A.C. – ($95) I double decanted this for the couple on table 13. I think I got some egg-like reductive qualities at first, but after being decanted it had a nice texture. Perhaps it was too young? Last tasted fall of 2010 Drink now-2015 

Napa Chardonnay

2005 Chalk Hill Chardonnay – I was shocked at how good this was. I sold the last bottle to table six, as we were out of the older vintage they’d requested. This one was balanced in that it was rich with a backbone. Last tasted summer of 2010 Drink now-2012 

2005 Nickel & Nickel "Medina" Chardonnay, Napa - Hey, it's not the "Far Niente" but, somehow it tastes pretty close. I taste a mouth-watering and somehow rich creaminess. All women love malo-lactic fermentation, they just hate to admit it. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2011 

Russian River Chardonnay

2005 Lynmar “Quail Hill” Chardonnay -Russian River, California
Instead of being generic like a lot of California Chardonnay’s, this one is unique. The butterscotch and popcorn nuances have weight on the tongue. Nevertheless, the acidity on the back lengthens the finish and brings thee’ back for more. After the wine is opened for a while, nutmeg and vanilla flavors make themselves known. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

2004 Kistler "Les Noisetiers", Russian River 8/30/07 - it was a bit cloudy and there was plenty of sulfur. Kris thought it was a Burgundy, but Gabe thought it was a high-end Ca. Chard from 04'. I thought it was a bit green and not quite as rich as a Puligny M. Gabe thought it was a Pahlmeyer and then he realized that they filter their wines. He thought it might even be a Talbott Sleepy. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 

2003 Kistler "Kistler Vineyard" Chardonnay – I tasted a real bite from the abundance of acidity that it possessed. Nevertheless, it was a dam good California chard. And, it should be for $200! Lots .Last tasted 8/19/07 Drink now-2013 

Carneros

2005 Adastra Chardonnay, Carneros - This came from the Napa side of Carneros and was made by Pam Starr. It was full-bodied but not as extreme as some of the Rombauer Chardonnay's I've tasted. If someone likes Sleepy Hollow, they might enjoy this one. Last tasted 2007 Drink now- 

2005 Saintsbury Chardonnay – Carneros, California
Carneros is one of the state’s oldest wine districts and the larger part of it lies in Sonoma, the other rests in Napa. Since the cool ocean breezes from the pacific keep the grapes from losing its natural acidity, food can be tasted more easily. With a buttery richness backed by nuances of green apple and melon, the wine shows its subtle personality. Last tasted 2007 Drink now- 

Sonoma Chardonnay

2005 Peay “Hyde Vineyard” – At $155, I sold this to the folks in the magnum room. It was round, and tasted good. However, they didn’t finish the bottle, so I saved some to taste on the next day it seemed a bit oxidized. Last tasted summer of 2010 Drink now 

Central Coast Chardonnay

2006 Talley “Rosemary’s Vineyard” Chardonnay – The folks on table 14 thought this one was a little green and maybe too young. It was also kind of cloudy—perhaps it was unfiltered? Last tasted fall of 2010 Drink now 

Carmel Valley Chardonnay

2005 Georis Chardonnay - Tasted real fat with plenty of honey-covered tropical fruit mixed with butterscotch candies. The wine had a lot of weight in the center of the palette. The rich wine went with the rich pesto pasta I had for lunch. I wanted to be in Carmel Valley quaffing this wine with a voluptuous hot blonde near the pool on a warm summer day. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

'05 D.R.C Montrachet

I woke up, threw some sandals on and headed to Pebble Beach to sip some vino. I started sipping at 10:00 am for the Pinot Noir blind-tasting. After finishing that life-altering experience, I noticed some sommeliers cleaning up after the "Montrachet: The Heart of Burgundy’s Grand Cru" tasting.

So,I stealthily sauntered in and reached for the dregs of the 2005 Domaine de La Romanee’ Conti “Le Montrachet” Chardonnay, Puligny, France ($5,000). It had searing acidity and displayed nuances of a decadent lemon tart with wet stones. However, I picked up on some nuances of rotten eggs, sulfur, and freshly struck match. This wine was incredible, but way too young to drink. This was clear evidence of statutory wine drinking--a serious violation in wine country. It was nice to be the bum staggering into the high-end scene. If I grabbed a case of those bottles, I could've put a 20% down payment on a nice home. That's silly.

Lexus Grand Tasting

Lexus Grand Tasting at Pebble Beach Food & Wine

It was nice to cleanse the palette with M.V. Nicolas Feuillette Brut Rose’. This bubbler comes from Chouilly, which is a sub-region of Reims, which is within the region of Champagne, which is in the boundaries of one of the best wine producing regions on the planet, France. It had aromas of bubble gum, cherries and other red fruits.

The winemaker of the 2010 Chateau Desclans “Whispering Angel” Rose’(pictured above), visited us from Provence, France and I commended him for his delicious drink. When I worked at Marinus, my fellow employees and I would make rap songs about this remarkable beverage, “It’s crisp, it’s clean, fen to make you scream. Whispering Angel Son!”

2009 Lail “Blueprint” Sauvignon Blanc, Napa.
It was new world in style in that it wasn’t waxy like a white Bordeaux, but citrusy like a Central Valley tangerine.

2007 Au Bon Climat “Hildegard” Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Aligote’, Santa Maria Valley
This somehow reminded me of a white a white Burgundy. The assistant winemaker told me that the Corton Charlemagne was believed to be a grape clone of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Aligote’. I never knew that. Thanks for filling me in dude (assistant winemaker).

2008 Rombauer Chardonnay, Napa
Romabauer Chardonnay has become a wine descriptor. It is: buttery, oak, delicious and sommeliers hate it, because it caters to the masses and they no longer have leverage. It was so cool to meet the owner. That guy was a baller.

2007 Domaine Serene “Evenstad Reserve” Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Am I tasting Cote de Nuits Pinot Noir? This beauty was seductive and had lots of red fruit aromas like that of Burgundy. It had tannin. It had backbone.

2008 Numanthia “Termes” Toro, Spain
“It takes two vines two produce one bottle,” said the super-hot French chick pouring this Spanish wine. “Oh and they crush the grapes by foot too,” she said. That’s hot. The wine was too, but in a ripe, dark fruit-way.

2008 Barnett Spring Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain, Napa
The chocolate dust was distinct and delicious. This booth was near the massage table.

The Massage Table
I can’t afford a massage. This one was free, so I gave Yoeli a 10-spot for her efforts. She was more sensual than any of the wines.

Pelegrino
Drink as much water as wine. This booth took awhile.

Carmel Valley Roasting Company
Foglifter? It’s gorgeous outside. I’m still slightly buzzed, and feeling good.