The Wine Broad's Board

A Blind Tasting of Charles Shaw 2005 Chardonnay

A lot of wine-y people have expressed skepticism over the gold medals Two-Buck Chuck recently scored at California's State Fair Wine Competition. Come on, they opined, the stuff costs $1.99 a bottle! How could it be deserving of a gold medal? Rather than sit around concocting conspiracy theories ("the contest was rigged, I tell you!"), I decided to do something crazy: open a bottle and taste it. I had to hit two Trader Joe's locations to find one, but I eventually succeeded. Then I set up a blind tasting for my Wines & Vines office-mates that included the medal-winning Charles Shaw Chardonnay, along with three other 2005 Chards: Hacienda, California, $6.99; McWilliams Hanwood Estate, Australia, $9; and MacRostie, Carneros, $22. The mission of our 10-person tasting panel was to sample all four wines, then rank them according to preference.

So what happened? The McWilliams Chardonnay from Australia was our top-rated wine (well-rounded, tropical fruit flavors and not over-oaked), chosen as the best entry by 50% of our staff. In my personal ranking, the MacRostie was #2, followed by Two-Buck Chuck and Hacienda. Two people on the panel chose Two-Buck Chuck as their top wine.

I found the Charles Shaw Chard to be a pretty nice wine: soft, not-at-all oaky (a bonus in my book) and generally inoffensive. I wouldn't say it's a great wine (not enough complexity there), but it's simple, balanced and easy to drink. What more could you ask from a $1.99 wine?

Anyone who pays $24 for a case of the stuff won't be disappointed. Even at $5 per bottle, you'd still feel like you got a pretty good deal.

Wine O' the Week: Take the Plunge!

Plungerhead 2005 Old Vine Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley ($16) 

Here's a tasty Zin with a twist: It's sealed with a new-ish closure called a Zork. (Just pull the tab to peel away the plastic seal, then pop off the top. No corkscrew necessary, and you can easily stick the cap back into the bottle if you don't finish it. Like that's going to happen.) The wine smells like ripe raspberries, with a touch of peppery spice. It tastes like raspberries and black cherries, is smooth and balanced and has plenty of fruit flavor without being heavy or syrupy. In other words: tasty.

 

Wine O' the Week: Pink Liquid Crack

Robert Sinskey '06 Vin Gris of Pinot Noir, Carneros

Wine writer/sommelier/wine pimp Chris Sawyer turned me on to this pale pink delight, and I can't decide whether to organize a parade in his honor or kick his ass. I can't get enough of the stuff! It has a pale, salmon color, with fresh strawberry and citrus flavors that make it the perfect summer wine. Unlike some blockbuster California pinks, this one is crisp, light and understated. You can order it online ($20) through the Robert Sinskey website, or find a local retailer through Wine Searcher. But beware: this delicious wine is like pink liquid crack.