Culinary Institute of America WINE CLUB MEMBER

That's right, I have taken on a new social avenue as a student at the Culinary Institute of America, the Wine Club. I have seen the movie Fight Club, I was once the Vice-President of the Beta Club, I hope to never be a proud member of the Hair Club for Men, and now I happily celebrate my status as a member of the CIA-Wine Club. Our meetings are held in the lavish, Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies. This is the most incredible sensory analysis building I have ever seen. The topic for tonight was "Chardonnay from Around the World."
Here are the minutes of my first meeting (I was once the Secretary of the FBLA Club):
From left to right, front to back, we have:

1. 2005 La Crema, Healdsburg, Sonoma Coast, California $20
2. 2006 Sebastapol Vineyards, Russian River Valley, California $21
3. 2004 Vergent Pouillay-Fouissey, Northern Burgundy, France $40
4. 2007 Kim Crawford "Unoaked", New Zealand $25
5. 2006 Domaine Laroche Premiere Cru, Chablis, France $33
6. 2005 Charles Shaw "Two Buck Chuck", California $2.00
7. 2004 Vincent Giraudain Mersault Premiere Cru, Cote d'Or, France $140
8. 2005 Flowers, Sonoma Coast, California $70

We conducted a blind taste test between all of the wines and came up with our favorites. My winner was........................#3, the 2004 Vergent Pouillay-Fouissey White Burgundy. Maybe I still have a little taste of 'ole Francais on my tongue. Incredibly, #6 and #7 were secluded and tasted against each other and almost everyone preferred #6 ($2). The complexity of #7 ($140)and the powerful oak was too overpowering for our palates. So, drink with your taste buds, not with your wallet. Cheers!