Thursday, June 12, 2014

Thirsty Thursday: The Quest for a Daily Chard

Looking back over the last 3 months of searching and tasting.....

The Original List:
Chardonnay
Trader Joe’s
Ralph’s
Bevmo
Bernardus
n/a
n/a
$21.99/$20.99
Blue Fin
$3.99
n/a
n/a
Bogle
$8.99
$12.99/$9.99/$6.99
$7.99/$8.99
Butterfield Station
n/a
n/a
$6.99/$5.99
Chateau St Michelle
$7.99
$12.99/$9.99/$6.99
$11.99/$8.99
Edna Valley
n/a
$18.99/$14.27/$9.99
$14.99/$9.99
Fetzer
$5.99
$10.99/$7.99/$5.57
$7.99/$6.99
Geyser Peak
n/a
n/a
$11.99/$10.99
Gnarly Head
n/a
n/a
$13.99 ($.05 sale)
J Lohr
$9.99
$13.99/$12.84/$8.99
$13.99/$10.99
Kendall-Jackson 
$11.99
$19.99/$14.27/$9.99
$11.99/$10.99
La Crema 
$15.99
n/a
$17.99/$14.99
Meridian 
$5.99
$10.99/$6.99/$4.89
$9.99/$6.99
Rombauer
n/a
n/a
$33.99
Sonoma Cutrer
n/a
n/a
$24.99/$21.99
Stags’ Leap 
$22.99
$35.99/$34.27/$23.99
$25.99/$22.99
Stonestreet
n/a
n/a
n/a
Toad Hollow 
n/a
n/a
$12.99/$11.99
Toasted Head
$9.99
$10.99/$7.99/$5.59
$11.99/$9.99
Turning Leaf
n/a
$16.99/$12.84/$8.99
n/a
Wente
$14.99
$18.99/$15.70/$10.99
$12.99/$11.99

What I actually tasted:
Meridian Chardonnay - $6.99
39/100
Nope, never again. A waste of money in my opinion.

Charles Shaw Chardonnay- $2.99
50/100
Why, dear God why...I use to drink this ALL the time. Now that I compared it to things, never again.

Edna Valley Chardonnay- $12.84
53/100
A very drinkable wine, but lacked a solid finish and bouquet, plus it is too pricey for my tastes. Won't be buying for myself again, but would gladly receive it as a gift. 

Turning Leaf Chardonnay - $9.99 ( for the BIG bottle)
56/100
Better than Charles Shaw, still has a hot finish, but a decent choice for the blind bottle for party and during an especially rough week.

Gnarly Head Chardonnay - $13.99
61/100
Decent, but not worth the price for day to day drinking. 

Blue Fin Chardonnay - $3.99
64/100
Very good wine for the price. Charles Shaw doesn't hold a candle to it. Affordable

Bogle Chardonnay -$6.99
64/100
A great glass of wine that doesn't need food to hide anything about it.

Smoking Loon - $8.99
65/100
Very good wine with a great bouquet, but not as cost effective as I would prefer for a daily wine.

Bonterra Chardonnay- $14.99 (Got it on sale at $2.99)
70/100
Too expensive for daily consumption, but an excellent choice for a hostess gift.

Fetzer Sundial Chardonnay - $5.99
72/100
Husband thoroughly enjoyed this wine as did I. A great price and will be present for dinner parties for sure.

J Lohr Chardonnay - $9.99
74/100
I love this wine. Totes worth the price. Not for daily drinking, but perhaps once or twice a month.

Toasted Head Chardonnay - $11.99 (on sale for $9.99)
76/100
When this is on a sale, this is winning. I loved it and the other gals liked it as well.

Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay (not from California, missed that somehow) - $8.99
78/100
This wine makes me want to explore all the wines of the Colombia Valley.


Tasting Outcomes:
Blue Fin  and Turning Leaf win as the cheap and daily choices depending on where I am shopping.

Smoking Loon and Fetzer Sundial tie as the special dinner with Husband!

Toasted Head and J Lohr for the most special of occasions!

and Chateau Ste Michelle as the odd ball wine that slipped in accidentally.

all in all this was a very good experiment. Now to try it with a red.

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