Cacciatore 1998 Optimum Calif. Chardonnay

[cpurvis]

This might as well be an addition to the Rant thread on oaky Calif. chards.

Beautiful golden color, nice legs. There it should end..a looker, not a drinker.

Aromas of..what else..oak, and..well..urine, or is that my built-in-bias-against-Cal-chard? O.K., I'll be generous..oak, butter, apples. Flavors of pineapple-gone-bad bitterness with...oak. Finishing w/ a minerally, soapy taste & finally...oak.

Maybe some food could save it, but doubtful. Fortunately, I didn't pay for this. Avail. only by the case from Cacciatore @ $60/case plus shipping. Don't bother. cp

[Innkeeper]

CP, do yourself a favor and call the friendly folks at Tobin James at 805-239-2204. Tell them to send a half case of their Radiance Chardonnay (absolutely no oak), and just for the hell of it, fill out the case with six jugs of their syrah. You'll be in hog heaven.

[winoweenie]

Agree. Tobin James is making some wonderful P/Q wines in the Cetral Coast area.

[cpurvis]

Thanks IK...know the TJ name, wrote down the # for near-future use. cp

[Innkeeper]

Last night served the TJ as an aperitif to a house guest who didn't like chardonnay. She said she loved it, and wanted to know what kind of wine it was. When I told her, she said "but it doesen't have that funny taste that chardonnay usually has." Wonder how many other anti-oakers are lurking out there.

[cpurvis]

I guess "funny taste" is a very polite way to put it [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]
cp