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The worst chardonnay I've ever had

104.60.189.213
Posted on June 17, 2018 at 09:59:27
jimbill
Audiophile

Posts: 3048
Location: Texas
Joined: May 31, 2004
 Picked up a bottle of 19 Crimes "Hard Chard". The name should have been my first clue.

But the label had a woman criminal on it so I wanted to add it to my collection. As I posted before, they have an app, "Living Wine Labels", that makes the labels come to life and the wife wants to have them for next year's Halloween.

Initially it was just a basic semi-sweet mass produced chardonnay, but as it warmed a little it became medicinal! Poured it out. I can't remember having a bottle of white wine this bad. And it wasn't cork taint or heat exposure. Just bad wine making.

How can any wine company willingly put something like this on the market?

 

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Great..., posted on June 17, 2018 at 16:36:21
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
 ...how about telling us about some wine you liked for a change.

 

Good and bad, posted on June 17, 2018 at 22:24:19
jimbill
Audiophile

Posts: 3048
Location: Texas
Joined: May 31, 2004
 I didn't realize this was a ratings forum.

 

Who said anything about ratings? (nt), posted on June 18, 2018 at 08:18:32
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
 (nt)

 

RE: The worst chardonnay I've ever had, posted on June 20, 2018 at 03:15:59
triodesteve
Audiophile

Posts: 803
Location: Walla Walla Washington
Joined: September 4, 2001
 >How can any wine company willingly put something like this on the market?

Because they are making a shit ton of money? Lets be honest...these are marketing companies. Not wine making companies. Probably all bulk wine and cheap bulk at that.

Larger companies are all about a "brand" they can sell. I guarantee you that the sales team makes a ton more money than the person finding the wine and putting the blend together at some silly low price point.
Truth be told, the money in the wine business is at the two opposite ends. Charge an outrageously high price per bottle or super cheap. These folks are making bank.


 

Yeah, it was a rhetorical question., posted on June 20, 2018 at 10:32:57
jimbill
Audiophile

Posts: 3048
Location: Texas
Joined: May 31, 2004
 But still a sad state of affairs.

Brand does pay. Look at Meiomi selling for $315 million.

 

RE: The worst chardonnay I've ever had, posted on June 20, 2018 at 20:54:19
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
 ...saw this at Safeway tonight in a display priced at $9.99 - 10% off with 6.

In a black bottle with an interesting label.

It's Australian chardonnay.

What did you expect?

Actually their shiraz Red Blend gets decent reviews.

 

So..., posted on June 21, 2018 at 08:17:30
jimbill
Audiophile

Posts: 3048
Location: Texas
Joined: May 31, 2004
 Is it because it's from Australia? The price? The label? What part should have made me suspect "the worst chardonnay of my life"?

My original post stated why I bought it. I've had some good Australian chardonnays for under $15 and some excellent ones at high price points.

You would probably like their reds. Soft fruit bombs.

 

So..., posted on June 21, 2018 at 10:00:59
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
 ...other than the 2015 Kendall Jackson Vintners Reserve I can't recall any under $10 chardonnay that has been very good.

And Australia is not known for their chardonnays. Had any others from down under that were terrific?

Ever heard the saying, "Life is too short to drink cheap wine"?

But it did have a pretty label ;-)

 

RE: So..., posted on June 21, 2018 at 12:59:09
jimbill
Audiophile

Posts: 3048
Location: Texas
Joined: May 31, 2004
 I find KJ to be a typical mass produced unexceptional wine. But not "the worst chardonnay I've ever tasted". That was my point. I was astounded at how bad the 19 Crimes was, even for a mass produced wine.

And I didn't know you were an expert on Australian wines! I thought you never drank anything other than Californian? You know, "Why should I leave this small town and see the world?", kind of attitude.

Leeuwin, First Drop, Yalumba, Shoofly...all good chardonnays from Australia.

 

So there..., posted on June 21, 2018 at 14:38:16
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
 ...I found the 2015 KJ to be exceptional, especially at the price.

We did a number of blind tastings and it beat some of my wife's favorties costing $30 a bottle.

Other KJ vintages not so much.

When I went on a wine tasting tour in in the Hunter Valley in Australia a few years ago, I was impressed with some of their syrahs, but not the chardonnays.

I guess some chardonnay has to be the worst you've tasted.

And then there's always Yellow Tail.


 

Why Chardonnay?, posted on June 23, 2018 at 10:53:37
triodesteve
Audiophile

Posts: 803
Location: Walla Walla Washington
Joined: September 4, 2001
 I'm not a fan...especially of domestic (I mean US). I would never spend money on crazy expensive Gran Cru's even if I had the scratch ( I don't) I found a mid priced Druhin that I like, but its still chardonnay. The most boring grape ever. Oak it, make it taste like butter, anything but how the grape actually tastes.
Long live Riesling.

Yeah I'm just trying to stir the pot.

 

Why Chardonnay?, posted on June 23, 2018 at 12:25:01
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
 ...other than champagne, my wife's favorite varietal (reds give her a headache).

I don't drink it but most women I know do.

And it's CA domestic not Grand Cru.

Probably Rombauer is most the popular one for those who can aford it - extreme oak and butter ($35).

 

Champagne isn't a varietal, posted on June 23, 2018 at 12:35:01
jimbill
Audiophile

Posts: 3048
Location: Texas
Joined: May 31, 2004
 Varietals used in champagne are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.

I do like a well made Chardonnay. With food, I prefer a french style which are typically drier and have more of a mineral element.

I also love a good Riesling. I've had some good American but I still prefer a German made. Unluckily it seems they have fallen out of favor. The selection at stores has reduced to about 30% of what they used to carry here in Houston.

 

Not only that..., posted on June 25, 2018 at 08:28:14
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
 ...most of what we drink isn't even real champagne!

 

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