I did not believe this when I first heard it, but I found an article online that confirmed what I had heard on the radio was true. Charles Shaw's Chardonnay was selected as the Best Chardonnay from California at the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition.
According to the Napa Valley Register, "The chardonnay received 98 points, a double gold, with accolades of Best of California and Best of Class."
Charles Shaw is often frowned upon, but it seems that $2 buck Chuck's Chardonnay is a real winner.
Here's a link to the article.
For some background information on Charles Shaw, take a read of one of my past posts.
Update:
This comment by Evan Williams was really interesting and I thought I should share.
"
To those who disparage the quality of judges in the State Fair
Competition, I would inform you that the State Fair is the ONLY wine
competition which requires is judges to pass a rigorous sensory
evaluation test; and ongoing testing and education insure the
capabilities of the judges remain sound. If you look at the credentials
of the judges, you will find largely winemakers, educators, critics and
a few in the retail and restaurant business. I was on the panel which
scored Chales Shaw against the runner-up, the 2005 Wente Riva Ranch
Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco. I voted for the French oak barrel fermented,
aged sur lies and malo-lactic Wente, but a slim majority preferred the
fruit forward and simple, but not unattractive, Chales Shaw. I have
since purchased a case of the Charles Shaw and it is not at all like
the wine submitted for judging. The recently purchased wine was
redolent of potassium sorbate, a trait not present in the sample
submitted for judging; in fact the winning wine did not show any
evident manipulation at all. Keep in mind that with sixty million cases
produced, the batch being bottled probably varies weekly! It is
perfectly legal to select the absolute best lots to bottle first and
submit for judging, but most consumers do not realize that the wine
they purchase will likely not be anything like the wine which was
evaluated in competition. This is unfortunate, but that's life...
"Caveat emptor!" "
Thank you for the update. I have been utterly baffled by that.
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