Non-Burgundy Chardonnay dinner
Tasted Saturday, June 13, 2026 by melvinyeowq with 67 views
Introduction
Very educational non-Burgundy Chardonnay dinner. My observations were:
1. Wines were tasted single blind and it proved surprisingly difficult to guess, nobody managed to get more than half correct.
2. The top three wines by average score were Leeuwin, Joshua Cooper, and Walter Scott. I didn't like the Leeuwin as much as some others but was really impressed by the Joshua Cooper and Walter Scott. It was also my first time trying Bell Hill but unfortunately it didn't stand out as much as I had hoped.
3. Interestingly, nobody identified the Burgundy correctly (most guessed the Walter Scott as Burgundy, while I guessed the Kumeu which is consistent with my previous experiences with the producer).
4. It was a curated line-up so not surprisingly most of us brought Burgundian style wines, I would have actually pegged more than half the wines as Burgundy if it was a fully blind tasting.
2020 Dureuil-Janthial Rully 1er Cru Les Margotés Blanc 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Rully 1er Cru
My contribution as the ringer. Floral, aromatic nose. Very classic and restrained but for some reason nobody guessed this as a Burgundy. Clean, crystalline citrus fruit, quite understated (in a good way). Guessed By Farr based on my previous experience with their reds which are always very Burgundian. My second favourite.
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2018 Kumeu River Chardonnay Maté's Vineyard 92 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Richer and more immediately expressive with some cinnamon spice. Oak well-integrated with good depth and structure. Guessed this to be the Burgundy.
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2017 By Farr Chardonnay Côte Vineyard 88 Points
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Geelong
Too oaky and ripe with protruding alcohol notes. Unintegrated oak with too much buttery notes, was surprised that this was the By Farr as their reds are usually much more restrained. Guessed this to be the Antinori.
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2024 Seeger Chardonnay Anna 90 Points
Germany, Baden
My extra. Initially a little dilute and light with some funky notes on the nose, put on weight with air. A little natural and out there so guessed this as the Joshua Cooper.
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2018 Castello della Sala (Antinori) Umbria Cervaro della Sala 92 Points
Italy, Umbria
Expected the worst but was pleasantly surprised by this. Generous but with good acidity and elegant white orchard fruit which made the wine elegant and discreet. Guessed as the Walter Scott.
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2020 Bell Hill Chardonnay 91 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury
Had high expectations but didn't distinguish itself from the field. Clearly a good wine though with rich, complex fruit that was verging on tropical. Quite coiled at the moment so probably shut down. Guessed as the Kumeu.
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2024 Joshua Cooper Chardonnay Dash Farms 93 Points
Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria
Wow have never heard of this producer before but turned out to be my favourite of the tasting. Some gentle cinnamon spice, palate showed wonderful verve and balance with precise, mineral citrus fruit. Didn't develop the depth that I expected when I revisited but very gulpable. Guessed as the Bell Hill.
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2022 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series 92 Points
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Probably the flashiest wine of the night with some reductive popcorn notes and immediately attractive orchard fruit. Rich but balanced, technically very well made but it didn't particularly excite me. Correctly guessed as Leeuwin.
Ended up as the top-scoring wine on average; I was somewhere in the middle, with some very high scores from others but also a few lower than mine.
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2022 Walter Scott Chardonnay Cuvée Lucille 93 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Mount Pisgah
Restrained and classic Chardonnay, took time to get going but with air it was very balanced and delicious. Less reduction and acidity than the previous Walter Scott wines that I have tried so I guessed this to be the Seeger. Interestingly, a number of people guessed this was the Burgundy. Agree with the previous note that this had impressive dry extract and was comparable in style to Guffens. My WOTN.
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2022 Weingut Carsten Saalwächter Chardonnay Reserve 91 Points
Germany, Rheinhessen
Had a distinct, slightly distracting herbal green note which made me guess it was the non-Chardonnay ringer. Powerful citrus fruit with plenty of character but not showing very much at this stage.
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2019 Jean-François Ganevat Côtes du Jura Les Varrons Vieilles Vignes 90 Points
France, Jura, Côtes du Jura
My contribution. Obviously Jura with its cloudy appearance and tropical pineapple fruit so everyone managed to nail this. Not completely clean as it had some funk and barley notes. Similar to my previous experience, not particularly exciting or electric - should only really buy Savagnins from Ganevat.
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2023 Cantalapiedra Viticultores Majuelo La Otea Pie Franco 92 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León
Can definitely see why previous notes describe this as Burgundian. Light sesame reduction with some almond notes, guessed this as the Saalwächter as this was made in a new-school ripe but with high acidity style. Very pleasurable though lacking an extra gear, some similarities to the Niepoort Coche that I tried previously.
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2017 Littorai Chardonnay B. A. Thieriot Vineyard 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Slightly tropical fruit but good acidity, predominant character is a saline, sea spray note which the person who brought this mentioned so correctly guessed as the Littorai. Another good example of a new-world Chardonnay.
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2018 Lismore Chardonnay Estate Reserve 90 Points
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Overberg, Greyton
Not blind. Heavier and more tropical style of Chardonnay but not lacking in acidity. Quite open-knit and loose, others enjoyed this but not my style of Chardonnay. Reminded me of F. Carillon wines.
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2019 Vasse Felix Chardonnay Heytesbury 91 Points
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Not blind. Very similar in style to the Leeuwin, with sweet popcorn reduction and rich, slightly tropical fruit, but with noticeably less depth.
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