Anyone know the difference between the regular Chard and the Hirsch (besides the obvious SVD)?

I'll be buying a half a case if I stick to my plan, and probably just the whites this time. I prefer their Syrahs to their Pinots... That said, I am struggling with staying on the 'reduce orders from mailers' wagon with this.

JT-- The main difference, besides the vineyard that their grown in, is I believe the various clones of the vines they use and produce from. I'll try to remember to post the differences as the Peay folks see them that were included in the mailer when I get home.

from what i remember reading, one distinction was the Estate was more minerally and the Hirsch was fatter.

I ordered 3 of each of the pinots and 3*Estate chard.

I haven't tasted the Peay Hirsch Vineyard Chardonnay but a couple of months ago I tasted the Hirsch Estate Chardonnay (which iirc was also vinified by Vanessa Wong).  Its a more typically Californian Chardonnay than what you expect from a Peay Estate Chardonnay.  I bought my entire allocation of both from the most recent mailer.

Thanks for the info guys!

These are no brainers. I have sold them on every wine list I have controlled. Luckily at my new place they already sell a few different wines from Peay, so I don't have to bring them in.

If it is a choice of one California rhone variety vs. another or one California chardonnay vs. another (personally I'd take the Varner), then the Peay whites might be a no-brainer.  Down the road I think that I'll be happier with my 2005 Zind-Humbrecht purchases.  The curse of limited funds.

I ordered a mixed case of Estate Chard, Scallop Shelf, Rousanne/Marsanne and Viognier.

JimmyV... have you read the tasting notes in the release letter?

They're very persuasive.

Got the letter yesterday. Sitting on my desk now.

Well I know I'm not in your core group of Chardonnay calibrators but I bought the Chardonnay along with the Roussane/Marsanne and Viognier. One of the few California mailers I'm buying from this Spring.

I may be alone and most others would disagree, but I would rather buy/drink Peay Chard. then Aubert/Kistler. Can almost get two bottles for the price of one too.

I did order 3 estate chardonnays amidst a mixed case. Passed on the Hirsch chardonnay.

No doubt from a value perspective (assuming you are drinking the wines rather than flipping them) Peay wins in that comparison.

I agree also considering no Kistler chard is under $80 when all is said & done (tax, s/h). I dropped Kistler for a few reasons: prices, cust service, allocation mess by giving mine away in matter of days, etc...

And, another reason is that Peay & Ramey replaced the Kistlers easily for me.

To keep this "apples to apples" price-wise, how would you guys rate the Peay Chardonnays to Ramey (Hyde) and L'Angevin (Hientz)?  Those are two producers I buy at retail for around the same money, and I have budgeted for both this year. But I could easily move that budget money over to Peay if warranted.

Haven't had a current Ramey Hyde, but man I was high on that '05 L'Angevin Charles Heintz. For me, I would buy Peay and L'Angevin, but my palate is usually divergent from most when it comes to CA wines.