What the !@#$%^&*!? has happened to California Chardonnay? (A rant)

[Van The Man]

Randy -

You bring up a lot of good points. And I must admit one thing, I'm truly not qualified to make comparative statements because I just don't care for the style of California Chardonnay in general. I do like Lewis Reserve, and I like a couple of Chards from the Russian River Valley, but outside of that, I paint them all with the same brush: They taste the same, there is no terroir and I hate the style.....in short, you raise a good point about fairness.

I should also point out that because of my experiences, which are vastly negative, with regards to the style, I simply don't buy and drink the stuff. And that frees up a lot of dough for other things I like I s'pose. Give me a Westport Rivers or a Sakonnet or a Lenz Chardonnay every day of my life over one of these.....even the "finer" ones. The cool, crisp, delicate flavors from a New England Chardonnay go AWESOME with our local seafood where as the huge, bold, reach out and grab you, flabby, over vinified California kool-aid doesn't. <shrug :-)>

Truth be known, 'cept for a couple of places in the Golden State, I'm just not sold on the grape as "well suited" for California.

Now, I'll say once again, I don't have anywhere near the expereince you have with these wines 'cause I just don't buy them....so I really should be listening as opposed to commenting. <g>

But, what experiences I've had are by and large not something to repeat for me.

So you bring up a good point. But for the life of me, I just don't care for the style....