Judgment of Chicago - California Cab vs White Burgundy

Streeterville Neighborhood, Chicago IL
Tasted Saturday, March 29, 2008 by Claudio161 with 1,439 views

Introduction

The tasting started as a joke when one of our off-line tasting buddies proclaimed that "White Wine was a was of his liver!". So everyone rallied to get him to change his mind by assembling a tasting pairing 7 cali chards against 7 burg whites.

Flight 1 - Blind Flight #1 (2 Notes)

  • 2004 Kistler Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    This wine was the Kickoff Wine for the evening’s lineup. It is worth noting that this wine was opened 4 hours before traveling a short cab ride to the tasting. Upon the initial pop of the cork, I found the smell of the wine to be slightly offensive – buttery malolactic notes and oak chips from a wood chipper! I was sure that I would be able to pick it out of the lineup – boy was I wrong.

    Sight: Light to light straw yellow; fairly clear; medium viscosity for a white wine
    Nose: Initial reaction was that it was a great nose! Thought it was a burgundy for sure. Good fruit on the nose: Lychee, Melon, Lively Citrus (mostly lemon); Some honey notes as well
    Taste: Smooth wine; Nicely integrated; Just gives you a feeling overall as “really nice”; I also tasted some honey and citrus notes on the palate in addition to the nose.

    Overall: Excellent wine – strongly recommended (93 pts.)

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  • 1992 J.M. Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Champs Canet 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Light to medium straw yellow; fairly clear; medium-light viscosity for a white wine
    Nose: First reaction was ‘Classy’; Muted nose; Elegant; Clove spice; Heavy citrus; Apricot; Green apple
    Taste: Medium bodied feel; Apples; Some hints of honey; Slight smokiness; Flutter of petrol; Smoothly integrated and acid in balance
    Overall: Excellent wine – slightly stronger than wine #1 Would suggest pairing with stronger foods such as grilled salmon. (92+ pts.)

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Flight 2 - Blind Flight #2 (2 Notes)

  • 2002 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Light, pale straw color; fairly clear; medium-light viscosity for a white wine
    Nose: First reaction was ‘Cotton Candy’; Lot’s of fruits- especially fleshy tree fruits; Lemon zest
    Taste: A little acidic but really nice fruits; Impression is that this was a young wine and conveyed a feel as though it needed to age; Also floral aspects seemed to come through on the palate
    Overall: Wow. (93 pts.)

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  • 2002 Louis Jadot Charlemagne 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Charlemagne Grand Cru

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Light, pale straw color; fairly clear; High viscosity for a white wine
    Nose: First reaction was ‘Great nose’; Florals and minerals; Slightly muted nose; Floral notes really stuck with me – I was not able to pick out a specific floral as the note was a mixture . . . .
    Taste: Crushed sea shells; Great fruit; Floral notes coming through on the palate as well; Wet stones and pebbles
    Overall: Pretty awesome. (91 pts.)

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Flight 3 - Blind Flight #3 (2 Notes)

  • 2005 Ramey Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Light straw color; clear; Highly viscous
    Nose: First reaction was ‘Awesome nose’; Florals; Nuts; Melons; Towards the end white flowers
    Taste: Oak, Malolactic butteriness; Flowery; Oak; Glycerol
    Overall: Excellent. (93- {minus} pts.)

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  • 2003 Bouchard Père et Fils Corton-Charlemagne Domaine 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Light straw color; clear; Highly viscous
    Nose: First reaction was ‘Killer nose’; Florals & Citrus going all over the place
    Taste: Acidic; Young wine; Minerals; Slate and stone notes coming through; ‘Lemony’
    Overall: Awesome wine; clean finish. (93 pts.)

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Flight 4 - Blind Flight #4 (2 Notes)

  • 2001 Kongsgaard Chardonnay 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Light straw color; clear; Highly viscous
    Nose: Smoke; Charred Rocks; Flint; Mineral; Floral notes; Green Apples
    Taste: Fruits; Citrus; Minerals; Acidity slightly out of check…perhaps some additional aging needed?
    Overall: Awesome wine. (93- pts.)

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  • 2004 Kongsgaard Chardonnay 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Light straw color; clear
    Nose: Stone fruits; Grapefruit comes forward with some pith; Honey; Oak notes
    Taste: Medium body; Easy tannins; Wood; length is good; Balance stood out to me
    Overall: Great wine! (92 pts.)

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Flight 5 - Blind Flight #5 (2 Notes)

  • 2004 Château de la Maltroye Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Dent de Chien 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Light straw color
    Nose: Beautiful nose is what hit me right out of the gate. Good integration of slates and minerals. Some lemon, but the nose set a high level of expectation that the palate did not meet
    Taste: Nose was better than taste. Slight honey, some lemon zest; slate and minerals; somewhat muted on the taste.
    Overall: Good wine! (91 pts.)

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  • 2005 Sine Qua Non The Petition 91 Points

    USA, California

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Light straw color
    Nose: Honey; Lychee; Malo butter notes; Oak
    Taste: High acid, but still excellent; Medium to heavy body
    Overall: Great wine, but heat/acid a bit out of balance and seems like it needs some additional age and then it should come together! (91 pts.)

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Flight 6 - Blind Flight #6 (2 Notes)

  • 2003 Peter Michael Chardonnay Belle Côte 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Light straw color
    Nose: Tree fruits; Straw; Melons; Based on the nose, I pegged it to be a Burgundy – I was fooled!
    Taste: Fruit; Oak; Stones; Minerals; Acidic; Will benefit from additional aging????
    Overall: Very nice wine (92+ pts.)

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  • 2005 Peter Michael Chardonnay Belle Côte 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Light straw color
    Nose: Nose gave me the impression of a California wine; Floral and citrus notes; Tree fruits
    Taste: Butterscotch; Fruits; Smoke; Malo notes; Oak
    Overall: Awesome, but a BIG wine…. Should be paired with food (92 pts.)

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Flight 7 - Blind Flight #7 (2 Notes)

  • 2002 Vincent Dancer Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru La Romanée 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Light straw color; Clear wine
    Nose: Toasted Oak; Lemon zest; Some ocean bay notes – minerals, crushed shells
    Taste: Lively and fresh; Medium light bodied wine; Clean clear and crisp minerals; Lemon sprite
    Overall: Great lively and light wine. Well balanced. May even need some additional age. (92 pts.)

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  • 2005 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Champ-Canet 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Light straw color; Highly Viscous
    Nose: Grapefruit; White flesh fruits; Some petrol; Granny smith apple hints
    Taste: Peaches; Lychee; Soft and muted on the finish – not an ‘in your face’ wine (a good thing)
    Overall: Smooth and integrated – very nice. (91 pts.)

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Flight 8 - Dessert Flight (2 Notes)

  • 1997 Château de Suronde Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru 90 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Caramel yellow; medium viscosity
    Nose: Caramel and Melon notes
    Taste: Toasted notes; Brown sugars; Some melon patch
    Overall: Very nice, albeit a slightly quick wine considering all the sugars (90 points)

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  • 2001 Château Guiraud 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Tasted as part of the ”Judgment of Chicago WLTV Offline” Tasting at one of our esteemed offline colleague’s residence in Chicago on March 29th, 2008. The purpose was to compare and contrast 14 high-end California Chardonnays and White Burgundies side-by-side in a double blind tasting.

    Sight: Honey colored and medium-low viscosity
    Nose: Honey notes, muted nose
    Taste: Chemical taste; Some pear; Sugary/highly sweet; Good density of fruit notes
    Overall: Personally like other Sauterne houses better. (89 pts.)

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Closing

Many surprises of the evening.... overall California won the popular vote. Some California chardonnays were taken to be Burgundy wines - and some vice versa as well. I was amazed how well California showed in the tasting. We can analyze the results 6 ways to Sunday.... but the cards fell where they did and California was the winner (not by a landslide, but yet still the winner). Chris, our host, was most gracious and offered an amazing environment and the utmost in hospitality.

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