The Easter Chardonnay Challenge
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 6:18 pm
Well, being Good Friday, it seemed pretty natural to have another chardonnay challenge, with lobster, fish and oysters to accompany the wines, of course 
All wines from the universally excellent 2015 vintage.
Served blind by John's better half, so none of us knew anything about the wines, only that they were all from vintage 2015. (Wines supplied by John,so he decided tom excuse himself from scoring, as he knew the wines but of course, not the order of serving.)
2015 Kistler Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard, Napa, USA
Big, rich oaky style, not a lot of finesse. Californian? Bit like the Hunter Valley chardonnays of yesteryear. Just ok for me. 87pts My 5th, Group 4th.
2015 Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard White Bones, Argentina, Mendoza
Much more austere than wine one, closed, lemon and river pebbles. Little bit simple, but should open up and develop much better than the previous wine. I guessed New World, maybe NZ. 89pts My 4th Group 2nd
2015 Kumeu River Mate's Vineyard NZ
Lovely wine, so complex and expressive. Peach, lemon, stone fruit and minerals. Great length. Restrained butter. I guessed Meursault Villages from a good producer. 93pts, My 3rd, Group 6th.
2015 Jermann Where Dreams have no End Friuli, Italy
sweet, with that unusual touch of marzipan, which Italian chardonnays often have ( I guessed Italian) No better than a decent mid-range Aussie Chard, and no way worth anywhere near the asking price. Nup. 86pts 6th for me, 3rd for the group.
2015 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay, Margaret River, Australia
much more tropical-fruited than the preceding wines, but retains superb focus and minerality. Could never be mistaken for Burgundy, but a wonderful wine in it's own right. I thought this might have been another Californian effort. Hmm, 93pts, My 2nd, Group 5th
2015 Domaine Henri Boillot Batard Montrachet, Burgundy, France
wow, now we are talking, a real step up from the previous wines. Fat, rich yet focussed with laser-like precision. Absolute baby, but clearly this will be a super-star in another decade. My pick was Batard, everyone immediately proffered "Burgundy" Superb 96pts, My 1st Group 1st.
The wine and food was sensational, and blind-tasting is always an exercise in concentration, deduction and, of course, liberal doses of humility hehe
I simply couldn't understand the lack of love for the Kumeu River, I thought it showed superbly, and it, the Leeuwin and the Boillot were far better than the rest of the pack. No accounting for poor taste, I guess!!!
The Kistler should be written up in the egregious pricing thread.
All wines from the universally excellent 2015 vintage.Served blind by John's better half, so none of us knew anything about the wines, only that they were all from vintage 2015. (Wines supplied by John,so he decided tom excuse himself from scoring, as he knew the wines but of course, not the order of serving.)
2015 Kistler Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard, Napa, USA
Big, rich oaky style, not a lot of finesse. Californian? Bit like the Hunter Valley chardonnays of yesteryear. Just ok for me. 87pts My 5th, Group 4th.
2015 Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard White Bones, Argentina, Mendoza
Much more austere than wine one, closed, lemon and river pebbles. Little bit simple, but should open up and develop much better than the previous wine. I guessed New World, maybe NZ. 89pts My 4th Group 2nd
2015 Kumeu River Mate's Vineyard NZ
Lovely wine, so complex and expressive. Peach, lemon, stone fruit and minerals. Great length. Restrained butter. I guessed Meursault Villages from a good producer. 93pts, My 3rd, Group 6th.
2015 Jermann Where Dreams have no End Friuli, Italy
sweet, with that unusual touch of marzipan, which Italian chardonnays often have ( I guessed Italian) No better than a decent mid-range Aussie Chard, and no way worth anywhere near the asking price. Nup. 86pts 6th for me, 3rd for the group.
2015 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay, Margaret River, Australia
much more tropical-fruited than the preceding wines, but retains superb focus and minerality. Could never be mistaken for Burgundy, but a wonderful wine in it's own right. I thought this might have been another Californian effort. Hmm, 93pts, My 2nd, Group 5th
2015 Domaine Henri Boillot Batard Montrachet, Burgundy, France
wow, now we are talking, a real step up from the previous wines. Fat, rich yet focussed with laser-like precision. Absolute baby, but clearly this will be a super-star in another decade. My pick was Batard, everyone immediately proffered "Burgundy" Superb 96pts, My 1st Group 1st.
The wine and food was sensational, and blind-tasting is always an exercise in concentration, deduction and, of course, liberal doses of humility hehe
I simply couldn't understand the lack of love for the Kumeu River, I thought it showed superbly, and it, the Leeuwin and the Boillot were far better than the rest of the pack. No accounting for poor taste, I guess!!!
The Kistler should be written up in the egregious pricing thread.