Budget Vino

Charles Shaw Chardonnay an award winner?

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!" "

Budget Vino wine tasting results- Part 1: The Whites

The results from the 1st ever Budget Vino wine tasting are in, and will be posted in 3 entries the week. Below is the 1st of 3.

In total, 6 wines were tasted during the course of the 90 minute event. The great people at BevMo Van Ness in San Francisco selected the wines, and each participant was asked to complete a Budget Vino wine rating sheet. There were some interesting thoughts expressed, and I've posted some of the most notable comments below.

And now for the reviews...

Wine #1- Weston Chardonnay

Definitely buy it: 20%

Consider buying it: 33%

Don't buy it: 47%

Some Comments:

• "Very sweet. The finish fell flat. I would buy it for a cheap, everyday wine"
• "I found this wine a little too light"
• "Light. Not a lot of body or flavor"
• "Kind of blah!"
• "Okay, but not much flavor"

Wine #2- Mar Y Sol Chardonnay '04

Definitely buy it: 0%

Consider buying it: 55%

Don't buy it: 45%

Some Comments:

• "Very flavorful. Not too sweet. A little sour"
• "Good nose. Smelled like lemon custard"
• "Nice springtime aroma, but kind of flat tasting"
• "Tingles as it goes down. A little too acidic for my liking"
• "Too tangy"
• "Disappointing finish, but nice aroma"

Wine #3- Husch Chenin Blanc

This white wine was clearly the favorite of the 3 whites tasted.

Definitely buy it: 40%

Consider buying it: 53%

Don't buy it: 7%

Some Comments:

• "Good nose. Sweet. Very good!"
• "Great citrus. Not overwhelming. Great light aroma"
• "Good flavor. Little acidic and sweet"
• "Pleasant and well balanced"
• "Clean crisp flavor. Can't imagine drinking more than 1 glass"

It's Puzzle Time

To kick off Trader Joe's wine review week, I asked my friend Jared to write about an experience he had a week ago while watching Monday Night Football. His story is not of football, but more about a bottle of wine with a puzzle for a label. Here is his story...

Puzzle Time- 2003 Chardonnay, $5.99 at Trader Joe's
Contributed by Jared Boldemann 

It started off like any other Monday Night. I got home from work, took a nap, then head over to my buddy's place to watch some good old Monday Night Football. Typically, I drink beer with my football- a lot of beer. For some wierd reason, on this particular night  I just wasn't in the mood for a silver bullet or Bud Light. I wanted something different. Normally, I would reach for a nice Gin & Tonic. Not on this day. Instead, I was oddly craving some wine.

So, with only $7.00 in my pocket, I decided to head down to my local Trader Joe's. While at Trader Joe's I found a perfect wine to fit my mood (which was flustered and confused that night.) The wine was called "Puzzle Time." It was a 2003 Mendocino County, California Chardonnay. It had hints of pear, vanilla, and good ole terra firma!! (if you watch Entourage you'll definitely get that last remark). At $5.99 a bottle, after tax I still had some money to spare.

Now, not only was this a smooth and delicious wine to accompany the tray of buffalo chicken wings and potato chips, but to my surprise, it also had a crossword puzzle on the front.

As I settled in and started watching the football game, I could feel the Puzzle Time bottle calling to me. The game was boring as all hell, and all I could think about was the crossword. I went to the kitchen, grabbed the bottle, and the rest is history.

The boring football game ended a couple hours later, but I still felt as though I accomplished something that night. Not only did I down a whole bottle of delicious cheap wine, I also successfully completed a crossword puzzle.

Recommendation: Definitely buy it (not just for the wine, but also for the puzzle)

A little white wine with your football?- Sebastiani 2004 Chardonnay

While I personally am not a big fan of white wines, I felt it unfair to exclude them completely from this blog. So, i've asked my friends who do enjoy white wines to pipe in from time to time. I'm always looking for white wine reviews, so if you're interested in sending one my way, definitely let me know.

Sebastiani 2004 Chardonnay
Contributed by: Sarah Seaton

What's a person who's not a big fan of beer supposed to drink while watching Monday Night Football with friends? White wine of course- and I've found a good one.

If you like creamy Chardonnay's, this wine is for you. People often use the word "buttery" when describing white wines. When you drink this one you'll definitely understand why. Unlike a lot of other Chardonnay's, this one is also slightly oaky, which gives it a nice, unexpected kick. A little trace of grapefruit and lemon definitely round it out.

While chinese food is usually not a part of a Monday Night Football menu, I'd recommend trying this wine out when you order from your favorite delivery joint.

Recommendation: Definitely buy it (if you like creamy Chardonnay's of course)