IWFS Blind Chardonnay Tasting

Yesterday evening, January 24th 2008, the International Wine & Food Society's Philippine Chapter held a blind chardonnay tasting of 10 wines from various countries.

The Lineup:

• 2005 Domaine Robert Denogent Pouilly Fuissé "Les Reisses" VV, France
• 2005 Domaine Laroche Chablis Premier Cru "Les Fourchaumes" VV, France
• 2004 Comte Lafon Macon-Milly-Lamartine Clos du Four, France
• 2002 Catena Alta Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina
• 2004 Petaluma Chardonnay Picadilly Valley, Australia
• 2004 Leewin Estate Chardonnay "Art Series", Margaret River, Australia
• 2005 Seresin Chardonnay Reserve, Marlborough, New Zealand
• 2004 Franciscan Oakville Estate "Cuvée Sauvage", Carneros, Napa Valley
• 2004 Saintsbury "Brown Ranch" Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa Valley
• 2003 Rustenberg "Five Soldiers", Stellenbosch, South Africa

Since we were under time pressure, I failed to make material notes as I tasted; so this post is limited to the results. Further, since we were around 20 or so tasters, due to time constraints (the tasting started late - past 7pm - people were getting very hungry) only the top 5 wines were ranked.

The Collective Results:

1st Place - 2002 Catena Alta Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina;

2nd Place - 2004 Franciscan Oakville Estate "Cuvée Sauvage", Carneros, Napa Valley;

3rd Place - 2003 Rustenberg "Five Soldiers", Stellenbosch, South Africa;

4th Place - 2004 Leewin Estate Chardonnay "Art Series", Margaret River, Australia; and,

5th Place - 2005 Domaine Laroche Chablis Premier Cru "Les Fourchaumes" VV

My wife's 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Place wines were the same as the collective ranking, while her 4th Place wine was the 2004 Saintsbury "Brown Ranch" Chardonnay (which she likes, so I always keep a few bottles of it at home) .

My own results, except for my 1st and 4th Place wines, my choices were different:

1st Place - 2002 Catena Alta Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina;

2nd Place - 2003 Rustenberg "Five Soldiers", Stellenbosch, South Africa;

3rd Place - 2005 Domaine Robert Denogent Pouilly Fuissé "Les Reisses" VV, France;

4th Place - 2004 Leewin Estate Chardonnay "Art Series", Margaret River, Australia; and,

5th Place - 2004 Petaluma Chardonnay Picadilly Valley, Australia.

So, hands down, the oldest and coldest (the wines were not served all at once, so by the time the 10th was served, i.e., the 2002 Catena Alta, the 1st to 7th wines were already varying degrees of warm) won.