I had some Columbia Crest Estate Chardonnay this weekend (didn't get the year) it is quite ironic to note that it's lower cost sister vaunts that it is not over oaked like so many since the Estate wine was so oaky that my gag and spit reflex was triggered despite the fact that I was eating with 4 strangers. (luckily I did not actually expell the swill as I felt I should)
Trust me...You do not know what over-oak in a chardonnay until you have the
2001 Stonehedge. I usually prefer over the top oak, but this is ridiculous. The finish is almost like cedar or pine sawdust.Sean
The '99 and '00 Columbia Crest Grand Estates are fantastic drinking Chardonnay wines. I find the '01 a little bit more oak centered, but both come across with much greater acidity cold, and smoother when served closer to 68-70. If this was the only bottle you've had, I'd look to a bad bottle or perhaps soap in the glass. There's a reason '00 was something like the #2 white on WS Top 100. We've blind tasted the CC GE against '98 Kistler, '97 Newton, and even Pine Ridge. It often performs a close 2nd or even outperforms the name brands. I bought my original 3 or 4 cases of '00 at $6.62 a bottle (including Sales Tax). Not too bad...once it made the wine dictator list, this gem disappeared.
For my tasted, the most overoaked Chardonnay I've tasted is the Rombauer. It may subside with time, but I am unlikely to try it again in this century.
If you want to try something more interesting that avoids oak qualities, try St. Francis, Yamakawa Vineyards or Antinori, Cevarro Della Salla. Both offer complete different flavor profiles that many of my guests seem to like over an oaked chard.
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