Been about 30 years dinner I would drink Rombsuer; if you like buttery full malo chard, it was great for the price.
My palate is 180 degrees from then, now.
3 Likes
A friend served it to us a couple years ago – it was very kind, they knew we liked wine and were clearly reaching for their best bottle to share when we visited.
It wasn’t nearly as bad as I was expecting. Yes, it’s definitely in a ripe and well oaked style, lower acid, but it was a lot less extreme than I was expecting, and it had a pretty good integration to its overall self. Not even close to as extreme or as terrible as this Daou Reserve Chardonnay we were served once – that was the all-time worst to me.
I do get the sense that when a wine like Caymus cab or Rombauer chard wins a devoted following like they have, they can actually moderate the extremeness of their style some from that point and their fans will stay loyal.
4 Likes
I wonder what Gallo sees in the economic tea leaves.
Last time I had a Rombauer Zin - the issue was the ABV and not the oak level (The average Ridge zin has more oak influence, but I digress). The ABV on the last vintage I tried was north of 16% and the alcohol heat and sweetness just made it tough to drink.
I won’t lie, about once a year I am at some event where Rombauer Chard is being served. It’s always a hit for the crowd. I’ll indulge in a glass since someone else is paying. Not my style, but often better than the other wines being served. 
2 Likes
I agree, the zin is much more of a freak than the chardonnay.
1 Like
No doubt! The Rombauer zin is SUPER sweet, and really tough to drink under normal circumstances. But if you use it as a dessert wine…its actually not terrible!
2 Likes
Sickest I’ve been in the last 10 yrs was from one glass of Rombauer Chard—cougar juice indeed! No cougars attacked me and I woke up disappointed, sober, sick and wondering why it didn’t work!
2 Likes
Is that a figure of speech or did you actually get sick? I’ve read that three times and can’t tell which parts are literal.
1 Like
Worst headache ever
1 Like
Reply
Baloney!!! Rombauer has long been the punching bag for Calif Cougar Juice Chard.
In point of fact, the Rombauer Carneros Chard is as good a Chard as you can find around. A bit pricey at $36/btl, but man them cougars will be swarming you if you serve it. Works for me.
Tom,
I thought all the cougars around Los Alamos were real ones…Where do you go to find cougars in Los Alamos…Santa Fe??
A little history here: Original Rombauer winemaker was Bob Levy, who would go on to Merryvale and Harlan. He made the Meilleur du Chai wines.
While those wines Bob made did not create much traction, the ones with RS did.
My question is thus: when a company takes over a very successful winery,what do they change??
We see Wms Selyem relatively the same, whereas Kosta Browne is much different.
If Gallo were to turn Rombauer chardonnay into something that tastes like Wm Fevre Chablis, would anybody notice??
1 Like
If only Wm Fevre Chablis was a style they ever made at Gallo - they are very accustomed to making the Rombauer clones 
Shuh, if he woke up sober he did it wrong.
LOL! I’d argue with you, but you’re right. 
